Lofthouse Statue To Be Erected

[Manny]

Doesn't time fly. Today marks the first anniversary of Nat Lofthouse's death and the club are marking the occasion by holding a service of commemoration.

The service will take place in the Lion of Vienna Suite at the Reebok Stadium at 2pm this afternoon.

For more details, visit the club site at the link below:
http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/General/0,,1004~2574946,00.html

[DaveBWFC]

It really doesn't feel like a year since the great man passed on. Time really does fly.

[Big_Sharps]

Pleased it is a celebration of his life and not a mourning of his passing, the man had a lifelong connection with the club and had a great life and we should be celebrating that.

[bwfc_wilson]

I remember after the last minute cup goal against birmingham, how we all started singing about Nat. God that was emotional!

[Manny]

It looks like people have finally got their wish and fundraising events will be organised to help pay for the statue.

A statue of the late Nat Lofthouse is to be erected outside the Reebok Stadium, it has been confirmed.

A service of commemoration was held at the stadium on Sunday afternoon to mark the first anniversary of Lofthouse's death.

At the service, Jeff Lofthouse, son of Nat, revealed how grateful his family were to everybody who had paid their respects to his father over the last 12 months and confirmed a statue is to be unveiled.

"Dad would be very humbled and honoured by the idea of a statue and really overwhelmed at the response of Wanderers supporters and the people of Bolton," Jeff Lofthouse said.

"On behalf of Viv and myself, I would like to thank the club for their support and assistance and, of course, the fans who have been such a source of strength to us following dad's passing."

Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside echoed the sentiments of Lofthouse's son and confirmed further details would be available shortly.

"The statue will be a fitting tribute to Nat and all that he accomplished for Bolton Wanderers and I am delighted that it will be located here at the Reebok Stadium," Gartside said.

"We will now be working with Jeff on the initial stages of the project and will look to make more details available soon."

Meanwhile, Bolton Club Chaplain Phil Mason has revealed the statue will be funded by the Nat Lofthouse Memorial Fund, which has now been launched to the public.

Mason has urged supporters to come up with fundraising events, with proceeds donated to the Memorial Fund being used to front the cost of the statue.

"Nat's life was all about everything that is good about Bolton, both the club and the wider community," Mason said.

"This is why it is important that Bolton as a community have a big part to play in developing this lasting memorial to Nat and help to keep his legacy alive.

"People can get involved in a whole variety of ways to contribute towards the Nat Lofthouse Memorial Fund.

"We want people, community groups, schools, clubs and other organisations to make their contribution

"Let's get some creative ideas going of how to raise money for this fund, from sponsored silences to sponsored walks."

Donations to the Nat Lofthouse Memorial Fund can be made at www.natlofthouse.co.uk.

Supporters can request collection boxes and envelopes from the club's Bolton Central store at the Reebok Stadium and the BWFC@JD in the Marketplace in Bolton Town Centre.

The Memorial Fund will be officially launched ahead of Saturday's home game against Liverpool, where collectors will be in and around the stadium to receive any donations.

For more information on the Nat Lofthouse Memorial Fund, please email Bolton Wanderers at feedback@bwfc.co.uk or call 01204 673754.

http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/news/lofthouse_statue_to_be_erected_2160

[Wiggy]

About time,any idea's were it will put up.My guess would be around the main entrance. 

[Manny]

I would think the only places that would be considered are outside the main entrance or outside the club shop. Hopefully the club shop isn't considered and it doesn't become a marketing ploy.

There is plenty of room outside the main entrance and with the ticket office moving last year, it wouldn't cause any obstruction on matchdays.

[Wiggy]

I would think the only places that would be considered are outside the main entrance or outside the club shop. Hopefully the club shop isn't considered and it doesn't become a marketing ploy.

There is plenty of room outside the main entrance and with the ticket office moving last year, it wouldn't cause any obstruction on matchdays.

Yah I agreee with that

[Manny]

Just remembered that outside the main entrance, the pavement is made up of bricks. On some of these, there are messages of rememberance.

It would be a good touch to move some of them around so that a statue could be the centrepiece, with the rememberance bricks all around it.

[bwfcbob123]

YES, finally! I'm sure he would have been honoured and say he doesn't deserve one, because that was the kind of man he was, modest and selfless. A few modern footballers could learn a valuable lesson from Sir Nat. He's deserved one for a long time.

[bwfcbob123]

Didn't Nat go around door to door getting members for that lifeline thing in the 90's? I think the current squad should do the same thing, collecting money for the fund.

Idea © bwfcbob123 2012

[medwaywhite]

your joking

none of them coyle included turned up for the service.

that to me says they think nothing about lofty or the club

[DaveBWFC]

How was the service medwaywhite? I couldn't make it but I'm guessing you were there?

[Manny]

If you can make it out from this very blurry image, the statue will be located on the right hand side of the grass bank as you look at the front of the stadium.



If the image doesn't load, click the link below:
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/resources/images/1880050/?type=display

[medwaywhite]

yes glad i went a short service .then   films clips of lofty scoring for bolton and england ,lots of clips of photos at burnden and at the reebok. expected more there to be honest.
what i did see was quite a lot of young fans there  fair play to them

[aarons2009]

If you can make it out from this very blurry image, the statue will be located on the right hand side of the grass bank as you look at the front of the stadium.



If the image doesn't load, click the link below:
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/resources/images/1880050/?type=display

Who ever takes the photos at the bolton news wants sacking, if they couldn't take a better image than that ^^^^ then they are in a poor state of afffairs.

[H. Pedersen]

I can't help but be a bit cynical about this . . . like the club is doing this now because they aren't going to bring in a better manager or better players.  "We're not going to invest money to stay up but hey, now you pay for a statue!"

[bwfcbob123]

A few things have been going on lately to raise money for the statue fund. Two beers have been made, called 'Lofthouse' and 'Lion Of Vienna', and the Houghton Weavers have redone the Lion Of Vienna song that sometimes gets played on match days. Also, there's going to be a sponsored walk on the 26th May. The club haven't done that much to advertise it, other than in the match day programme etc. It's 18 miles, from Deepdale Stadium, where there's a statue of Nat's best friend in football Sir Tom Finney, to the Reebok. It'll be 60 years to the day that he was fist dubbed the Loin Of Vienna.

£25,000 has been raised so far, so if plenty of people take part in the walk, we should be close to having enough for the statue. There's a registration form for the walk here: http://www.bwct.org.uk/event-information/?EventID=96

There's some more details on how the fundraising's going here: http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/NatLofthouseMemorialFund/0,,1004~2752589,00.html


You might have noticed on Wednesday that they were showing pictures of Nat on the big screen. They are the 6 images that are being considered for the statue. You can see them here: http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/NatLofthouseMemorialFund/0,,1004~2752589,00.html
I think image 4 will be the clear winner.

[scottjames30]

fcúk that Sordall back to Watford and with the money get a good statue of Nat,  the club should pay for that out of respect for buying shíte players, not scraping of the fans they have given us enough "shíte" this year.

[Martinbwfc]

I can't help but be a bit cynical about this . . . like the club is doing this now because they aren't going to bring in a better manager or better players.  "We're not going to invest money to stay up but hey, now you pay for a statue!"

fcúk off Pedersen this man was a Wanderers legend, it is not about the current manager or players.

[Martinbwfc]

fcúk that Sordall back to Watford and with the money get a good statue of Nat,  the club should pay for that out of respect for buying shíte players, not scraping of the fans they have given us enough "shíte" this year.

That is the kind of sh1t I would expect from you.

[thejazz]

fcúk that Sordall back to Watford and with the money get a good statue of Nat,  the club should pay for that out of respect for buying shíte players, not scraping of the fans they have given us enough "shíte" this year.

Although I don't agree with the wording of this post I do share the sentiment. Nat served this club tirelessly for over 50 years. The least they could have done was paid for the statue as a mark of affection and respect for the greatest ever Wanderer.

[scottjames30]

That is the kind of sh1t I would expect from you.

You simple twat. I have contributed to the fund, i am just saying the club should pay for it in respect of Nat. Is that talking shíte??

[Manny]

The club have announced plans for a memorial garden go to along with the statue.

The location is at the front of the stadium, near the De Vere car park at the roundabout.



http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/NatLofthouseMemorialFund/0,,1004~2786725,00.html

[thejazz]

I believe this location has been made after discussion with Nat's family, that's as it should be. Personally I thought the statue itself should go right out in front of the main entrance