Burnden Aces

Lofthouse Exhibition Opens to the Public

• December 03, 2013 | By Chris Mann
• Short URL: http://b-ac.es/c2676

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• Nat Lofthouse
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• See Also

• Nat Lofthouse Auction Raises More Than £100,000

Memorabilia previously belonging to the late Nat Lofthouse will go on permanent public display at Bolton Museum from today.

A total of 19 items, purchased at auction for a combined total of £75,427, will form part of the museum's Bolton Lives gallery. Bolton Council aquired the collection last month, as part of a consortium of bidders which included the Friends of Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, National Car Parks (NCP), Bolton at Home and Bolton Wanderers Football Club.

Among others, items on display will include Lofthouse's 1958 FA Cup winners medal, an England cap from the game which saw him nicknamed 'The Lion of Vienna' and the 'This Is Your Life' book that was presented to him in 1993.

Speaking about the exhibition, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside said the club were proud to have played a part in keeping the collection in the town where Lofthouse spent his life both on and off the field.

"Bolton Wanderers recognises that Nat Lofthouse was as equally important to the people of Bolton, the town and the club and we were delighted to be a part of the efforts to retain his memories," Gartside said.

"Nat was rightfully a legend to the people of this town and it is only right that the most prized of his possessions will be remaining in his much-loved town of Bolton and be proudly displayed at Bolton Museum for all to visit and reflect on what a fantastic man he was, on and off the pitch."

Councillor Anthony Connell, who is Bolton Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, also acknowledged the importance of the items that are set to appear in the town's museum.

"We were fortunate to be able to secure some of the collection at auction and appreciated the support shown by members of the consortium," he said.

"I was approached directly by the club and was happy to welcome their support, which can only strengthen our proud links to Nat and his sporting career. He clearly was a popular sportsman on and off the pitch, demonstrated by the thousands of visitors we had to a commemorative exhibition soon after his death in 2011.

"These 19 items are a snapshot of his success and I hope fans from far and wide will come to the museum once again to see his achievements. They are in his hometown, where they belong, and for the pleasure of the public."

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