Former Bolton Wanderers and England striker Nat Lofthouse died in his sleep at the age of 85, the club announced on their website (www.bwfc.co.uk) on Sunday. Lofthouse spent his entire playing career at the northern England club where he amassed more than 500 appearances in the league, scoring 255 league goals between 1946-60. He also found the net 30 times in domestic cup competition.
At international level, Lofthouse represented England on 33 occasions, scoring 30 goals. "On behalf of everyone at Bolton Wanderers Football Club, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Nat's family, who are very much in our thoughts at this time," Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside said. "Nat undoubtedly is a Bolton Wanderers legend. He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us.
After hanging up his boots, Lofthouse continued his association with the club by occupying a variety of different positions including chief coach, chief scout, caretaker manager and club president, a post he held until his death.