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Plans to permanently exhibit the £75,000-worth of Nat Lofthouse memorabilia bought by Bolton Council at auction are already being formulated.
Councillors have voiced their support for the scheme, arguing that items among the 19 lots bought by a council-led consortium represent the “Holy Grail” to Bolton Wanderers fans.
Nat’s silver Lion of Vienna trophy, the cap from the match he earned his nickname, and the kit he wore in winning the 1958 FA Cup final for Wanderers were snapped up by the council.
The consortium, including parking firm NCP, Bolton at Home and the Friends of Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, spent £16,500 on Nat’s winners’ medal from the 2-0 final win against Manchester United.
It is understood that the collection will eventually be exhibited in the Bolton Lives Gallery, already home to the stories of great Boltonians.
A council spokesman said: “Now we have secured the items there are some ‘housekeeping’ procedures we need to undertake, such as arranging payment and transportation. “Over the next few weeks we will look at how best to display the memorabilia to ensure maximum enjoyment.”
Cllr David Chadwick, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said the cup winners’ medal and Lion of Vienna trophy represent the “Holy Grail” for Wanderers fans.
He added: “I’m delighted that such a large number of these precious artefacts will stay in Bolton. Nat epitomised all that is good about Bolton.
“I was fortunate enough to go to that FA Cup Final and, on the way down, Manchester United fans were telling us we had no chance.
“But Nat made the difference and he was so good that he bridged the gap between ourselves and United.
“Nat was a lovely man, very down to earth and loved Bolton.”
Conservative councillor John Walsh, who represents Astley Bridge, said the consortium agreement was crucial to persuading him that the council should intervene.
“The auction was never going to keep the items together,” he said.
“It would have been nice to prevent the need for an auction, but it’s not appropriate to apportion blame for that not happening.
“When I first heard of the idea I thought it would be tough to justify spending so much public money, but we have not.
“Much of the funding has come from trusts and external forces.”
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Councillors have voiced their support for the scheme, arguing that items among the 19 lots bought by a council-led consortium represent the “Holy Grail” to Bolton Wanderers fans.
Nat’s silver Lion of Vienna trophy, the cap from the match he earned his nickname, and the kit he wore in winning the 1958 FA Cup final for Wanderers were snapped up by the council.
The consortium, including parking firm NCP, Bolton at Home and the Friends of Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, spent £16,500 on Nat’s winners’ medal from the 2-0 final win against Manchester United.
It is understood that the collection will eventually be exhibited in the Bolton Lives Gallery, already home to the stories of great Boltonians.
A council spokesman said: “Now we have secured the items there are some ‘housekeeping’ procedures we need to undertake, such as arranging payment and transportation. “Over the next few weeks we will look at how best to display the memorabilia to ensure maximum enjoyment.”
Cllr David Chadwick, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said the cup winners’ medal and Lion of Vienna trophy represent the “Holy Grail” for Wanderers fans.
He added: “I’m delighted that such a large number of these precious artefacts will stay in Bolton. Nat epitomised all that is good about Bolton.
“I was fortunate enough to go to that FA Cup Final and, on the way down, Manchester United fans were telling us we had no chance.
“But Nat made the difference and he was so good that he bridged the gap between ourselves and United.
“Nat was a lovely man, very down to earth and loved Bolton.”
Conservative councillor John Walsh, who represents Astley Bridge, said the consortium agreement was crucial to persuading him that the council should intervene.
“The auction was never going to keep the items together,” he said.
“It would have been nice to prevent the need for an auction, but it’s not appropriate to apportion blame for that not happening.
“When I first heard of the idea I thought it would be tough to justify spending so much public money, but we have not.
“Much of the funding has come from trusts and external forces.”
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