Lofthouse toasts North-West revival

Lofthouse (l) celebrates with Bolton manager Allardyce

Bolton legend Nat Lofthouse hailed the resurgence of Lancashire football after seeing his beloved Wanderers win the Division One Play-Off final.

Bolton capped a magnificent season for the North-West by beating local rivals Preston 3-0 at the Millennium Stadium on Monday.

Blackburn gained automatic promotion from the First Division, Blackpool won the Division Three Play-Off final on Saturday and Manchester United won the Premiership last month.

This is magnificent - Sam Allardyce and his team deserve it

Nat Lofthouse

Lofthouse said: "It makes you feel proud what with Blackburn going up, Bolton going up and Preston in the play-off final. I'm as proud as punch."

He said Bolton's triumph was one of his finest football moments. "They played great, those lads, they were first class, every one of them," he said.

"I said 3-1 beforehand but I'm glad it was 3-0. It's the proudest moment - though there's one moment that beats it and that's when we won the FA Cup in '58.

"But this is magnificent, Sam Allardyce and his team deserve it."

Lofthouse spared a thought for Preston's most famous son, Sir Tom Finney, who was also at Cardiff for the game.

"I will see Tom but I won't have a smile on my face," Lofthouse said. "I will definitely see him and his wife.

"I thought it was a good game but we deserved to win."