FOOTBALL fans have made a plea to Prime Mininster, Tony Blair, to finally award Bolton Wanderers legend Nat Lofthouse a knighthood.

They have started an e-petition on the Prime Minister's website saying the honour is long overdue.

Bolton-born Lofthouse, who will be 82 in August, earned his nickname The Lion of Vienna for his two-goal performance in England's 3-2 victory against Austria in 1952.

He joined Wanderers in 1939 and, by the time injury forced his retirement in 1960, he had scored more than 300 goals for them .

He also served as Wanderers manager and caretaker manager, and is currently club president. Nat, a freeman of Bolton, received an OBE in 1994.

Perhaps his greatest moment was captaining Bolton to their 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the 1958 FA Cup Final, scoring both goals in the process.

Robert Harrison, who started the online petition, said: "Nat Lofthouse played only for Bolton Wanderers and England.

"Always a gentle' ambassador for football, his home town and his country, Mr Lofthouse should not be overlooked, particularly when many footballers with lesser real achievements have received recognition.

"Make him Sir Nat."

Two years ago fans launched another online campaign to get Nat knighted. Dozens of names were added to the petition but this time round they hope to reach a wider audience by posting the petition on the Prime Minister's website.

The Downing Street petition will be accepting votes until Saturday, June 9 on the site designed to allow citizens, charities and campaign groups to set up petitions hosted on the Downing Street website.

Other petitions currently looking for support include the repeal of the hunting ban, scrapping inheritance tax and reintroducing transportation for prisoners - with the Falklands the modern-day destination rather than Australia.

l Support the campaign to have Nat Lofthouse knighted by signing the petition at: petitions.pm.gov.uk/lofthouse