A GROUP of Bolton Wanderers fans are raising money for a statue of soccer legend Nat Lofthouse.

They want a 9ft-high statue to be placed outside the Reebok Stadium.

The idea has come from the Bolton Wanderers Supporters' Club of Canada which is planning to raise £40,000 for the ambitious project.

The bronze statue would be sited on a stone plinth. The fans hope it will be made in Canada by sculptor Susan Murar and shipped over to England.

They want Nat to unveil it at the Reebok and supporters clubs from across the world are becoming involved.

Cash has been sent to the Wanderers fans in Canada from as far afield as Belgium, Australia, America and Norway.

The man behind the plan, Stephan Czartorynsky, said: "We are really keen to see this statue get the go-ahead and I'm confident we can raise the money."

The supporters' club in Canada initially raised £2,000 for the scheme, but they decided to spend the money on a plaque instead. It will be unveiled by Nat at the Reebok at the end of the season.

Once again, however, the group is turning its attention to the statue.

Group member Ed Thornley, a lifelong friend of Nat, flew to England in September to present the proposal to Wanderers.

The club said it would not pledge immediate financial support, but granted the group permission to place the sculpture outside the stadium.

Cath Brown, membership secretary of the Bolton-based supporters' club, said she backed the move.

"We would love to get involved. Nat is very special to the club and worked his way up from boot boy to president. Not many players have done that," she said.

Mr Czartorynsky, aged 52, emigrated from Bolton to Canada 30 years ago. He set up the Canadian supporters' branch five years ago and now has 50 members.

He said: "When me and my wife, Linda ,visited Canada we fell in love with the place and decided to move here permanently ,but we've always missed the Wanderers.

"This gives us a chance to do something for the club and for Nat in particular."

Some football clubs already have statues of famous players, including Preston North End (Sir Tom Finney), Stoke City (Sir Stanley Matthews) and Leeds United (Billy Bremner).

What do you think? Would a statue be a fitting tribute to Bolton's most famous player? Write to The Editor, Bolton Evening News, Newspaper house, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1DE. or e-mail: Letters@boltoneveningne ws .co.uk

I'm certain Operation Lofthouse will succeed."

The plaque, likely to be placed in a prominent place at the Stadium, would refer to Bolton Wanderers' 125th anniversary and also to the 50th anniversary of Nat Lofthouse being known as the Lion of Vienna.

Other football clubs have statues of famous players and managers.

Preston North End -- sculpture of top player Sir Tom Finney

Stoke City -- three statues of soccer legend Sir Stanley Matthews

Manchester United -- statue of Sir Matt Busby and renamed road Sir Matt Busby Way

Blackburn Rovers -- statue of former chairman Jack Walker

Liverpool -- memorial gates and statue of ex-boss Bill Shankley

Middlesborough -- statues of George Hardwick and Wilf Manion

Leeds United -- statue of player Billy Bremner

Ipswich Town -- statues of former England managers Alf Ramsey and Bobby Robson

Wolverhampton Wanderers -- statue of Billy Wright