BOLTON Wanderers legend Nat Lofthouse was on hand on Saturday to sign copies of the best-seller Wartime Wanderers -- A Football Team At War.

Written from first hand accounts, diaries and reports in the Bolton Evening News, "Wartime Wanderers" is a factual book recalling the day the entire Wanderers first team joined the Army.

The book was written by Tom Purcell and Mike Gethring -- who joined Nat at Saturday's signing before the Premiership Reebok clash with Fulham.

Mr Ethring said: "We got the original ideas for the book after reading his autobiography. It is a really interesting story simply because it is told using first-hand accounts."

Early one April morning in 1939, Sergeant Bill Killan was on duty at the Territorial Army recruitment office in Bradshawgate when 15 players led by captain Harry Goslin walked in and signed up for the 53rd Field Regiment of the Bolton Artillery.

Nat Lofthouse signed apprenticeship forms aged 14 the same day.

The story, part of Bolton's folklore, details the bravery and patriotism of the footballing soldiers at war and the problems wartime posed for the club.

Dunkirk, El Alamein and the bloody fighting on the eastern coast of Italy are, to many of today's Wanderers fans, tales from the history books.

But the Wartime Wanderers were there -- football boots and all.

Mr Purcell revealed: "Nat said that the people in the book were his heroes and it was ironic that it was the same people that gave him the chance to make it as a footballer."

The hardback version was published to high acclaim five years ago.

It was relaunched as a paperback on November 10 -- the day before Armistice Day. The story is also set to hit the big screen with the authors having already written an accompanying screenplay based on the book.

Mr Gethring added: "Nat said that he hoped the film would come off and reckons it is a very good idea."

Wartime Wanderers -- A Football Team at War is published by Mainstream Publishing priced £7.99.

The book is also available at the Reebok Stadium's club shop.

Click HERE for Frank Elson's review of the book, som e nostaligic pictures and a direct link to the authors' website packed with more information