NAT Lofthouse’s glittering career was on the agenda as the Lancashire FA hosted a celebration of their heritage last week to remember some of the county’s footballing legends.

Wanderers historian Simon Marland was on hand to talk about Lofthouse’s rise through the ranks, his time as a Bevin Boy down the mines during the war, his amazing scoring record at international level and the legacy he left at his beloved club.

The Lancs FA have a suite dedicated to Lofthouse at their Leyland base and have also named other rooms after those who contributed to the region’s rich footballing tapestry.

Brian Finney, son of legendary ‘Preston Plumber’ Sir Tom Finney, spoke with pride about his father’s career for club and country – and his great friendship with Lofthouse.

“I think there’s more things that have been named after him after his playing finished than there’s ever been before and some of them are still going on,” he said.

“He was a very humble man and to a certain extent took things in his stride and would never refuse anyone an autograph or an interview or whatever.

“I’m obviously very proud to be asked to come, I’ve never got anywhere near as famous as Dad.”

John Armfield, son of former Bolton Wanderers manager Jimmy Armfield, spoke about his father’s impact on and off the pitch.

He said: “To us he was just dad.

“As I’ve got older, I’ve realised the importance of his life in football.

“Since he passed away nearly four years ago, it’s amazing how many people still associate Blackpool Football Club with my dad’s name.

“Lancashire was everything to him, so to have something named after him at the new Lancashire FA Headquarters, he’d be very, very proud.”

The Lancs FA have also commemorated the career of Burnley-born Rachel Brown-Finnis, who stepped away from the professional game eight years ago and now works in broadcasting.

The former Everton and Liverpool goalkeeper has recently returned from Australia where she worked at the FIFA Women’s World Cup as part of the BBC’s coverage of the tournament.

She said: “It’s quite a lot to take in really and it’s not until you get off that treadmill at the end of your career and you start to reflect a little bit on what you’ve actually achieved.

“To still be involved in football and have the chance for that to be recognised tonight helps put that reflective piece into perspective really.

“I never really saw it as something monumental, I was just a little girl who absolutely loved playing football and I’m still now that little girl in a very much older body who still loves football first and foremost.

“So, for that to positively impact people is all I’d ever want.”

Other famous names from the region to have suites named after them at the County Ground include ex England partially sighted player Steve Daley, Lily Parr, former Dick Kerr Ladies footballer, and ex-Blackburn Rovers and England captain, Bob Crompton.