Owen Coyle says it would be fitting to honour the late Nat Lofthouse by winning this year's FA Cup.
Trotters hope to go all the way in tribute to legendary striker
Bolton boss Owen Coyle has acknowledged it would be fitting to honour the late Nat Lofthouse by winning this year's FA Cup.
The Trotters face Stoke at Wembley on Sunday hoping to reach their first FA Cup final since 1958.
That year a Lofthouse brace saw Bolton beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the famous trophy for a fourth time.
The former England striker spent his entire career with Bolton and continued to serve his hometown club after hanging up his boots, becoming club president in 1986.
Lofthouse passed away in January, aged 85, and Coyle stressed his side must be professional to book a return to Wembley on 14th May and maintain hope of winning the FA Cup for the club's legendary centre-forward.
"It would be a lovely thing to come to fruition but to do that you have to play out of your skin and earn the right," he said.
"There is a big obstacle to overcome first if we are to get to the final as this is a very good Stoke side.
Focused
"You can understand how everyone feels about Nat's passing but we have to make sure that come the game we are fully focused."
Paul Robinson was amongst the mourners as Bolton bid farewell to Lofthouse and the Trotters full-back knows what it would mean to the fans to go all the way.
"To be at his funeral and see the turn-out was an unbelievable moment to be involved in," he said.
"To see the fans lining the streets just showed what an absolute legend the man was. We will be trying to rekindle the memories that he had in lifting the cup and scoring the goals.
Atmosphere
"It will be special for us on Sunday. Hopefully the atmosphere won't play a factor in it and we just focus on ourselves and what we need to do."
Bolton recovered from a poor spell over Christmas to remain in the top half of the Premier League and reach the FA Cup semi-finals, losing just two of their last nine games in all competitions.
"We had a dip at the end of December and into January but even then everything that could have gone against us did," Coyle added.
"But the players have continued to overcome the odds. We are in good heart and good form. Everyone has enjoyed the build-up. We have had to work hard to get to the position we are in.
"We are two evenly-matched sides full of history. The arena is the best in world football. To get the chance to showcase your talents, the players should be bursting to cross the white line."
