A NAT Lofthouse fan has uncovered an old pub sign which commemorates The Lion of Vienna -- and he wants readers to help trace where it came from.

Phil Massey, who lives in Glan Conwy, in Wales, discovered the pub sign in a dusty corner of an antique shop in North Wales more than four years ago -- and the Wanderer's fan had no hesitation in paying £150 for it.

The 5ft by 3ft item has The Lion of Vienna, the name of the brewery, Samuel Smith, and the year 1952 written on it, as well as the painted badges of England and Austria.

And the 55-year-old, who has been a fan of the Wanderer's legend since he was a small child, now hopes that readers can shed some light and find out where the sign came from.

Phil Massey said: "I was walking around in the antique shop when I spotted the pub sign with Lion of Vienna written on it, and I realised it had to be commemorating the Nat Lofthouse and that great day in 1952 -- I had to buy it.

"It took a great deal of haggling with the owner, who didn't want to sell, but we managed to agree a price and I bought it.

"I've spoken with the Lion of Vienna pub in Bolton and they have no knowledge of the pub sign. I would love if any of your readers could throw any light on where this sign originally came from."

A spokesman for Samuel Smith brewery, which is based in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, said that the pub sign must be from the Lion of Vienna pub, on Chorley New Road.

He said: "We handpainted all our pub signs to order, and there are no other pubs on our books with the name the Lion of Vienna, other than the pub in Bolton."

But Stephen Dawson, the licensee of the Lion of Vienna pub, said: "While it is possible that the sign could have come from this pub, we are not entirely sure if this is the case.

"There is only one Lion of Vienna pub in Bolton though, which means the sign could have originated from this pub in the past." The sign, which is now hanging up inside Mr Massey's mill home, is in immaculate condition and only needs minor restoration work.

Nat Lofthouse was named the Lion of Vienna after he scored two goals against Austria during a game England won 2-0 in the capital city in the 1950s.

If you know where the sign came from, call the newsdesk on 537270.