Lol Hamlett

Thomas Lawrence (Lol) Hamlett was born in Stoke-on-Trent on 24th January 1917. He joined Bolton Wanderers during the Second World War.

Walter Rowley became manager on the retirement of Charles Foweraker in August 1944. Rowley was able to make use of players who had returned to England after military victories in North Africa and Italy. The team that season included Hamlett, Harry Hubbick, Nat Lofthouse, George Hunt, Jack Hurst, Tommy Sinclair, Willie Moir, Malcolm Barras, Albert Geldard, Jack Atkinson, Stan Hanson, Ray Westwood, Tom Woodward, Jackie Roberts, Don Howe and Ernie Forrest.

In the first round of the Football League War Cup (North) Bolton beat Accrington Stanley 4-1 with Nat Lofthouse scoring two of the goals. Lofthouse went on to score a hat-trick against Blackpool. This was followed by victories over Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers to reach the final against Manchester United.

The final was played over two legs. In the first game Nat Lofthouse scored in a 1-0 victory at Bolton. The return game finished 2-2 with both Bolton goals being scored by Malcolm Barras. Therefore Bolton won the final 3-2.

On 2nd June 1945, Bolton Wanderers played the winners of the Football League War Cup (South). Chelsea took an early lead but George Hunt scored an equalizer early in the second-half. Just before the end of the game Malcolm Barras was brought down in the penalty area. As Lol Hamlett walked up to take the penalty, a number of upset Chelsea fans invaded the pitch and after a short scuffle grabbed the ball and for a while they refused to give it back. After the ball was retrieved and the fans cleared from the pitch, Hamlett scored the winning goal.

Hamlett scored nine goals in 72 games before joining Port Vale in 1949. Over the next three seasons he played in 109 games.

Lol Hamlett died in 1986.