Chelsea’s former record goalscorer Bobby Tambling has died at the age of 84 following a long illness, and after being diagnosed with dementia.
The forward, who made his debut for the Blues at the age of 17 in 1959 against West Ham, and after scoring in his first appearance, held the record for the most scored in Chelsea colours for four decades.
Later overtaken by the club’s current record goalscorer Frank Lampard, Tambling retained the record of the most goals scored in a single outing in blue when he hit five past Aston Villa in 1966.
That feat came one season on from Tambling winning the League Cup with Chelsea in 1965, with the England international also reaching the FA Cup final with the club in 1967.
In total, Tambling scored 202 goals in 370 games during his 11 years at Stamford Bridge, with the forward departing that season to join Crystal Palace.
Stints in his home country of Ireland at clubs including Cork Celtic, Waterford, Shamrock Rovers, and Corck Alberts followed, with Tambling going on to manage Cork Celtic, Cork City, and his local club Crosshaven between 1985 and 2012.
Chelsea legend Bobby Tambling has died at the age of 84 at his home in County Cork
After making his debut against West Ham in 1959, Tambling went on to score 202 goals
Tambling was named in Chelsea’s greatest-ever XI to mark the club’s centenary in 2005, and has since been honoured with a spot on the Shed Wall at Stamford Bridge commemorating his successes in west London.
In 2013, after Lampard has broken his long-standing record, Tambling revealed in an interview that the playful rivalry between the two Chelsea icons had developed into a friendship.
‘We have grown close over the last few years because I think we both realised this was a day that was going to come,’ he shared.
‘We always have a joke with each other, I say “come on Frank, rush along”. And my partner would always say “come on Frank, don’t take any more penalties”.’
Lampard went on to write the foreword to Tambling’s autobiography, 2016’s Goals in Life.
‘Bobby is a gentleman of football and Chelsea Football Club,’ he wrote. ‘If you want an ambassador, someone who shows what the club means and who transcends the generations, he is the man.
‘It’s an absolute privilege to call you my mate.’
His former club excerpted the kind words in their tribute to Tambling on Thursday, with Chelsea announcing the ‘very sad news’ in a lengthy obituary.
Despite suffering from a leg condition called Martorell’s ulcer, Tambling made an emotional return to Stamford Bridge in 2013
‘Those sentiments would be uttered by any Chelsea fan who came across Tambling, who was forever passionate about the club where his name is written very large in our history,’ the statement said of Lampard’s comments.
‘Chelsea Football Club sends our deepest condolences to Bobby’s wife Val, the rest of his family and his friends at this difficult time.’
Crosshaven shared a similarly emotional tribute on social media, announcing his passing with ‘the heaviest of hearts’ and calling Tambling ‘a Chelsea legend and an even more wonderful human being’.
‘Even when his health was failing, he still wanted to be on the sidelines – coaching, encouraging, and sharing his endless love for the game,’ the statement said of his commitment to the club. ‘His passion for football was absolutely infectious.
‘Whether he was talking tactics, working on set pieces, or telling stories from his playing days (sometimes for the tenth time), you couldn’t help but hang on every word. You didn’t mind hearing the same tale again, because it was Bobby telling it.
‘From time to time, old friends from his Chelsea days would visit – Barry Bridges, Chopper Harris, Paddy Mulligan and others – reminding us all of the giant he was in the game. In London, Bobby was a superstar. 202 goals for his beloved Chelsea – a record that stood for decades until Frank Lampard came along.
‘He loved returning to the Bridge, where he was worshipped. Seeing his “Tambling 202” banner proudly displayed and having a suite named in his honour always filled him with quiet pride. He cherished hearing the fans sing his name one more time and feeling the electric buzz of match day, which brought back so many beautiful memories of victories, friendships, and goals.
‘Bobby leaves an enormous hole in all our lives. We are all better, kinder, and richer for having known him. His warmth, his wisdom, his humour and his love will stay with us forever.
‘To his loving family, his close friends, and his adoring Chelsea family – we send our deepest, most heartfelt condolences. We have all lost a true legend, and a very special man.’
