Chelsea‘s former record goalscorer Bobby Tambling has died at the age of 84.
Tambling scored 202 goals from 370 games between 1959 and 1970, a record that was surpassed by Frank Lampard in May 2013.
Tambling scored on his debut as a 17-year-old and helped Chelsea win the League Cup in 1965, scoring against Leicester in the final.
He also scored as the Blues lost the 1967 FA Cup final to Tottenham and won three caps for England before joining Crystal Palace in 1970.
A statement on the Chelsea website said: “Chelsea Football Club has very sadly lost one of our most legendary players with the passing of Bobby Tambling at the age of 84.
“We send our deepest condolences to Bobby’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
Tambling finished his career in the Republic of Ireland and settled in Cork, where he managed local sides Cork Celtic, Cork City and Crosshaven.
In recent years, he had been living with dementia.
A statement on Crosshaven’s X account described Tambling as “a true Chelsea legend and an even more wonderful human being”.
“His warmth, his wisdom, his humour and his love will stay with us forever,” it added.
“He loved returning to [Stamford] 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.”
