There are people in life you feel proud to have as friends. Robert (Bobby) Victor Tambling, Sussex boy (born in Storrington in 1941), is one of those in my life.
Chelsea legend? Certainly. For 47 long years he was their all-time top scorer — 202 goals in all competitions. Frank Lampard eventually surpassed his record in 2013.
Bobby joined joined Chelsea as a 15-year-old. But before he signed for them, Reading, Wolves and Blackpool all showed interest in him. He was only 17 when he made his Chelsea debut in 1959. Their opponents that day was another famous London club — West Ham United. Chelsea won 3—2, and the 17-year-old scored.
When Jimmy Greaves (“Grievesy”) went to AC Milan two years later, Bobby became Chelsea’s main striker, forming a lethal partnership with Barry Bridges. He made a total of 302 appearances for the club, scoring 164 goals in league competition.
From Chelsea he went to Crystal Palace (1970 — 1973) and scored 12 goals for them in his 68 appearances. And then he came to Ireland, where has lived with his partner Val ever since, in the Cork Harbour town of Crosshaven.
The last tour of Cork Hibernians 1976
