BOBBY TAMBLING

Bobby Tambling is a retired English footballer, who played most notably for Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the 1960s and 1970s. He is Chelsea's all-time top scorer, netting 202 goals in 370 games for them.

LEGEND

Tambling left Palace in October 1973 for Ireland, where he was signed by Cork Celtic. In his first season he helped the team win its first (and only) League of Ireland championship. He then took over as player-manager, with limited success, before leaving in 1977.

He was also the first manager of fellow Irish club, Cork City, in 1984, but his reign lasted only 13 games.

He continues to live in Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland where he is involved with Crosshaven's senior side. He has led Crosshaven to the Munster Senior League Junior 1st Division & Premier Division in the past few years before taking the seaside club back into the senior ranks. Tambling has a suite named after him at Stamford Bridge in honour of his status at Chelsea and was recently named in the club's greatest ever XI, selected to mark the club's centenary.

Bobby [70] is currently a patient in the South Infirmary, Victoria Hospital, Old Black Rock Road, Cork, Ireland.

My thoughts and best wishes go out to him and his family at this difficult time.

UPDATE - 25th Jan .....

'Spoke to Bobby yesterday, he's been in Hospital for 6 weeks for 2 (Fairly minor) procedures but will need time to recover. Family requested details remain private etc

Ron Harris and Paddy Mulligan have visited him in recent days. He is expecting to make a full recovery and indeed is booked to travel to attend Chelsea V Stoke game in near future as guest of Chelsea FC.

Theres a large Chelsea Support in Cork and indeed a Chelsea Pub so a few of us are to visit him this afternoon and will pass on all best Wishes. [Roy Foran]