Bob Tambling, who held Chelsea's all-time scoring record for decades, has died. He was 84.
The club confirmed his death Thursday, describing him as "one of our most legendary players" whose "name is written very large in our history."
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
Tambling scored 202 goals in 370 appearances for Chelsea between 1959 and 1970. He made his debut at age 17 in 1959 and was part of the team that won the League Cup in 1965, scoring against Leicester in the final. His five goals in a single match against Aston Villa in 1966 remains a Chelsea record.
He also played for Crystal Palace and earned three international caps for England.
Frank Lampard surpassed Tambling's tally in 2013, ending a reign that spanned more than four decades.
After settling in Cork, Ireland, Tambling managed Cork Celtic, Cork City and Crosshaven. He had been diagnosed with dementia in recent years.
Crosshaven AFC announced his passing, calling him "a true Chelsea legend and an even more wonderful human being."
Legacy
Tambling's scoring record stood as a benchmark in English football for over forty years. His single-season exploits and sustained goal output placed him among Chelsea's most prolific forwards in the club's history.