Chelsea legend Bobby Tambling 'celebrated in Cork as fiercely as anywhere'

"Simply put, he was my hero," said Tambling's son Jamie. "As a football mad boy growing up, having Bobby as your dad was incredible."

Former Chelsea and Cork Celtic footballer Bobby Tambling died last week aged 84. Pic: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Bobby Tambling was remembered for his modesty, determination and humour during a cremation service on Monday. The Chelsea legend, who made Cork his home, died last week aged 84.

Tambling was Chelsea's all-time top scorer for 45 years until his 202-goal tally was surpassed by Frank Lampard in 2013. He won a League of Ireland title with Cork Celtic in 1973-74, later becoming a beloved member of the Crosshaven sporting community. 

"Simply put, he was my hero," said his son Jamie.

"As a football mad boy growing up, having Bobby as your dad was incredible.

"As you get older, most children should probably come to the realisation that 'He might be my hero but Dad's not actually a hero', but of course that wasn't the case with Bobby. 

"Visiting Chelsea and seeing hardened, Shed End Chelsea supporters covered in tattoos and sporting skinhead haircuts, looking at Dad in awe, vigorously shaking his hand and in some cases holding back tears or not gives you an inkling that he's not just your hero.

"You share him with a fandom. He was an incredible dad to me for over 40 years. The characteristics which defined him in so many of our memories, his modesty, his humility, his determination and humour and his love were ever-present in our household.

"He was ferociously protective of my mum and I, our happiness and security, and went to great lengths to protect both in ways as a child growing up that you aren't fully aware of or appreciative of but now on reflection you treasure as a sign of his love.

"A man that graced Wembley Stadium in front of 100,000 people in the 1967 FA Cup Final, taking jobs on a building site and being appreciative of them to make sure we had a roof over our heads and food on the table."

In recent years, Tambling did hospitality work at Chelsea games along with another former Blues player, Gary Chivers. 

"In an era of celebrity status among professional footballers, Bobby was the antithesis of that very description," said Jamie.

"Always more at ease with the common fan and great numbers of them and always staying until the last programme had been autographed, hand shook or photograph taken.

"Gary Chivers can attest to this most recently as he was tasked with keeping Bobby on schedule while doing hospitality work at Stamford Bridge. They'd start at opposite ends of the stand, working their way through the boxes with a greeting, a little anecdote, an autograph or a photograph and the plan was always to meet at the halfway line in that centre box. 

"Chivs would always reach the halfway mark in good time. Bobby nowhere to be seen. Chivs would start working his way down towards Bobby's original start point and begin to hear the laughter coming from the second or third box on Bobby's list, the room hanging on Bobby's every word, feeling like they were centre of Bobby's world for that 30 minute period like we all did when we were in his company."

Jamie concluded: "He was a true legend. Born in Storrington. Made in Stamford Bridge. And celebrated in Cork as fiercely as anywhere."