You are here: Home > News > Palace Pioneers: Bobby Tambling
September 17 2025 11.59pm

Palace Pioneers: Bobby Tambling

May 18 2011

Bobby Tambling

Bobby Tambling

Forward Bobby Tambling was Crystal Palace's first-ever loan signing.

The experienced Tambling was lent to Palace by London rivals Chelsea for three games in January 1970 as the Glaziers battled against the drop.

He failed to find the net as Palace struggled in their maiden top flight campaign, starting in the defeat at West Brom and the draws with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle before returning to the Blues.

The loan system had not been going for long and some clubs also scrapping to avoid relegation felt Palace had pulled a fast one, believing it was only for clubs to loan players out to the lower divisions.

Tambling had fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea after years of prolific scoring and joined Palace permanently along with Alan Birchenall for a combined transfer fee of £140,000 at the end of the season.

Tambling failed to match his success at Stamford Bridge - his 202 goals is still a Chelsea club record - but he scored some memorable goals during his time in SE25.

A 20-yard screamer that helped defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 1970, the penalty that knocked Arsenal out of the League Cup a few weeks later and a brace in the brilliant Anglo-Italian Cup triumph over Inter Milan at the San Siro in June 1971 were key moments.


In Depth Palace Pioneers

Email the HOL editor with your comments to editor@holmesdale.net

Latest Headlines

Palace Talk Forum Latest

CPISA updates
at 11.24pm by Pierre

Uefa Conference League
at 10.42pm by Spindle

Chris Richards
at 10.33pm by Teddy Eagle

Crystal Palace vs. Millwall match thread
at 10.29pm by Spindle

League (carabao) Cup
at 10.22pm by dreamwaverider

Farewell Eze?
at 6.09pm by Spindle

Pubs
at 9.01am by waterfordpal

Pub in Paphos for Millwall game.
at 6.29am by eagle52

Glasner is a Glazier ?
at 10.36pm by PalazioVecchio

Super U18s
at 7.50pm by mileend

You are here: Home > News > Palace Pioneers: Bobby Tambling