For youthful Chelsea followers, North London’s Tottenham are the hated particular enemy. But for Blues supporters of a sure classic, Wednesday’s night time FA Cup tie in opposition to Leeds United rekindles a bitter rivalry with a workforce over 200 miles away which began within the Sixties and made headlines on and off the pitch for many years.
“The competition between the two sides was vicious,” recalled Chelsea FanCast podcaster Jonathan Kydd. “It was hot stuff at the time. And it is still very relevant if you are a certain age.”
Over 60 years in the past, Chelsea and Leeds had been vying for promotion out of the outdated Division Two whereas taking part in completely different types beneath Tommy Docherty and Don Revie. But either side might and would get caught in. When they met in a violent high flight at Stamford Bridge in September 1964, Jonny Giles left the sphere on a stretcher to see the feud take centre stage within the English recreation.
The X-rated kung-fu tackles wouldn’t be tolerated within the Premier League.
When David Elleray re-refereed the infamous 1970 FA Cup closing replay between Chelsea and Leeds 27 years later, the FIFA official branded six reds and 20 yellow playing cards. Michael Oliver revealed in 2020 he would have despatched off 11 gamers in a brutal match which had just one reserving.
Eddie McCreadie took out Billy Bremner with a flying excessive sort out which might see him banned for months now however referee Eric Jennings simply waved play on. Norman Hunter and Ron “Chopper” Harris would get arrested with their old-school tackling in 2024.
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When each golf equipment fell into decline within the Nineteen Seventies, the rivalry continued by hooliganism and 153 followers had been arrested throughout a mass brawl at Piccadilly Circus in October 1982.
Pipkins star Kydd claimed the Chelsea followers hated the tough ways of Revie’s “Dirty Leeds” – and had been additionally a bit jealous of their success.
“My theory is that they were just filthy Leeds – they were just filthy,” he stated. “That was why we hated them a lot. They had been our essential rivals and there have been all the time these massive bust-ups on the pitch.
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“And I believe it was a North v South factor. Chelsea had been very a lot the trendsetters. The Kings Road Johnnies and it was like them placing the South of their place.
“Working class against showbiz johnnies was part of it. They really were ripe occasions. I remember coming out of Leeds railway station wearing a Chelsea scarf and a policeman came up to me and said: ‘Don’t wear that here lad, you will be killed! Hide it quick!’ I remember I went to the 1970 FA Cup final replay with my dad and was spat at in the car park. The rivalry was absolutely febrile – it was hot stuff at the time.
“And it was also because the competition was so immense. They were also really tough games. They were the best side in England at the time with a specific game plan – I wish Chelsea had one at the moment – and some terrific players. Some of it was also jealousy because they were so good.
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“But they had that ****housery side to them which Revie taught them to do. He would take no prisoners. I don’t think it was just a Chelsea thing – I think so many teams hated them because of the ****housery they got up to.”
Leeds spent 16 years out of the Premier League after 2004 when Roman Abramovich’s cash turned Chelsea into serial trophy winners.
But “We All Hate Leeds” remains to be sung at Stamford Bridge whereas Elland Road can nonetheless reverberate to the mantra: “Fetch your father’s gun and shoot the Chelsea scum”.
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After all these years, Leeds nonetheless lead the head-to-head document however have by no means overwhelmed Chelsea in eight FA Cup ties. Defeat for Mauricio Pochettino’s aspect on Wednesday night time is unthinkable for the Blues on so many ranges.
“This rivalry is relevant to fans of a certain age of which there is still a big demographic at the Bridge,” added Kydd, 68. “If you’re over 50, you get it. The youthful followers hate Tottenham extra.
“And I think it is because Leeds were out of the division for so long. I think if Leeds had been there, the rivalry would have been more intense.
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“But I went to the Premier League video games performed the final two seasons and there may be nonetheless hatred – you possibly can really feel it coming from the stands.
“People are already looking forward to it because it is Leeds. “We can’t fail against them. It is bloody dirty Leeds”. The phrase soiled is all the time used while you point out Leeds. The scars are all the time there.”