Stamford Bridge

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Lore & Background

The rivalry between Chelsea and Leeds United is a football rivalry between London-based club Chelsea and Yorkshire-based Leeds United. The rivalry first emerged in the 1960s after a series of fiercely contested and controversial matches, when the two clubs were frequently involved in the pursuit of domestic and European honours culminating in the 1970 FA Cup final, which is regarded as one of the most physical matches in English football history. The perceived contrast between the clubs also fuelled the rivalry, summed up as 'Yorkshire grit versus flash Cockney.' The rivalry between the clubs often spilled out onto the terraces: at the height of British football hooliganism in the 1970s and 1980s, Chelsea's Headhunters and Leeds' Service Crew were among the most notorious football firms and had numerous violent encounters with each other. Hooliganism has been effectively curtailed since the 1990s and the rivalry has since declined. In the Official Chelsea Biography, Leeds were cited as one of Chelsea's major rivalries. However, Leeds' relegation from the Premier League in 2004 had effectively ended the rivalry; the clubs only met once in sixteen years afterwards. The clubs met again in the 2020–21 Premier League season, as Leeds United was promoted after winning the EFL Championship in 2019–20. The first such meeting ended in a 3–1 Chelsea victory at Stamford Bridge on 5 December 2020, and evidence of the rivalry resurfaced. In the 2003 Football Fans Census, while Leeds fans named Chelsea as their second-biggest rivals, behind Manchester United, Chelsea fans consider Arsenal to be their main rivals, followed by a rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

In Their Own Story

On 5 December 2020, Stamford Bridge hosted a reunion of the historic rivalry after sixteen years of separation. Leeds United had been promoted following their EFL Championship win in 2019-20, ending a long hiatus where they only met once since 2004. The match ended in a 3-1 Chelsea victory, reigniting the animosity that defined the 1960s and 70s. In earlier eras, the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge was often described as 'mad,' with players like Peter Bonetti noting how both teams matched each other's physicality. The ground saw Leeds fans singing about 'shoot[ing] the Chelsea scum' while Chelsea reciprocated with an elegy to hatred set to 'The Dambusters March.' In 1966, a crowd of 57,000 watched Chelsea win 1-0 against Leeds in an FA Cup fourth round tie, where the young home team 'withstood an almost continuous battering' from their rivals.

Reader's Guide

Stamford Bridge has hosted many key matches in the Chelsea–Leeds rivalry. During the 1969–70 season, Chelsea and Leeds met six times. Leeds won 5–2 at Stamford Bridge in the league that season. The clubs first met in a competitive match in the Second Division on 10 December 1927; Leeds won 5–0. Leeds also won 3–2 in the return fixture at Stamford Bridge that season to clinch promotion back to Division One. In 1952, they contested a gruelling fifth round FA Cup tie which took three matches to produce a winner, Chelsea eventually prevailed 5–1 in a second replay at Villa Park. In 1964–65, Chelsea and Leeds met in a league match at Stamford Bridge in September 1964. In 1966, the teams met in an FA Cup fourth round tie, where a crowd of 57,000 saw Chelsea win 1–0 with a goal from Bobby Tambling. The rivalry intensified when they met in the FA Cup again a year later, this time a semi-final at Villa Park, which Chelsea won 1–0. Six months later, Leeds gained revenge by beating managerless Chelsea 7–0 at Elland Road, their biggest ever win in the fixture. The 1970 FA Cup final replay took place at Old Trafford, not Stamford Bridge.

Did You Know?

• Leeds United's biggest ever win over Chelsea was 7–0, but that match took place at Elland Road, not Stamford Bridge.
• During the 1969–70 season, Leeds won 5–2 at Stamford Bridge in the league.
• Referee Eric Jennings booked only one player – Ian Hutchinson – over the two games of the 1970 FA Cup final and replay.
• The 1970 FA Cup final replay at Old Trafford attracted a UK television audience of 28 million.