BLUES IN A GLORY BATTLE
THE 28million viewers, who tuned in to watch the FA Cup Final replay in April 1970, knew they were going to see more than a football match.
The rivalry between Leeds United and Chelsea went beyond a battle for trophies and points.
“We hated them and they hated us,” explained Chelsea striker Ian Hutchinson.
For Southerners, Leeds were proof that it is grim ‘oop North’ and Chelsea were every Yorkshireman’s idea of flash Londoners.
Those who watched that replay were either Leeds or Chelsea – or perhaps they just wanted to see bad blood spilled.
That was guaranteed. The rivalry reached a peak in the 1969-70 season when the sides met six times.
Chelsea won a League Cup tie after a replay, but both fiercely contested First Division fixtures went Leeds’ way and as the season headed for its climax, the team managed by Don Revie (below) were in the hunt for the League, FA Cup and European Cup.
That meant a spell of eight games in 14 days and, with a squad of only 20 players to choose from, Revie decided to surrender Leeds’ defence of the First Division title and focus on the cups.
Celtic beat them in the semi-final of the European Cup, but there was still the FA Cup to play for – and scores to settle. Leeds had led twice at Wembley and appeared to have one hand on the cup after Mick Jones put them 2-1 up after 84 minutes.
But Hutchinson’s header, two minutes later, sent the match into extra time. There were no further goals, meaning the sides met again at Old Trafford 18 days later.
Leeds winger Eddie Gray was named man of the match at Wembley and that made him a target for some ruthless treatment in the replay.
Elsewhere, Billy Bremner was left on the ground clutching his face by Eddie McCreadie’s flying tackle and Johnny Giles and Jack Charlton both put the boot in for Leeds.
Mick Jones’ strike had Leeds ahead until the 78th minute when Peter Osgood made a run and his welldisguised header found the net.
The match was finally won in the 104th minute of the replay, David Webb bundling home a header to take the trophy back to Stamford Bridge.