Inside story on infamous "dirtiest match ever" between Chelsea and Leeds

With nearly a decade of bad blood and the chance to win their first-ever FA Cup, it is no wonder there were fisticuffs between Chelsea and Leeds United back in 1970.

That might just be an understatement for what has since been described as the most brutal game in English footballing history.

On 11 April 1970 at Wembley, there was a real battle between the north and the south - the Yorkshire lads and the London boys.

Neither had won the cup before, though had come close when Leeds and Chelsea finished runners-up in 1965 and 1967 respectively.

Both sides had players that are now synonymous with their club histories - Peter Lorimer, Ron Harris, Norman Hunter, Peter Osgood, Johnny Giles, Charlie Cookie.

And while they were all blessed with sparkling football skills, there is one thing they loved to do more than anything - kick absolute lumps out of each other.

Chelsea and Leeds' rivalry stretches back throughout the 60s where the two sides had several bruising encounters and the FA Cup final had more than its fair share of score settling.

On a Wembley pitch that had been barely recovered from the Horse of the Year Show that had taken place just days before, Jack Charlton struck first before Peter Houseman equalised before half-time.

A frantic final five minutes saw Leeds take the lead again though Mick Jones only for Ian Hutchinson to send the final to a replay - the first time since 1912 such an occurrence had happened.

Later that month on April 29, people eagerly awaited part two of this mouthwatering saga - 28 million to be precise tuned in on television alone - the second-most for an English audience behind the 1966 World Cup final.

The FA agreed that the Wembley pitch could not be used so Old Trafford was the venue that hosted what would become one of the most notorious matches of all-time.

Referee Eric Jennings showed just one yellow card throughout - Michael Oliver reviewed the match recently and counted as many as 11 red card offences.

Mere seconds into the match and Chelsea had set the tempo when 'Chopper' Harris scythed Eddie Gray down the back of his knee - effectively putting him out of action.

Hunter and Hutchinson would later be spotted trading punches before Eddie McCreadie drop-kicked Billy Bremner in the head while in his own penalty box.

The opening goal came about after Leeds' Jones smashed into Chelsea keeper Peter Bonetti and injuring him in the process and netting past the limping goalie minutes later.

Chelsea star striker Osgood had been having an ongoing battle with Charlton, where several headbutts were thrown, knees into the side and some colourful language for good measure.

It was the forward that equalised for the Blues through a diving header, largely because the Leeds defender had given up his position to try and get some revenge on his rival.

Chelsea would go on to take the lead after a long throw evaded everyone except David Webb, who scored at the far post to hand the Blues their first-ever FA Cup.

But it was not earned without some bruised bodies in the morning, though the match earned praise throughout for its splendid football on offer and determination.

If such a match went ahead now, it would likely have been called off before a riot would break out…

Now while the rivalry between Chelsea and Leeds is not quite so vicious anymore, there will certainly be quite the atmosphere when the Whites from up north come down to descend on Kings Road.

Don't expect any penalty box drop kicks to the head but these two sides know how to serve up a football match - and there could be another classic on the horizon.