West Ham may be locked in a relegation battle with Leeds United and suffered FA Cup heartache at their hands – but there’s plenty of respect between the two clubs.
Leeds ended West Ham’s Wembley dream when they beat them on penalties in the FA Cup quarter-final at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Focus will now turn to a more important battle between the Hammers and the Elland Road outfit for the last seven games of the season.
West Ham can go a point behind Leeds – who face Man United away next – with a win over Wolves on Friday night.
Leeds thank West Ham for pure class with tribute
The great manager Bill Shankly once suggested football is more important than life or death.
But West Ham’s act of class proved that is not the case when Leeds came to east London on Easter Sunday.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jose Sa punches clear under pressure from West Ham United's Max Kilman during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United at Molineux on January 3, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England.
The day marked 26 years since Leeds supporters, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, travelled to Turkey to watch their team but tragically never came home.
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Chris and Kevin were brutally murdered in Istanbul on the eve of the club’s UEFA Cup semi-final clash against Galatasaray in the year 2000.
West Ham United players react after West Ham United v Leeds United - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
There may be little love lost between most clubs given the tribal nature of football, but West Ham proved the perfect opponents for Leeds to mark the lives of Christopher and Kevin.
Before the trip to the London Stadium, Leeds announced they would lay two wreaths in front of the traveling supporters in memory of ‘Chris & Kev’.
The Hammers more than played their part, though, winning praise from Leeds by helping pay their own tribute to the murdered duo.
West Ham displayed pictures of Chris and Kev on their giant screens at both ends of the stadium alongside the words: “Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, never forgotten”.
Hammers join tribute to ‘never forgotten’ Leeds fans Chris and Kev
Leeds posted a picture of one of the big screens, saying “Thank you West Ham! #Football Family.”
The fact of the matter is West Ham and Leeds are working class clubs with plenty in common.
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West Ham United's Pablo after missing the crucial penalty during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between West Ham United and Leeds United on April 5, 2026 in London, England.
Responses to the post sum that up perfectly with Leeds fans lauding the Hammers and many even stating they want them to stay in the Premier League and vice versa.
A common theme from both sides in the replies was ‘proper fans and proper club’.
A general view of Leeds United fans at West Ham's London Stadium
Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Many see the Hammers and Leeds as ‘cult clubs’ who are strikingly similar in both identity and supporter culture, despite their different histories at the top level.
At their core, both clubs are built on strong working-class roots, with fans who pride themselves on loyalty, passion and a deep emotional connection to their team.
There is a rawness to both fanbases that sets them apart from most others. West Ham supporters were famed for the atmosphere created at Upton Park, just as Leeds fans have maintained Elland Road as one of the most intense atmospheres in English football.
Fans of both clubs expect commitment, effort and honesty above all else. Of course results matter, but attitude matters more.
That’s why when it came to rising above rivalries and doing the right thing to honour Chris and Kev, Leeds and the Hammers were the perfect match-up for the emotional occasion.
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