At the end of a Stamford Bridge career that dates back to October 1998 and has now yielded 15 major trophies following the table-topping achievement of this season, with the potential of another still to come, Terry addressed the fans inside the stadium and then spoke about a momentous day after heading back down the tunnel.

‘It was a very tough day for me, it’s an awful long time I have been at the football club and I am delighted to get the ovation and the send-off,’ he said.

‘It was very, very emotional. It was an incredible send off from the players and the supporters. They have been my life and my family for 22 years and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. It is an incredible feeling to have stayed at this club so long.’

Terry admitted there had been tears when asked, although that was pretty plain to see anyway.

‘The club means everything. As a 14-year-old I cleaned the stadium where the fans sit today, I have cleaned the seats, cleaned the toilets, the players’ boots, I have started right from the bottom and to work my way up I have had to work very hard and make some sacrifices along the way, and I think that is why I have such a great relationship with the fans because I am one of them.

‘This was one of the best moments all day long. You look back at the first Premier League trophy in 2004/05 as a special moment but this is right up there with it.

‘I have not done too much playing myself [this season] but the players have been excellent. The manager has come in with a new formation and a new system and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they have played. They had a target in this game, to break the record and win 30 games and they have done that, and now there is another big game next week.’

