John Terry has had to get accustomed to being regarded as a bit of a villain outside Stamford Bridge, but this season he wouldn’t have it any other way.

For 22 years, Terry could count upon getting a warm reception at his beloved Chelsea, where he progressed through the youth ranks to become their most successful captain.

But as far as club football is concerned, that was about it. Hearing boos and jeers everywhere else was just part of the norm. Until now.

Whatever happens in the Championship Play-off Final on Saturday , Terry will be able to count Aston Villa fans among his admirers, too.

Initially there was a lot of suspicion, rather than excitement, when he moved to Villa Park on a free transfer last summer. Villa supporters feared that their club was merely being used as a final pay-day for the then 36-year-old, who realised he could no longer get a regular outing in a Chelsea shirt.

Plus, the rigours of the Championship would surely prove too much for a centre-half that many deemed past his best?

But Terry has provided the foundations on what Villa’s promotion campaign has been built upon. Including the play-off semi-final, he has started 34 games in the Championship. It would have been a lot more but for a broken metatarsal in November.

Not for the first time, Terry has proved people wrong. As he explained recently: “The fans have been a key part of me taking to this club. My first hope was that they would cheer me when I arrived. I’ve been here with Chelsea a number of times and it’s been extremely hostile.

“What was important for me is I never wanted it to be seen as a move simply because I was coming towards the end of my career. That’s never been me as a character or me as a footballer. I’d like to think the Villa fans have seen that in my performances this year.”

Terry’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed within the club, either. His work-rate and professionalism are regarded as having a positive influence on the youngsters coming through, as well as Jack Grealish, whose potential is starting to be realised.

An example of the former England international’s commitment came when director of football Steve Round was looking to leave the training ground one evening.

Long after the squad had gone, he could hear lots of loud shouting from one of the rooms. It turned out to be Terry playing an intense game of head tennis with team-mate Robert Snodgrass.

Instead of a swansong, Villa now want to trigger an option in Terry’s contract and extend his stay by another year. Whether he accepts could depend on if they beat Fulham, but Terry’s battle to win over the Villa naysayers has already been won.