SUNDERLAND

Terry’s farewell bash at the Bridge. Turned out that even Sunderland played the game, putting the ball out in the 26th minute so he could be substituted in tribute to the shirt number he has always worn for the Blues.

Sunderland gave Terry a guard of honour onto the pitch, and his Chelsea team-mates gave him one off it as he left for the final time.

It wasn’t really a proper Premier League match at all, more of a testimonial.

The other presentation? Chelsea picked up the Premier League trophy they won last week by beating West Bromwich Albion.

And as already-relegated Sunderland ever so politely refused to spoil the day, Antonio Conte’s champions celebrated a record 30 wins in a single season, an achievement helped in no small part by their lack of involvement in European competition after their slump in form last season.

Keeper Thibaut Courtois was honoured with the Golden Gloves award for keeping the most clean sheets in a season (16). But it was all about that fellow in the No26 shirt, playing his 717st game for the club, the only one to have come through the Chelsea ranks in the modern era and establish a career at the club.

Right from the start there were blue-and-white foil strips in the Shed End, a giant ‘Captain Leader Legend’ flag in the Matthew Harding Stand, another saying ‘John Terry Proper Chels’, a ‘Thank You for Everything’ banner and a massive sign outside the ground saying ‘Thank You – Grazie’.

Chelsea even took to the field in tracksuit tops with ‘Thank You JT’ on the back.

Terry, who will leave at the end of the season on a free transfer with West Brom,