There was champagne, all the wives and kids were there, and the speeches were good. No one was sick, and there were no punch-ups.
The company laid on some nice fireworks and streamers, there was some singing and dancing, the girls from accounts turned up, and thankfully no one booked a stripppergram.
There was a nice presentation at the end – 22 years at one company is a decent stint, after all. Certainly there will be a gold watch involved. Oh, and there was a football match as well. Can’t remember much about that.
John 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.
Sunderland gave him a guard of honour onto the pitch, 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, they celebrated a record 30 wins in a single season – and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois won the Golden Gloves award for keeping the most clean sheets in a season (16).
But it was all about that fellow in the No 26 shirt, playing his 717th 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, Bournemouth, Stoke and clubs in China and the Middle East all interested in him, has now won more trophies at Stamford Bridge than he has had managers – 15 to 14.
And you would not bet against him adding the FA Cup to that list next Saturday at Wembley when Chelsea face Arsenal in the final. He is unlikely to start, but he will play a part.
The match? Sunderland actually took the lead after two minutes, when Chelsea failed to clear a free-kick and Javier Manquillo popped up at the far post to volley home.
But after that Sunderland, in David Moyes’ 499th game as a manager, effectively packed up and went home. Willian, clearly playing for a place in the final, levelled three minutes later.
PA
Chelsea news: John Terry waves goodbye
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Off went Terry, and once everyone had had a break and a refreshing drink, the game started again. Chelsea took the lead when Willian found Diego Costa, who chested the ball down and fed Eden Hazard, who fired his shot into the corner.
Costa then went off and waved goodbye to the crowd – China beckons in the summer – and Chelsea increased their lead when Joleon Lescott blundered and Pedro nodded home.
By now, the dancefloor was clearing and the DJ was onto the slow numbers. At least he was as far as the Sunderland defence were concerned.
Michy Batshuayi, who had come on for Costa, made it four goals in three games as first he fired under Jordan Pickford in the final minute, and in injury time picked the ball up with the Black Cats defence AWOL, and shot into the far corner.
At the final whistle, the players and staff ran onto the pitch, and manager Antonio Conte was soaked. Now, is there any money left behind the bar?