Only 90 seconds had elapsed when the chanting began.
"John Terry, we want you to stay," sang the Chelsea fans, reminding their club's hierarchy exactly how highly they still regard their captain on his first appearance at Stamford Bridge since last week's announcement that he will not be offered a contract extension at the end of the season.
For the remainder of the champions' 1-1 draw with Manchester United, the home crowd intermittently interjected to vocalise their support for the academy product who has won four league titles, eight domestic cups and a Uefa Champions League during an 18-year career in west London.
It is a lengthy association that both player and supporters are desperate to see extended.
Terry’s revelation that he will be departing in June came as a shock eight days ago, but the club’s subsequent insistence that the door is still open suggested that his public declaration contained a degree of political calculation.
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Indeed, many speculated that the move was a tactical gambit designed to try and force Chelsea’s hand, with Terry hoping to use the groundswell of public opinion to help him get the new deal he craves.
“We have dealt with this,” said Guus Hiddink, who brushed off questions about the issue in his post-match news conference. “We are – and he is – focusing on the games coming up.”
Despite the backing from the terraces, Terry and the majority of his teammates made a shaky start to the game.
While United strung together numerous passes and got into some threatening positions, Chelsea struggled to get a foothold in the early stages.
Possession was carelessly given away as attacks broke down before they had even got going, with Louis van Gaal’s side crisper and neater in their use of the ball.
Terry himself was guilty of some sloppy distribution, something of a surprise given his usual excellence at playing the ball out from the back, a quality of his that is often overlooked compared to the bravery, leadership and body-on-the-line style of defending that he is known for most.
The tide began to turn for Chelsea and Terry midway through the first period, however, with the hosts belatedly asserting themselves against their Champions League-chasing opponents.
A strong 20 minute-spell culminated in a penalty appeal on the stroke of half-time, when Terry’s shot struck the arm of Daley Blind inside the 18-yard box.
Referee Michael Oliver did not point to the spot, though, and Chelsea were unable to lift themselves after the break having failed to take the lead just before it.
Jesse Lingard’s fantastic finish after an hour looked like being the decisive moment until Diego Costa’s equaliser in second-half stoppage time, a strike that means United are now six rather than four points behind Manchester City and the top four.
For Chelsea, the prospect of qualifying for the Champions League via their top flight position ended long ago.
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They may be unbeaten since Jose Mourinho’s departure in mid-December, but last term’s title winners are still stuck in the bottom half of the table with just 13 matches of the current campaign remaining.
Although there is still silverware to play for in Europe and the FA Cup, it is difficult to escape the feeling that Chelsea are simply muddling through until the summer.
In such circumstances, Terry’s contract saga is an episode they could probably do without.
This was by no means the veteran centre-back’s finest performance, but there is little doubt that he has improved since the opening weeks of the season, when some disappointing displays led critics to prematurely contend that his legs had gone.
Even if the club’s next manager rules that Terry is no longer good enough to start every week in 2016/17, Chelsea fans – as they made clear throughout Sunday’s encounter – do not want to see his time at Stamford Bridge brought to an end just yet.
Whether they get their wish remains to be seen, but having thousands of supporters on his side can only help Terry’s cause.
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