James Chester reveals the significance of John Terry at Aston Villa.

James Chester reveals the significance of John Terry at Aston Villa.

At Aston Villa, defensive duo James Chester and John Terry developed a close friendship while playing together.

Favorite James Chester of Aston Villa says that until John Terry actually entered Bodymoor Heath, he didn’t think the player might be joining the team. It’s only been years since their successful collaboration that Chester realizes how impressive it is for his former teammate to remain at the top for such a long time.

Chester, who is currently at Barrow, joined Chelsea legend Terry a year after he arrived at Villa from West Brom in the summer of 2016. Under Steve Bruce, the two formed a strong defensive tandem that helped the Lions finish in the play-offs before Fulham defeated them in the championship game.

Chester can attest that Terry’s year at Villa Park as a player wasn’t for lack of effort, and he was a key figure in the development and leadership on the field.

At Aston Villa, JT was outstanding, according to Chester. “I wasn’t particularly convinced when the rumors that he was visiting Villa began to circulate. You could not help but be impressed by John’s personal qualities when he entered the training area and changing room.

“The older I’ve gotten, the more I respect his skill as a football player. The older I get in my career, the more I admire him for still being able to play at the level he was at and looking so at ease. He is 36 years old.

Shortly after leaving the club that summer, Terry would retire and return to Villa as a coach under Bruce’s successor, Dean Smith. However, Chester was already suffering from injuries a few months later, which would ruin his last years at Villa Park and prevent him from being involved in their actual promotion at Wembley in 2019.

“I played under Steve Bruce at Hull and Aston Villa, and he was good at putting together a good group of people who not only had good ability but good characters to get the best out of people,” Chester continued. “That’s who put together the squad that we [Aston Villa] went up with.”

“There is obviously a new feel to the football club when a manager leaves and is replaced; they have their own ideas about how they want to do things, but Dean [Smith] was someone I really enjoyed working with.”