21 April 2011 Last updated at 14:58 ET

John Terry helps save former youth football club Senrab

John Terry donated an undisclosed sum to Senrab

England and Chelsea captain John Terry has helped rescue his struggling boyhood football club.

The defender donated an undisclosed amount to Senrab in Tower Hamlets, east London, so it can continue to train its young footballers.

Other Premier League stars including Ledley King and Jermain Defoe also played for Senrab as youngsters.

But the club's existence was threatened due to increasing costs for training facilities.

'Big gang culture'

Former Senrab players

• John Terry
• Ledley King
• Bobby Zamora
• Jermain Defoe
• Ray Wilkins
• Alan Curbishley
• Lee Bowyer
• Paul Konchesky
• Darren Purse
• Jlloyd Samuel
• Fitz Hall
• Ade Akinbiyi
• Dario Gradi

The club's secretary Tony Carroll, who has been at Senrab for 20 years, said it was an important part of the local community.

"Where we are based in east London, there is a big gang culture," he said.

"They should be paying us money, the council, to keep these kids away from the gangs and get them into sport.

"I got a call from John Terry saying he's going to make a donation which would give us big breathing space.

"He's having words with other ex-players and hopefully they are going to contribute as well."

The 50-year-old club trains 350 children between the ages of five and 16.

It plays its matches at Wanstead Flats in east London, which is run by the City of London Corporation.

Terry said that he wanted to help immediately after hearing of the club's plight.

John Terry donated an undisclosed sum to Senrab