John Terry helps save former youth football club 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'

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.