A mụrụ ya na Barking, London, Terry gara ụlọ akwụkwọ Eastbury Comprehensive School ma soro ndị otu egwuregwu egwuregwu Sunday Senrab, nke gosipụtara ndị egwuregwu Premier League n'ọdịnihu Chelsea Sol Campbell, Jermain Defoe, Bobby Zamora, Ledley King na Jlloyd Samuel. Mgbe ọ bụ nwata, ọ bụ akụkụ nke usoro ntorobịa nke West Ham United, sonyeere ha dị ka onye na-agba bọọlụ na 1991. Ọ kwagara Chelsea na 14, na-egwu maka ndị ntorobịa na ndị ọrụ nchekwa nke klọb ahụ. Ọ bụ n'ihi ụkọ nke ndị na-agbachitere etiti ka a kpọfere ya na etiti azụ, ọnọdụ ọ na-egwu taa. Mgbe ọ gụsịrị akwụkwọ, ọ sonyeere klọb ahụ na YTS na 16 ma bịanye aka n'akwụkwọ ọrụ otu afọ mgbe e mesịrị.
Mwakpo nke Septemba 11