Born in London, to a St. Lucian mother and Dominican father, Defoe attended St Joachim Primary School in Custom House[8] and St Bonaventure's Catholic Comprehensive School in Forest Gate, London.[9] He joined the Sunday league team Senrab, well known in London for producing players such as Lee Bowyer, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Ledley King,[7] and then joined the FA National School of Excellence at Lilleshall, Shropshire, as a 14-year-old in 1997. While he was there he attended Idsall School