S Poddar
Morrissey, lead singer with The Smiths, has donated £50,000 to save a beloved youths club in Salford, which was immortalized in one of the album covers of the band. This follows after Salford Lads Club at Coronation Street announced its possible closure in November as it needed urgent funding.
The club, in a redbrick building that was inaugurated in 1904, joined Manchester’s music heritage when it appeared on the inner sleeve of The Smiths’ 1986 album The Queen is Dead. Laura Slingsby from the club said it was “really lovely, generous, and overwhelming” that Morrissey showed his support.
Fans of The Smiths continue to flock into the club from all corners of the globe, drawn by the club’s long history of association with the band. This is not the first time Morrissey has expressed solidarity; in 2007, he donated £20,000 towards roof repairs that were considered absolutely necessary.
It therefore takes the club closer to the £250,000 by £40,000 this round. The club hopes for a significant amount by November, and if it stays afloat, it won’t have to close by the end of the season. Rising maintenance costs combined with rising personnel costs ate through the club’s budgets. Organizers say this money is critical for its continued operation and keeping afloat.
Salford Lads Club is running its youth programs and teams that offer football to boys and girls. Founded first as an exclusive club for boys by its founder, Robert Baden-Powell of the Scout Movement, it now finds itself a source for life in the community. But before Morrissey came along, the club has been doing pretty well through other efforts; they collected £160,000 alone, and this is part of £100,000 donated by Salford City Council.
Slingsby further commented on how the community support has created an atmosphere of hope and encouragement. “It’s so exciting to see the support coming in,” she said while noting the way it has furthered a sense of a common mission to preserve an even place that continues to inspire not only young people but also music enthusiasts alike.
