Morrissey donates £50,000 to save Salford Lads Club
The Smiths frontman Morrissey has donated £50,000 to help save Greater Manchester’s iconic Salford Lads Club.
Earlier this month, the community hub revealed that its future was under threat. Salford Lads Club first opened its doors in 1903, and for the last 120 years, it has been a source of sanctity for many generations in Salford, who have used its facilities to practice a range of activities such as boxing, swimming, and gymnastics.
However, on a wider scale, the Salford Lads Club became internationally recognised when it featured on the sleeve of The Smiths’ seminal album, The Queen Is Dead, in 1986.
Despite the cultural cache attached to the Salford Lads Club, it’s struggling to survive in the current climate. Last year, the annual income of Salford Lads Club was only £160,000, while it cost £394,700 to run the club.
To heap further pressure on the community centre, this deficit of nearly £150,000 is coupled with the fact that the club has had its grant funding cut.
To survive, the Salford Lads and Girls Club Legacy Fund was set up with the Manchester Evening News. They hoped to raise £250,000 by the end of November, and as of writing, they have amassed over £166,000.
As revealed by the Manchester Evening News, their tally has been helped significantly by Morrissey who donated £50,000. Laura Slingsby, head of youth operations at the club, told the publication: “We are deeply grateful for Morrissey’s generous donation to Salford Lads and Girls Club. His support is more than a financial contribution; it’s a powerful endorsement of our mission and a tribute to the club’s enduring role in the lives of young people and the cultural heart of Salford.”
She continued: “His contribution reinforces the importance of preserving spaces like ours—places where young people connect with their community’s history, freely express themselves, and build the confidence they need for their futures.
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Furthermore, Slingsby also revealed that the donation was first made anonymously, and it wasn’t until his representatives came forward did they realise that Morrissey was the person who had donated £50,000.
According to Slingsby, Morrissey was not willing to make a public statement about his donation, but was happy for Salford Lads Club to share the news of his generous gift if it helped them reach their goal by gaining publicity.
Slingsby also touched upon the cultural importance of saving Salford Lads Club, stating, “Morrissey’s support is a testament to how much this mission matters—not just to those of us working with young people but to everyone who treasures Salford’s legacy. I’m incredibly passionate about this work, and seeing that same passion echoed in others is overwhelming. Together, we’re brightening young lives and ensuring that light never goes out.”
Furthermore, Manchester band Courteeners, who released their seventh album Pink Cactus Café on October 25th, have donated £5,000 to the GoFundMe campaign. Additionally, gig promoters SJM Concerts have put £10,000 into saving Salford Lads Club.
While the Salford Lads Club remains a significant away from raising £250,000, if they continue to collate money at this rate then they’ll hit the total before the end of November.
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