Salford Lads' Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salford Lads' Club |
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Salford Lads' Club in 2014
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| General information | |
| Location | Ordsall, Salford, England. |
| Coordinates | 53°28′36.73″N 2°16′27.77″W / 53.4768694°N 2.2743806°W |
| Construction started | 1903 |
| Completed | 1904 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Henry Lord |
Salford Lads' Club is a special place in the Ordsall area of Salford, England. It's a club where young people can hang out, learn new things, and have fun. The club is located on the corner of St. Ignatius Walk and Coronation Street.
It first opened in 1903 as a club just for boys. But today, it welcomes everyone, boys and girls! They offer lots of activities like sports, art shows, and cultural events. The club also invites people from all over the world to visit on special open days. You can even buy cool stuff there to help the club keep going.
The famous Robert Baden-Powell, who later started the Scout movement, officially opened the club on January 30, 1904. Many well-known people were once members, including footballers Albert McPherson, Steve Fleet, Eddie Colman, and Brian Doyle. Also, Allan Clarke and Graham Nash from the 1960s pop group The Hollies were members. Graham Nash later joined the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
In 2003, the building became a protected building. This means it's very important because its inside looks almost exactly as it did when it first opened. It still has its original boxing ring, snooker rooms, and a gym with a viewing balcony. Experts say it's the best example of this type of club left in England. In 2007, the Manchester Evening News newspaper said the club was one of the most iconic buildings in the country. It even appeared on the album cover for The Smiths' album The Queen Is Dead.
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Club History
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In the 1800s, people started creating boys' clubs. The idea was to give young boys a safe place to go instead of being "on the streets." These clubs wanted to help boys become good citizens. Rich business people often set them up. They soon realized that to keep boys interested, they needed more than just quiet games like draughts or billiards. They needed exciting activities like gymnastics, boxing, and outdoor sports.
In Salford and Manchester, many of these clubs opened in poorer areas. Salford Lads' Club was started in 1903 by two brothers, James and William Groves. Their family owned a brewery in Salford. The club was designed by Henry Lord, a Salford architect who also designed other important buildings. The club first opened in August 1903. Robert Baden-Powell, who would later start the Scout movement, officially opened it on January 31, 1904.
The club was open every evening. In winter, it could have as many as 1,000 members!
Annual Camps
Since 1904, the club has held an annual camp holiday. This tradition started even before Robert Baden-Powell created the first Scout camps. The first camp for Salford Lads' Club was in Llanddulas in 1904, with 173 boys attending. Since 1934, these camps have taken place during Whitsun.
What Kids Do Today
Today, young people at the club can enjoy many activities. These include football, snooker, table tennis, computer games, boxing training, and dance. They also have community meetings, art shows, kickboxing, trips, and jujitsu.
Music, Film, and Culture
The famous 1960s pop group The Hollies used to practice at the club before they became well-known. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash were both members, and their old membership cards are still kept at the club.
The club became famous around the world in 1986. The band The Smiths took a photo in front of the building for the inside cover of their album The Queen Is Dead. The club's outside also appeared in The Smiths' music videos for "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" and "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before". At first, some people at the club were not happy about this. However, the club now welcomes fans of The Smiths. The photo, taken by Stephen Wright, was even put in the National Portrait Gallery in 2008. The club also appeared in the music video for The Dream Academy's song "Life in a Northern Town".
In 2003, a film was made to celebrate the club's 100th birthday. The film was introduced by Peter Hook, a musician from the bands Joy Division and New Order. He grew up near the club. The film included interviews with older residents and young club members. Musician Vinny Peculiar has also worked with the club for a long time. He has performed for visiting fans and rehearsed with his band there.
The building has also been used for many films and TV shows. These include Channel 4's Shameless, the 2002 remake of The Forsyte Saga, and the film version of Jacqueline Wilson's novel "Illustrated Mum". It also appeared in the BBC police drama Conviction, the 2008 remake of Survivors, and the final season of Peaky Blinders. Even sports shows like BBC Sport's The Football League Show and Football Focus have filmed there. In December 2023, the club hosted a special party for the fashion house Chanel.
In 2003, Historic England officially recognized the club as a Grade II listed building. This means it's a very important historical building. They noted that it is "thought to be the most complete example of this rare form of social provision to survive in England."
Helping the Club
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Salford Lads and Girls Club is a registered charity. This means it relies on donations to keep going. In the past, the building needed a lot of repairs. In May 2007, a big effort was started to raise £1 million to fix up the building. The club also got help and money after being shown on the Channel 4 TV series The Secret Millionaire in November 2007. A property developer named Chek Whyte first gave £15,000 for repairs. He then paid for roof repairs and has continued to help the club.
Morrissey, the former lead singer of The Smiths, also gave money to help with repairs. He wanted to keep his £20,000 donation a secret, but he was convinced that making it public would help the fundraising campaign even more.
In 2008, Vinny Peculiar released a song called "Lazy Bohemians" to support the club's fundraising. He also released "Ghost Camp," a song he wrote with former Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon. This song was written for a play that won an award at Salford Lads' Club.
Amazing Volunteers
Two of the club's most dedicated volunteers were Arthur Edward (Archie) Swift and Eric Salthouse. Together, they gave over 100 years of service to the club! They both received awards for their hard work. Archie Swift was named 'Salford Citizen of the Month' in April 2004 for his lifelong volunteering. Eric Salthouse was called 'My Hero' in a magazine in June 2004. Archie Swift also received an MBE award from HM the Queen in 2006 for his services to young people. The club shared the sad news that Archie passed away in April 2023, at the age of 88.
