After serving as the setting for a famous group photo that appeared on the back of the band's Very Best Of album and the inner sleeve of their 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, the Edwardian structure located on Coronation Street in Ordsall has become a shrine for Smiths fans. Morrissey's recent donation could revolutionize the 121-year-old club, which has a long history of nurturing young talent and a mission to "Brighten Young Lives and Make Good Citizens." It was first reported earlier this year that the organization was having financial trouble.
Morrissey's donation will increase the current amount to £216,000 after the M.E.N. organized a fundraiser, putting the club in reach of its £250,000 goal. The long-term goal is to establish a £1 million Legacy Fund, a permanent endowment fund that might yield returns of between £40,000 and £50,000 annually.
Laura Slingsby, head of the club's youth operations told Manchester Evening News: "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."
"For over a century, Salford Lads and Girls Club has been a place where young people can come together, find their voices, and develop identities rooted in heritage," she said. "Morrissey's connection to the club, immortalised through iconic moments in music history, has created a lasting cultural link that resonates deeply with the young people here."
