Salford Lads Club

Salford Lads Club (officially, the Salford Lads and Girls Club) is a boys and girls recreational club located in the Ordsall area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. The club was established in 1903 as a boys-only club, but today both boys and girls are welcome. The club organizes recreational activities for local youth, including football, snooker, table-tennis, computer games, boxing training, dance, community meetings, exhibitions, kickboxing, excursions and Jujitsu.

It was opened on January 30, 1904, by Robert Baden-Powell, later the founder of the scout movement. Among former members are actor Albert Finney, 1950's footballers, Albert McPherson, Steve Fleet, Eddie Coleman and Brian Doyle, Allan Clarke, the lead singer of 60s pop group The Hollies, and Graham Nash, guitarist, songwriter and singer with The Hollies who went on to form the folk/rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

The Club has held an annual camp holiday in Wales since 1904. According to club worker and local artist, Leslie Holmes: "Salford Lads Club has a remarkable tradition that predates the first scout camps set up by Lord Baden Powell. Salford Lads Club first camp was at Llandulas in 1904 when 173 boys took part." Famous members, who have camped at Aberystwyth with the club include Graham Nash and the Manchester United footballer Eddie Coleman. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/aberystwyth/pages/salfordladsclub.shtml BBC Wales 2008: Salford Lads and Girls Club] Retrieved on 2008-07-14]

Membership has fallen to around 100 compared with 2,000 in its heyday. The club building gained listed building status in 2003, as its tiled interior is virtually unchanged, with original fittings which include a boxing ring, snooker rooms, and a gym with a viewing balcony. A report by English Heritage said: "The building is thought to be the most complete example of this rare form of social provision to survive inEngland."see: [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/235/235424_the_real_corrie_to_be_saved_for_the_future_.html "Manchester Evening News", February 2007] ] In 2007, the Manchester Evening News reported that the club building, which was used for the sleeve of The Smiths album, The Queen Is Dead. had come third in a nationwide hunt to find the most iconic buildings in the country. see: [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/233/233302_lads_club_is_a_national_icon.html "Manchester Evening News", January 2007] Retrieved on 2007-07-12]

History

The concept of the boys' club (lads' club being a term used exclusively in the Manchester area) grew up in the 19th century as a way of keeping young boys “off the streets” and encouraging them to become “good and worthy God-fearing citizens” see: cite book
last = Russel|first = Charles E.B.| authorlink = | oauthors = Lilian M. Rigby| title = Working lads Clubs| publisher = | date = 1908| location = | pages =| url =http://www.infed.org/archives/e-texts/lads_clubs3.htm| isbn = Retrieved on 2008-07-17] The clubs were usually set up by local philanthropic businessmen, and it was soon realised that, to compete with the outside attractions of freedom from restraint and gambling, they must provide not only for draughts, bagatelle, and billiards but for more exciting pursuits that most boys could not otherwise obtain, such as gymnastics, boxing, fives, swimming and especially, outdoor games.

In Salford and Manchester a number of these clubs grew up in the most deprived areas, the first of which was Hulme lads Club founded in 1850. [ [http://www.gmfcyp.org.uk/origins.htm Greater Manchester Federation of Clubs for Young People: Our origins] Retrieved on 2008-07-17] Salford Lads club was founded in 1903 by two brothers, James and William Groves from the family of brewers that were partners with Arthur William Whitnall in the Groves and Whitnall Brewery on Regent Road in Salford. see http://www.salfordladsclub.org.uk/index.php/Section3.html Date accessed: 2008-07-17] Built and designed by Manchester architect Henry Lord, who was also responsible for the former Salford Royal Hospital and Salford Museum and Art Gallery, the club was opened on 30 January 1904 by Robert Baden-Powell, three years before he founded the scout movement.

The Club has held an annual camping holiday since 1904. According to club worker and local artist, Leslie Holmes: "Salford Lads Club has a remarkable tradition that predates the first scout camps set up by Lord Baden-Powell. Salford Lads Club first camp was at Llandulas in 1904 when 173 boys took part". The camps have been held at Tan-y-Bwlch, Aberystwyth during Whitsun since 1934. Famous members, who have camped at Aberystwyth include Graham Nash and Eddie Coleman, who, at 21, was the youngest Manchester United footballer to die in the Munich air disaster of 1958. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/aberystwyth/pages/salfordladsclub.shtml BBC Wales 2008: Salford Lads and Girls Club] Retrieved on 2008-07-14]

Membership has fallen to around 100 compared with 2,000 in its heyday. The club building gained Grade II listed building status in August 2003, as its tiled interior is virtually unchanged, with original fittings including a boxing ring, snooker rooms, and a gym with a viewing balcony. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/66/66453_cult_hangout_rescued.html Cult hangout rescued] "Manchester Evening News 2003-08-30" Retrieved on 2008-07-17]

Music and film heritage

The 1960s pop group The Hollies used to practise at the club before they became famous. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash were both members and their membership cards are still in the club's archives. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/61/61750_100_years_of_lads_club_history.html 100 years of Lads club history "Manchester Evening News 2003"] Retrieved on 2008-07-14]

The club gained fame in 1986 when the pop band The Smiths posed in front of the building for the inside cover of their album "The Queen Is Dead." The committee were said at the time to be furious, and solicitors acting for the club claimed that;

inclusion of the photograph may generally cause any person reading the [album] or listening to the record to attribute the material to the club, its committee or its members ... we would cite for example the reference in the song Vicar in a Tutu to the singer being engaged in stealing lead from a church roof, or indeed the very title to the album itself and the tenor of the title song."

However, over the last few years the club has begun to embrace this more recent legacy and welcome the fans to the club. [ [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1146452,00.html This charming Shrine "The Guardian 2004"] Retrieved on 2008-07-14] The photograph, taken by pop photographer Stephen Wright was accepted into the National Potrait Gallery in 2008 [ [http://www.creativematch.co.uk/viewnews/?91534 The Smiths’ Salford Lads Club photo accepted into the National Portrait Gallery] Retrieved on 2008-07-14] . The Smiths music video for the song "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" also featured shots of the building's exterior. The club is on the corner of St Ignatius Way and Coronation Street in Salford and is a place of pilgrimage for many Smiths fans. It also featured in the music video for The Dream Academy's "Life in a Northern Town".

In 2003 a film documentary was made as part of the celebrations for the club's centenary. The film, which was introduced by Peter Hook, bassist for Joy Division and New Order, who lived on the Ordsall estate until he was 19, was made with the help of elderly residents and young members of the club and is a mix of interviews and location shots. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/61/61750_100_years_of_lads_club_history.html 100 years of Lads club history "Manchester Evening News 2003] " Retrieved on 2008-07-14]

The musician Vinny Peculiar, alias Alan Wilks, has a longstanding association with the club, supporting various club events, performing for visiting Morrissey fans with ex-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, and rehearsing with his band, which includes ex-members of The Smiths, Oasis and The Fall. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1041599_vinnie_sings_to_save_lads_club Vinnie sings to save lads club "Manchester Evening News 2008"] Retrieved on 2008-07-14]

The building has also been used as the location for a number of films and television dramas including Channel 4's Shameless, Granada TV's 2002 remake of The Forsyte Saga, the film version of the Jacqueline Wilson's novel, "Illustrated Mum", the BBC police drama Conviction and, in 2008, the remake of the 1970s BBC series Survivors. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1057160_focus_on_fight_to_save_lads_club Focus on fight to save lads club "Manchester Evening News 2008 "] Retrieved on 2008-07-13]

Fundraising

In recent years the club has fallen into disrepair and in May 2007, Warren Smith, Chairman of LPC Living and HRH Duke of Gloucester launched an appeal to raise £1m to restore the building to its former glory. [ [http://www.whoarewe.com/docs/Ordsall%20Community%20Engagement.pdf LPC living: Empowering the Ordsall community] Retrieved on 2008-07-17] The club has received publicity and funds after being featured in the Channel 4 series "The Secret Millionaire" in November 2007. Property Developer Chek Whyte initially donated £15,000 towards repairs as part of the programme, then subsequently paid for roof repairs and has become involved with the club long-term.

Former Smiths' frontman Morrissey has also donated funds towards restoration. He initially wanted to keep his donation of £20,000 a secret but was dissuaded from doing so, because the publicity would help the campaign. [cite web | publisher=BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7164180.stm | title=Morrissey gives cash to boys club | accessdate=2007-12-30]

In 2008 Vinny Peculiar released a single to support the club's £1m fundraising drive. The song "Lazy Bohemians" was taken from his solo album, "Goodbye My Angry Friend". The B side and bonus download track of the single called "Ghost Camp, a song he co-wrote with former Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon, was written for a Salford Lads Club award winning play. The writer said: "Lazy Bohemians is a self deprecating swipe against those whose talk about a revolution that never seems to get anywhere, a personal wake up call to political apathy. My goal for this song is to really attract people's attention and wake people up from the apathy surrounding the club, making them realise that if we don't help it, the club, it's fine musical history, and all of the good work it does with local kids will eventually, disappear". [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1041599_vinnie_sings_to_save_lads_club Vinnie sings to save lads club "Manchester Evening News 2008"] Retrieved on 2008-07-14]

Volunteers

Two of the longest serving volunteers, Arthur Edward (Archie) Swift and Eric Salthouse have between them over 100 years of service with the club. They have both won accolades for their work; Archie was awarded the 'Salford Citizen of the Month' in April 2004 for his lifetime work as a volunteer at the club and Eric was named as 'My Hero' by Manchester entrepreneur Dave Tynan in the June 2004 edition of Social Enterprise magazine. [ [http://www.salfordladsclub.org.uk/index.php/Section14.html Salford Lads Club: Volunteers] Retrieved on 2008-07-14] Archie Swift was also awarded the MBE for services to Young People. (Salford, Greater Manchester) In the HM the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2008. [ [http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?NewsAreaID=2&ReleaseID=208467 Cabinet Office: Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2006 ] Retrieved on 2008-07-14]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.salfordladsclub.org.uk/ Salford Lads Club Official Site]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/aberystwyth/pages/salfordladsclub.shtml BBC Wales Archive photos of Whitsun holidays' camp from 1911 to present]
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=124-148&cid=-1&Gsm=2008-06-18 List of Photos held at Greater Manchester County records Office related to Salford Lads Club]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/outdoors/placestogo/gardens/tanybwlch.shtml BBC Wales North West: Plas Tan y Bwlch]