The iconic Salford Lads Club has smashed its fundraising goal of £250,000 to keep the lights on for future generations.
The fundraiser was launched in October, and was set up to combat the financial crisis that the youth centre has faced.
The 121-year-old venue has raised more than £270,000 which ensures its survival, thanks to the help of more than 1,400 donations
The Salford landmark also saw donations from multiple fundraisers that included an auction of a Noel Gallagher guitar, £50,000 donated by The Smiths lead singer Morrisey and a £10,000 by Graham Nash.
And it was clear that the Lads Club has had an impact on many generations and communities in Salford, as the Seven Brothers also launched a beer with every can sold donating £1.50.
The iconic venue that sits on Coronation Street, Ordsall also received support from Salford City Council as they donated £100,000 and kick started the overall fundraiser movement.
The final push for the fundraiser came in recent weeks after the launch of a short film about the youth centre, that celebrated the iconic heritage of the building.
A spokesperson for Salford Lads Club said: “This isn’t just about a building—it’s about safeguarding a legacy.
“For over a century, Salford Lads and Girls Club has been a space for young people to connect, grow, and thrive. This funding ensures we can keep doing what we do best: empowering the next generation.
“Thank you to everyone who supported us—whether through donations, sharing the campaign, or cheering us on. This is a victory for the whole community, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
“Together, we’ve kept the light shining!”
The building, which opened in 1903, has been a haven for young boys in the industrial city to help keep them off the streets and out of trouble.
Famous in the local area, the building gained a reputation for holding a safe and nurturing community for local youths and talents.
Leslie Holmes, the project manager at Salford Lads Club, said: “It’s fantastic, you know, to achieve that in six weeks is really astonishing.
“It shows just how much people, not only in Salford here and wider, but all around the world, appreciate where we are. You know, we’re on the corner of Coronation Street here. There’s lots of cultural references for that, but it’s also been the fabric of this community for 120 years as well, so it is really special.”
Leslie then showed us a room full of photos of the past camping trips with the lads club.
“It’s about the footprint you leave, so if you’ve got this amazing heritage here, you can see all these pictures today, and you can see people on picture, Graham Nash used to be in the Hollies and Crosby,Stills and Nash on the wall.
“You’ve got all these, you know, we’ve had boxes, footballers, rugby players, all sorts of people on here, and if we show pictures of them in the building, that is crucial to giving kids an idea of aspiration, and it’s really important that they do that.”
But it wasn’t until the 1986 when the alternative rock band, The Smiths posed in front of the building for the inside cover of their album The Queen Is Dead, that has allowed the building to become a tourist attraction ever since.
However, despite support and visits from fans all over the over the world, the costs to maintain the Edwardian building became a struggle and grants couldn’t cover the costs, leading to potential risk of closure.
But thanks to fundraisers and donations, Salford Lads Club can stay open, offering activities and sports six days a week to young people.
And although they have surpassed their fundraising target donations can still be made to the iconic Salford Lads Club that can be found here.
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