Salford Lads Club

Yeah, I took pics of me in this spot.
Morissey still donates quid to keep this spot goin.
Nice gym with no b-​ball courts… instead…a soccer court.
Well, this is England.
The secret Smiths room has tons of memories captured on 283 437 959 pictures on the walls.

You guessed it. The Smiths brought me here. Or, more accurately, gratitude for the music and poetry of this band. Day trip from London (Euston) via train then 1 hour trying to find cab and driver who knew where it was. To my surprise, the first 10 – 15 people I asked had no idea where this was at Manchester Piccadilly station. Finally, a Pakistani cab driver got me in the neighborhood which was about 10 minutes away. Walking through the estate (in the US this would be called a housing project) toward SLC, I slowly began to recognize buildings and streets I had previously only seen on album covers or band photos. This was March 2013 on a Thursday around 3:00 PM and the place was deserted. Very strange. Club doesn’t open until evenings and streets were absolutely empty. Not what I expected. I took photos and waited about 20 – 30 minutes before a young mother pushing a stroller came by and agreed to take my picture standing in same location as The Smiths! I could tell the area is probably not the safest place to be at night alone. In fact, given the isolation, I would recommend that gals may want to take a friend along — even in daytime. That said, this was truly a pilgrimage for me and a highlight of my week in the UK. Also, it should be mentioned that I had called the club and mentioned I was interested in visiting and they were EXTREMELY friendly — even offering to give me a tour of their Smiths room. My only regret was not being able to take them up on it! Cheers and HANG THE DJ.
PS: my iPhone had not data package in UK so I couldn’t use Unilocal!to find SLC. :)

A few months ago I treated myself to a cool birthday present: a trip to Salford Lads Club. Why did I do it? Because I am obsessed with The Smiths, that’s why. Since I was 15.
About a month before my trip I met Andy Rourke and told him I was going. «Be careful’», he said. «Don’t go there alone». Yikes! Then another friend from Manchester said basically the same thing. Needless to say while my friend was at work and I left his Rusholme apt every morning I was a bit scared. And I’m from NYC!
So on a cold and rainy night we walked the almost two miles so that I could stand on this very spot. As we came upon it my friend thought we were lost but I had recognised the brick and when i saw an opening I ran to it and just stood there. THIS IS WHERE THEY STOOD! It felt… amazing. Music is my life so this experience was beyond. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as we walked back into the city. Feverishly uploading the photos on facebook and emailing them as well in case people missed the mobile upload.
I planned a 3 week long European trip just because I needed a reason to stand on this spot. Can’t wait to come back when it’s not raining!

Hey all you Mozza and Smiths fans, listen up. Stop messing with your NHS specs and your bouquets and blouses for a moment, stop adjusting your Doc Marten laces, I’ve got something to say that’ll make you all insanely jealous.
I lived right opposite this landmark of Smithery for a year when I was doing my Masters.
Yup, that’s right. I could see where the Smiths posed and cycled past right outta my window for an entire year. And not once did I see one of these famous Smiths pilgrimages everyone keeps going on about. Where’s your motivation? Huh? I’m not impressed. Salford Lads Club is a prime Morrissey tourist spot and I have thus far not seen one of you hanging around outside taking photos. Oh, wait a second. I might know why. It could be the same reason that I partly hated living there. Coronation Street and Gloucester Street are as rough as a badger’s behind. You might as well have lifted a chunk out of Moss Side and dumped it opposite Sainsbury’s.
But what we have to remember is that this isn’t just a spot where the Smiths moped and where my friend’s car got repeatedly vandalised, no. The club itself was established way back in 1903 for working lads, and survives for the same purpose today, only now it’s opened its doors to the young’uns and fillies too. Monday and Wednesday is lad time, open for games such as pool, snooker, table tennis, football, basketball, volleyball, badminton and computer games, 7−9pm. For the ladies it’s Tuesday evening, same time, same activities but a few variations.
There are all sorts of classes and activities to get involved in, so be sure to check the website or just pop down and see. It’s a piece of Salford history so we should support it and get involved — heck, even Prince Charlie approves as he and Camilla visited the place in February to unveil a commemorative plaque. See, when royal subjects like Charles and Morrissey have graced the club with their presence, it goes to show how well respected it is. Brave the surrounding ramshackle area and give it a try.

Staying on a Smiths tip, Salford Lads Club was immortalised on the sleeve of the band’s landmark, 1986 album The Queen is Dead.
What’s remarkable is that 24 years later, fans are still making the pilgrimage to stand on the exact spot that Stephen Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce once stood. In 2007, over a hundred of them even congregated outside the venue for a sponsored bike ride to raise money to fix the club roof!
Established in 1903, Salford Lads Club was initially started as a community centre to keep local lads out of mischief. Incredibly, it’s still used for the same purpose with open evenings for boys, girls and their parents. Facilities include volleyboard, snooker, table-​tennis, kick boxing and boxing. In true keeping with the club’s history, they also host occasional film screenings, book launches, concerts and birthday celebrations.
Deep inside the red brick building there’s also a dedicated — whisper it — Smiths Corner!

Iconic place… in the middle of a seedy area. I wasn’t sure if I was heading in the right direction, but a person living in the adjacent flats to the club, kindly confirmed I was going the correct way. Glad I had a chance to visit.