"Old Time Tiger Heroes". Charlie Pannam
"Old Time Tiger Heroes". Say hello to Richmond's very first captain: Mr. Charlie Pannam!
Born: October 02, 1874, Greece Died: January 01, 1952 (age 77), Abbotsford Charlie Pannam was our very first captain when we entered the VFL competition in 1908. You may not know but Charlie is actually the grandfather of Collingwood icons Lou and Ron Richards and he played 14 games and kicked 22 goals in his sole league season with us and he even later went on to coach the Club. He played for Richmond in the VFA in 1907 as well as in the VFL in 1908 and he was our senior coach in 1907 and 1912. In his early days Charlie was a famous flying winger from Collingwood Juniors and Collingwood Wanderers and was one of the great players of the “dirty rotten Magpies” early days in the Victorian Football Association between 1894 and 1896 and then in the Victorian Football League between 1897 and 1906. He was a champion winger whose skills were more than matched by his craftiness. In 1903 he was described as the downiest of the Magpies and he took delight in making his opponents look like hacks. Charles Henry 'Charlie' Pannam was born in Greece and when he had just immigrated to Australia he shortened his surname from Pannamopoulos. Charlie was the first VFL player to reach the 100 game milestone and he was also the VFL Leading Goalkicker in 1905. He was the last Captain and Coach of Richmond in the VFA and our very first captain in our inaugural VFL season. In 1996 Pannam was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of fame. Charlie began the tradition of being a tough and likeable captain who was said to inspire those around him not only by his words but also by his deeds; characteristics that have come to epitomise all Tiger captains that have since come after him! Go Charlie! Go Tigers!
