Lou Richards facts for kids

Lou Richards (born March 15, 1923 – died May 8, 2017) was a famous Australian rules footballer. He played 250 games for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1941 to 1955. He was the team captain from 1952 to 1955. He even led them to a championship win in 1953!

After football, Lou became a hotel manager. He also became a very well-known sports journalist for over 50 years. People loved his quick wit and lively personality. Joffa Corfe, a leader of the Collingwood cheer squad, said Lou was a "knockabout sort of bloke." This means he was friendly and easy to talk to.

Playing for Collingwood

Lou Richards was born in Collingwood, Victoria. His family had a strong connection to the Collingwood Football Club. His grandfather, Charlie Pannam, and uncles, Charles and Alby Pannam, all played for the Magpies. Lou's brother, Ron Richards, also played for the club.

This family connection is very special. Collingwood is the only club to have been captained by three generations of the same family. Together, the Richards–Pannam family played over 1,200 games!

Lou was known for his skill and toughness on the field. He played as a rover, often resting in the forward pocket. He was the team captain for four years. This included leading Collingwood to their 1953 premiership win. He also played for the Victoria state team three times.

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Lou Richards managed several hotels in Melbourne. One famous hotel was the Phoenix Hotel in Flinders Street. Many journalists often visited this hotel.

Lou also had a very long career in the media. He started as a sports journalist for newspapers like The Argus and The Sun News-Pictorial. This is where he got his famous nickname, "Louie the Lip."

He became a very popular commentator on radio and television. On TV, he worked with his good friends Jack Dyer and Bob Davis on Channel 7. He also appeared on the popular TV show World of Sport. Later, in the 1990s and 2000s, he was a regular guest on The Footy Show and the Sunday Footy Show.

His radio career began in 1955. He teamed up with Jack Dyer for 3XY's commentary team. In 1959, he moved to 3DB. There, he was a football commentator and part of sports panels. For four years, he even hosted the station's breakfast show.

Lou was also known for his football tips. He was called a Kiss of Death because his tips sometimes went wrong! He would make funny dares if his tips were wrong. For example, he might say, "I'll cut Teddy Whitten's lawn with nail scissors!"

In 1972, Lou was named Court Jester to King of Moomba Johnny Farnham. In 1981, he became the King of Moomba himself. He wrote a book about his life in 1989 called The Kiss of Death: Memoirs of a Sporting Legend. An updated version came out in 2012.

Lou retired from hosting a segment on the Sunday Footy Show at the end of 2008. After that, he made only a few public appearances.

Awards and Honours

Lou Richards received many awards for his contributions. In 1981, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000. In 2001, he was given a Centenary Medal.

In 1996, Lou was added to the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Because of his Greek heritage, he was named captain of the Greek Team of the Century in 2004. He was also inducted into the Collingwood Hall of Fame that same year. In 2008, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

A statue was also built in his honour on April 17, 2014.

Personal Life

Lou Richards married Edna Lillian Bowie in 1948. They had two daughters together. Edna passed away in March 2008 at the age of 87.

Lou Richards died on May 8, 2017, at the age of 94. He passed away at his nursing home in Windsor, Melbourne. The Victorian Government offered a state funeral for Lou. This special ceremony took place at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral on May 17, 2017.

State Funeral

Many important people attended Lou Richards' funeral. These included politicians, famous footballers, coaches, media personalities, family, and friends. Some well-known attendees were Nathan Buckley, Garry Lyon, Billy Brownless, Ron Barassi, Rex Hunt, Kevin Sheedy, Bob Skilton, Mick Malthouse, Peter McKenna, and Eddie McGuire. Eddie McGuire was one of the people who spoke about Lou's life.

The Labor leader Bill Shorten, Victorian senator Derryn Hinch, and leaders of the AFL were also there. The entire 2017 Collingwood team formed a guard of honour for Lou. This was a special way to show their respect.