On 9 March 1926 a group of prominent citizens of Agrinio laid the foundations of a club that would become the symbol of a whole region. On 9 March 2027 Panetolikos turns 101, opening its second century. Its story has a school, night classes, a mythical hero and, of course, lots of yellow and blue.

A school and sixteen founders

The club was founded inside Agrinio's secondary school, with a 42-article charter and the name Gymnastic Club "Panaitolikos". There were sixteen founders, among them Efthymios Chavellas. He chaired the temporary three-member committee that ran the club's first steps.

The aim, according to the founding declaration, was to develop the athletic and competitive spirit of young people. The name refers to the whole of Aetolia, not just the town.

In its first century the club lived through war, occupation, civil war and dictatorship. Yet each time it found a way to get back on its feet, supported by the town and its people. Its trophy cabinet is not full of titles, but its bond with Agrinio is unique.

Gymnastic and… educational

The full title is Panaitolikos Gymnastic and Educational Club, and the word "educational" was no accident. In Agrinio the club ran night schools, French classes and a child-welfare service. The night schools operated until 1983 and helped thousands of children, mostly from poor families.

This work was recorded in a book by researcher Periklis Chantzis, who studied the subject for 25 years.

Yellow, blue and the "Canaries"

The club's colours are yellow and blue, which is why it is also called the "blue-yellows". The sources we found do not explain why this combination was chosen.

Since the 1960s fans have called the team the "Canaries", precisely because of the yellow. The canary also became the mascot, named PANETOS.

Since the 1980s the shirt has been made by many companies, among them Diadora, Puma, Nike and Adidas. Today the manufacturer is Erreà. On the chest, in every era, sits the hero of the next chapter.

Titormus, "another Heracles"

The crest shows Titormus, an Aetolian shepherd from antiquity. According to the tradition preserved by Aelian, the Olympic champion Milo of Croton climbed into the mountains of Aetolia to see his strength for himself. Titormus lifted a huge rock that Milo could barely move.

Milo then cried out "This man is another Heracles". The phrase became the club's motto, and today a four-metre statue by sculptor Dimitris Stoumpos stands outside the stadium.

Stadium, promotions and big names

The Panetolikos ground was inaugurated in October 1930. The team first played in the Pan-Hellenic Championship in 1954-55 and was promoted to the Alpha Ethniki in 1975, where it stayed for two seasons.

Hard years in the lower divisions followed. The team dropped as low as the Delta Ethniki, but won the Gamma Ethniki title in 1984-85 and the Delta Ethniki in 2003-04.

In 2011 it won the Football League with a record 75 points, and since 2013 it has been a regular in the Super League. Its best finish was 7th, in 2014-15.

Agrinio was the starting point for Stratos Apostolakis, for years Greece's most-capped player with 96, and for Petros Michos. Giorgos Kousas has the most appearances in the shirt (210) and Giorgos Theodoridis the most goals (34).

Celebrate with us

Panetolikos completed its first century keeping something rare alive: the idea that a club educates and does not only compete. Happy 101st birthday to the Canaries, and may Titormus always stand tall!

See our collectible jerseys at sportarena.gr.

Photo: Panetolikos in a friendly against Fiorentina, Moena 2016 – Holapaco77, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.