Chonburi 0-2 Thailand - Match Report: 2006

Chonburi 0-2 Thailand

Bang Phra Stadium

August 4th, 2006

The 2006 season - our first in the top flight - was a heads down, no nonsense race to the finish line, which started on the 28th of January and ended on the 2nd of July. Twelve teams, twenty two matches, no cup competitions and no international breaks. It was almost as if they wanted to get it out of the way before anyone even noticed it had begun. And with only 257 days until the start of the 2007 campaign, it meant we had plenty of opportunities to play friendlies - the lifeblood of the domestic game.

Thankfully, Chonburi were involved in the Singapore Cup that year - we got all the way to the final - so we did at least have some competitive football to keep us interested. However, the rest of the time, we were treading water by playing meaningless fixtures against other equally bored clubs. But, salvation was to arrive in the shape of the Thailand national team.

Coach, Charnwit Polcheewin, was looking for opponents who would test his players ahead of a prestigious friendly in China. Therefore, on August the 4th, 2006, the full compliment of Thailand's top talent arrived in the less than salubrious surroundings of the Coke "Stadium" (the speech marks are mine) in Bang Phra.

A shade tent was hastily erected and a couple of three seater sofas were placed beneath it in order to accommodate the visiting dignitaries. The rest of us had to make do with a seat in the rather wobbly structure that was laughingly referred to as the "Main Stand" (again, the speech marks are mine).

The match itself was a very hard fought affair and our lads gave the internationals a good run for their money, before eventually going down to a 0-2 defeat. The press were out in force and the following day's sports papers featured extensive coverage - one led with the headline "The Leesaw Show", as a tribute to the contribution made by the then golden boy of Thai football, Teeratep Winothai.

All things considered, it was an enjoyable way to spend a Friday afternoon. Although, it's difficult to imagine the current set up allowing for the nation's top players playing a friendly against a local club side, in a farmer's field, in front of a few dozen supporters. But...you never know!