The 2007 TPL Season by Dez Corkhill: 2007

In 2007, Dez Corkhill was working as Director of Content at ESPN/Star Sports and was the producer of that network's weekly South East Asia football show, Top Corner. He also provided English commentary for Thai League highlights. Here's my interview with him about the 2007 season.

Q - You had been watching Chonburi a lot during 2007. What were your impressions of the team?

I only saw glimpses through TV highlights, and not live at all. But the bits and pieces I saw suggested a team that liked to play on the ground, and create tap in chances for Pibob. He generally obliged. "Pleasing to the eye".

Q - Which of the players particularly stood out?

Pipob up front, and Arthit with that lovely left foot of his. It was the locals over the foreigners who impressed.

Q - What were your overall impressions of the TPL that year?

Haphazard. I had started to look at results of Thai football a couple of seasons earlier, but it seemed like a League dominated by companies (why would anyone support them?), and almost exclusively Bangkok. It was Chonburi's run to the final of the 2006 Singapore Cup that tweaked my interest. Firstly I was happy that the FAS were expanding their horizons - and secondly the final against a very good Tampines side was excellent. 

But as a League, I didn't really start to follow until 2007 season. If I did have an impression it was of a select number of teams dominating, a bit disorganised, and too many company/organisation teams involved, and not enough community representatives such as Chonburi. It was that community element that made Chonburi stand out in those seasons. Others have now caught up.

Q - What had been your impressions of the TPL prior to 2007?

Haphazard. Company teams with little reason to follow them. The National team clearly did well, and in Singapore (where I lived) used to have the likes of Sutee, Surachai, Therdsak and Sripon who were stand-out Thai players worth following as they moved away from Singapore. And there was the Thai partici[ation in the Singapore Cup. But the league itself seemed disorganised, haphazard and limited only to Bangkok.

Q - At which stage did you think Chonburi would win the title?

When you saw the line-ups at the start of the season, you suspeced they would be likely to do well. Decent imports plus Pipob's guarantee of goals. There was a win against BEC Tero towards the end of the season that suggested they could win it. By then crowds were getting bigger, and I was seeing more highlight reels from this team who weren't based in Bangkok.

Q - What are your abiding memories of the season?

It was - with some good football in Indonesia - the feeling that I was right to care about the regional and local leagues. Yes, there are issues, but essentially, they are passionately run, and rally mean something to the fans in each country. A non Bangkok side winning the League suggested we were heading towards Clubs being the way to compete for success in football.

Q - You were one of the first people outside Thailand to promote the TPL. What sort of reaction were you getting to your coverage?

Not great. I believe in the value of local football and pushed it as much as I could. But there were only a few of us who tried to push it. Any editorial you saw on ESPN STAR Sports regarding local or regional football was largely done way outside the perimiters of our day jobs. Football Crazy and The Top Corner were the exceptions to the rule. However, the ratings for programmes and items we did on the local (regional) football leagues were outstanding. I didn't understand the reluctance of my bosses to embrace local leagues then. I understand the reluctance in 2017 even less.

Q - What are your memories of the night we won the league?

Sadly, none. My own career (relaunching and getting traction to an ESPNSTAR.com website was going through a stressful time. The end of the season was a blessing as I could fully concentrate on the work that paid my salary.

Q - What did you think of the atmosphere inside the stadium that night?

I wasn't there. I suspect it was a happy place to be as the Bangkok monopoly had been smashed.

Q - ESPN/Star had "adopted" Chonburi as your team in 2007. What was the feeling at the company when we were eventually crowned champions?

That was Football Crazy who adopted you. I am completely neutral !!!

Q - How much do you think Chonburi's 2007 title win, and subsequent AFC CL campaign, paved the way for other Thai clubs to follow?

Chonburi were the trend-setters who illustrated the feel good factor of a community club doing well and creating a positive vibe. I am sure the good publicity generated was influential in some of the more wealthy members of Thai's business community getting involved in Thai Football. 

Q - Do you think Chonburi will ever be in a position to challenge for top honours again?

Yes. There is a reason for the club exisiting. It matters to the local community. That - allied to some good organsiation and, hopefully, the development of good young players who you can keep hold of for a few years could see you rise to compete with Muangthong and Buriram.

Q - Is there anything else you' like to add?

Keep up your great work. Local sport - particualrly football - has a real impact on a community's standing. We need more Chonburi's.