Interview With Antony Sutton: 2010

Antony Sutton (AKA Jakarta Casual) has been writing about South East Asian football for a number of years. He has travelled the region extensively, watching matches and interviewing many of those who are involved in the sport locally. His insightful, honest and often witty views, are well respected and much in demand. Here is an interview I conducted with him in July, 2010. 

Q - You recently watched a Chonburi home match (v Thai Port), what were your overall impressions?
- I didn’t really like the stadium. I hate it when the fans are too far from the pitch and the stand was tiny. The fans were good though and they created a good atmosphere, helped by a reasonable away support. The match itself was so so. But then I think me and you go back to a time when the game itself was just one part of the experience

Q- What was the most enjoyable aspect of the day for you?
- I always enjoying going to new grounds. There’s a kind of buzz when you buy the ticket, a match programme and then go on the terraces for the first time. Also travelling home on public transport! Too often now I either drive or take a taxi but waiting for a bus home was kind of old school for me

Q - And the least enjoyable?
- Nothing really.

Q - How does a trip to the Chonburi Sports College Stadium compare to your experiences of visiting other grounds in the region?
- I don’t like to compare because everything is the same, same but different.

Q - As someone who travels extensively around SE Asia, how do you rate the experience of watching football in Thailand compared to other countries?
- Football in Thailand is about enjoyment, I think. The whole day is fun, along with some food. The fans, based on my observations, look to be very twee, very well mannered. If there was a movie about Thai football, Hugh Grant would be in it. Indonesia on the other hand is much more raffish. Dickensian scamps running bare foot round the place. Everyone is an Artful Dodger.

Q- Chonburi v Muang Thong rates as the biggest domestic match in Thailand, how does it compare to other big games in the region?
- I went to the game last year at an unfinished Thunderdome. I don’t think it can compare with games in Indonesia featuring Arema, Persija, Persib or Persebaya, purely because they’ve been at it a lot longer and there is more of a history surrounding the games. It’s easy to forget that just a couple of years ago excitement in Thai football was Krung Thai Bank v Police.

Q - Which is the biggest game you've been to in SE Asia?
- 85,000 at Persija v Arema, with about 40,000 away fans, many of whom camped overnight outside the stadium

Q- If you could give one piece of advice to the Chonburi FC management, what would it be?
- Find a stadium and stick to it!

Q - And one piece of advice to those who run Thai football?
- Ease up for goodness sake. The last pre season had to be one of the longest on record in any league in the world. I lost track of all the 4 team tournaments being played all over the place. And now they introduce a League Cup!

Q - Finally, Chonburi's walk off in this season's first meeting between the two clubs caused a lot of controversy. What do you think the most controversial thing will be on Sunday?
- Muang Thong fans singing, "Where were you when you were shit?!’