by Paul Hewitt
Buriram FC 4-0 Nakhon Ratchasima FC
25th July, 2010
History
In 2010 this ground was known as the i-Mobile Stadium and was home to Buriram PEA of the TPL and Buriram FC of the Regional League North-East. The venue was originally a typical municipal stadium with a small covered main stand and running track. However it was hastily upgraded in late 2009 and early 2010 in anticipation of the arrival of the relocated PEA from Ayutthaya and as a new home for Buriram FC - both clubs controlled by the Chidchob family.
Today the arena is known as the Khao Kradong Stadium, taking its name from the nearby forest park, and is used by Buriram B of the T4 League.
Stadium Description
As a football ground enthusiast (sorry, not sorry) I was keenly anticipating my visit to Buriram's i-Mobile Stadium. Despite of, or perhaps owing to, its hasty construction it was quite unlike other Thai football stadia of the time. The original covered main stand was still in place but opposite was a vast uncovered concrete stand, decked out in blue seats, where the bulk of Buriram's highly choreographed support congregated. The away end was similarly constructed and on a similar scale yet the home end, such as it was, consisted of narrow metal bleachers, just ten or so rows deep.
Curved metal bleachers had also been used to fill in each corner. The stands were separated from the pitch by an unpaved cinder running track except for the home end which had been positioned immediately behind the goal thus cutting off the track. Since 2010 the idiosyncratic home end has been removed and replaced by a large stand to match the away end, and the old dirt running track replaced by the industry-standard eight-lane Tartan Track.
The Match
Korat enjoyed a successful 2009 season which featured an FA Cup quarter-final appearance in addition to a second-place league finish, just missing out on the play-offs on the final day of the season. The 2010 campaign was an indifferent affair by comparison. The team struggled for form and goals following the close-season departure of star striker Promphong Kransumrong and arrived at Buriram having been humbled 0-3 by their local rivals earlier in the season at the 80th Birthday Stadium in Korat.
I'd be lying if I said I had a crystal clear recollection of a match played ten years ago. Korat were again put to the sword by their vastly superior neighbours, who comfortably ran out 4-0 winners. A disappointing but not particularly surprising result for Korat's 200 or so travelling fans.
The match was mainly memorable for me for the wrong reasons. It was my first experience of heavy-handed policing and stewarding at a Thai football match. I don't think the Buriram authorities had any particular reason to suspect trouble from the away fans but one must consider the deeply fractious state of Thai politics at the time and the divisive, controversial figurehead of both Buriram politics and football.
Umbrellas, water bottles and bags, including women's handbags, all had to be left with 'security forces' before entering the stand. The wife of the time had to argue it out with the over-zealous officials to be allowed to take a baby's bottle in. One would have thought that the presence of our 16 month old daughter was a convincing argument for the necessity of such an item. The miffed Mrs eventually had to be dragged away by no less than three of us as she came close to achieving the notable claim to fame of being ejected from her first ever away game, and before the match had even started too!
My only other memory of the day was of Buriram's owner gingerly approaching the away end after the match to offer some sporting applause. Some reciprocated, others offered uneasy smiles and giggles whilst some of the more sufficiently refreshed members of the travelling contingent threw the odd insult and middle finger.
Surprisingly, Buriram were hauled in by Loei in the second half of the season and ended up finishing second. However, that was still good enough for a play-off place and they were duly promoted along with Chiang Mai FC, Phuket and Chainat.
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