Focus On The TPL: 2010

In August, 2010, I was asked to write a brief round up of where the TPL was at, and how it had improved in the past couple of years. Here's the article:

The Thai league enjoyed its best ever season last year, when crowds flocked to matches around the country. This was mainly due to clubs having closer links to local communities. Previously, the vast majority of teams were either from the forces - Army, Navy, Police - or companies - Bangkok Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Port Authority etc - and mainly based in Bangkok. Most of the changes that the TPL/FAT introduced were as a result of a kick up the backside from the AFC; Thai clubs were barred from automatic entry to the AFC Champions League because the league failed to meet certain criteria - professional clubs, low crowds, running at a loss and being subsidised by government funding. After the initial boom, things have levelled off a bit this year and the average attendance in the top flight is around 3,000.

My club, Chonburi, were the pioneers in a lot of what has happened over the past couple of years. We were the first provincial club to win the TPL (2007), the first to really start marketing, selling replica kit and other merchandise, and the first to get anywhere near decent crowds. I have been to lucky to have witnessed, and been involved in, this growth. Not only have I seen my club progress, but I've also seen the league and level of interest in the local game rise. I'm very fortunate to be in such a unique position, especially as a foreigner. It's been quite remarkable and something that didn't seem possible even two years ago.

There have been so many other changes in recent times. The level of communication is much better and the media coverage has improved beyond belief - in fact there's probably too much now! Most clubs have learnt how to market themselves and have modern, up to date websites, some with English language options. The ex-pat community has started to take more of an interest and you will always see a fair number of non Thais at matches. A far cry from when I would go whole seasons without seeing another foreigner. However, the league bigwigs still manage to make a complete cock up of arranging fixtures.

In the past two years, Muang Thong United have become the dominant force. They are part owned by a media group and by a company run by a Belgian agent. The latter is responsible for bringing a lot of African players to Thailand. The foreign player rule is 7(non Asian) + 5(Asian). I personally think this is too many, but there are plenty of theories as to who supported this and why it was adopted...

Other rich clubs include Bangkok Glass (who bought out Krung Thai Bank and took their place in the TPL at the start of 2008) and PEA. The latter club won the league in 2008, when based in Ayutthya,  but were purchased by controversial Thai politician, Newin Chidchob, and moved lock, stock and barrel to Buriram. This kind of deal is not unusual in Thai football and many entities have had a nomadic existence. However, a lot more now seem to be settling in one place - at least until they get a better offer. In PEA's case it has worked out rather well. They attract massive crowds - 20,000 when we visited - but there is a widely held belief that the fans are offered "incentives" to attend games, especially away from home.