Sittichok Paso by Johnny Duerden: 2016

SITTICHOK ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST PROSPECTS

6th October, 2016

South east Asian football correspondent Johnny Duerden, writing for the Guardian, chose Sittichok Paso as one of the 60 best young talents in the world in 2016. Here's what he had to say about the then 17 year old, who made his Chonburi debut against Suphanburi earlier in the season:

 

SITTICHOK PASO

by Johnny Duerden

Thailand have been quietly developing some very good players in recent years and perhaps Paso could be the one from south-east Asia who finally makes it in Europe. The striker has made a debut for Chonburi, one of Thailand's leading clubs and has impressed. He also fitted in with no issues with the under-19 national side. Two-footed and quick, he shoots from anywhere and will run all day. The 17-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in Asia's most passionate football region.

NEW!! Interview With Brienne Gabatuler: 2020

My interview with Brienne Gabatuler, who paid a couple of visits to Chonburi Stadium during her short stay in the area, back in 2015.

Please can you introduce yourself

My name is Brienne Gabatuler, I am 33 and from the U.S. but I have spend the past 7 years traveling and living abroad with my husband (bouncing back and forth between Thailand and Costa Rica)

How are you and what have you been doing lately? 

I'm good! I currently live in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. I am a Design teacher for grades 7-10 in an international school. And I am very busy every day with my two boys, Maximo who is 2 years old, and Leonhardt who is 8 months. 

What is your connection to Chonburi?

I lived in Chonburi for 4 months in 2014-2015. My husband and I taught English at Chonchai school. We were traveling for a year on our honeymoon and had previously taught English for a year in Thailand after college from 2009-2010. We wanted to see Thailand again, as it's like a second home for us, and we thought this would be a good break in the middle of our honeymoon around the world as it would give us the oppotunity to pause for a bit, have a home, and teach again!

What did you enjoy most about living and working in the area? 

I liked the proximity to Bangkok, the huge range of delicious foods near our apartment (I'll never forget the best fried chicken I've ever had from a stand just ourside of our complex!), we liked our beautiful pool in our apartment complex (Lumpini), and we enjoyed visits to Ko Si Chang

How did you discover Chonburi FC? 

One of our students at Chonchai was a big fan and wanted us to go to a game with him! So we went along with some of our other English teacher friends from Ireland and the USA.

What were your impressions of the stadium? 

It was great! I loved that there was a lot of grassy area outside the stadium where families were sitting, hanging out, eating. The stadium itself was not so big that it became overwhleming or confusing, but still very nice!

And the fans? 

The fans were great! I particularly remember the person who was in charge of pumping up the fans. He shouted cheers in English and Thai and got the crowd really excited. The flags, drums, music, all the props to get the crowd excited were so fun. 

How did you find the stadium management? 

All seemed good to me! It was easy to get in, it seemed safe, everything was well organized. 

What were the highlights from the matches you saw? 

Sadly, I don't remember as it was so long ago! There were definitely goals, and that was exciting. 

What did you enjoy most about your visit? 

The fans, the energy, seeing how happy and excited our students were at the game for their team!

Was there anything you didn't enjoy? 

Nope! I had a great time.

How did going to Chonburi Stadium compare with other matches you've been to? 

I had only been to a match in Chaiyaphum and it didn't compare to Chonburi at all (no one to pump fans up, very few fans). I have been to a big match in Barcelona, but overall for a small city, I thought it was really impressive! I also love the Chonburi "swag" and both my husband and I bought jerseys. 

Would you like to go back? 

I would if I were in Chonburi!

How likely is a return to Chonburi? 

I just spent another 2 years living in a suburb of Bangkok in Sammakorn Village near Min Buri (2017-2019). We passed through Chonburi sometimes to get to Koh Larn, but sadly we never stayed! If I lived a little closer I definitely would stop for a game. 

What would you say to others to encourage them to go to Chonburi Stadium? 

If you are in Chonburi, going to a game is a must do activitiy! It definitely made me feel really connected to the city I was living in, and some "pride" for Chonburi, even though I was only there for 4 months

Is there anything else you'd like to add? 

It was a great time and I'll never forget it!

NEW!! Interview With A Port FC Fan: 2020

Chonburi v Port

28th November, 2020

Pre match interview with Port fan, Dominick Cartwright

Hi Dom, how are you and what have you been up to lately?

Ticking along ok.

How often do you get to see your team these days?

Still a regular at Port.

How would you sum up Port's on field performances so far this season?

Well with three coaches it's been back to the management nightmare that was the first season under Pang. Fortunately we have a good enough squad now to cope with the changes. But really it's still a group of good players rather than a well organised squad. The scattergun approach to buying new players is insane, for the money we've spent we should be winning the ACL.

And the off field problems?

Oh two games with floodlight failures didn't help the season.

As we must now consider you as genuine title contenders, how has everything going on behind the scenes affected your enjoyment of watching the team progress?

Same chaos as ever, annoying but not surprising. At the moment our best chance of winning the league lies with Bangkok Glass getting injuries. They have a solid lead and more talent coming in for the second half of the season. Buriram always has a chance with the players they are possibly bringing in during the transfer window. 

At Port it looks like Heberty is on his way out and Janick Boli is on his way in. With Boli in the squad you would think Bonilla would go and hopefully we'll bring in a new central defender to partner Dolah or bring back Rochela. The squad with Rochela in it won the FA Cup last year. Makes sense to use him or buy in someone like Victor. In fact buying Victor to deplete Bangkok Glass would be the ideal signing.

She appears to divide opinion, but what are your opinions on your chairwoman?

How long do you have? I think she's similar to Newin and the owners of most Thai football clubs. She sees the club as another means of boosting her public image and possible political career.

If she were to go, what sort of impact do you think her departure would have on the club as a whole?

There would be panic for about 6 months as everyone at the top suddenly lost large amounts of money, then things would settle down. We would probably get backing from the Port Authority and be a mid table club with occasional moments of glory.

Who would be the ideal person to run Port FC and why?

A shy Thai multi billionaire who recruits talented experienced people to run the club for them without getting involved. Anybody out there?

A move away from PAT seems to be a genuine possibility. Do you think it will happen & what are your feelings on this?

Is it a genuine possibility ? Is there something you're not telling me?  "Port FC" the football club don't own the land PAT stadium is on so there is always a possibility the Port Authority would want to develop it. There are always stories of us being moved on for a redevelopment plan cropping up now and again. We are back playing at PAT now, the floodlights are working, all is well with the world. Hang those who speak of moving grounds, hang them from the new floodlights.

What have been your impressions of Chonburi this season and what are you expecting from Saturday's match?

Honestly I've not been watching much but I was impressed with your latest run of form. There's no shame in losing to Bangkok Glass and Chiang Rai, two decent sides. Junior Lopes impressed me in the Bangkok Glass game and I've always been a fan of Niran Hassan he didn't get a fair go at Port, it's good to see him developing the early potential we occasionally saw. Caion and Boskovic both look handy and will look at the chances Bangkok Glass made at Port and take heart.

I think both teams will see this game as a massive opportunity to advance their challenge for an ACL place and that will give the normally friendly affair a bit more of an edge. Port are vulnerable with Worawut in the centre of defence it's just a matter of how much Caion and Boskovic can exploit this. As for Port, Suarez is having a great season. With Bodin, Siwakorn, Go and Tanasit/Pakorn, in midfield we have enough attacking talent to break down any T1 team (well almost any T1 team). Nittipong and Kevin running from deep will always cause a problem for teams. I predict a 2-1 win for Port.

You will be up against your old coach at the weekend. How is he viewed at Port and what sort of reception will he get from the travelling fans?

We have had 16 coaches in the last 8 years we are playing against our old coach every other week. To be fair Sasom does hold a special place in Port's history, winning the FA Cup and League Cup with Port. I'm happy to see him back in T1. I was at Port for his last match at PAT Stadium. After the game he came into the stands and signed shirts, he was a great servant to the club and remains a fan favourite at Port. We've played against his teams about 3 or 4 times before if not more, he always gets a round of applause at the end of the game.

With only a limited number of tickets available for away fans, how did you get yours and how easy was it?

I got mine online, it was fairly easy to reserve it, then I just had to get it printed off at 7/11,........ I don't understand why allticket .com can't just e-mail you a ticket to print off yourself. Most staff at the average 7/11 don't know the system for printing out the tickets. I have been told my ticket receipt was out of date and they can't print the tickets, I have to go somewhere else. I've printed off T1 tickets at 7/11 three times, the successful printing of the tickets has taken roughly 30 minutes each time with various members of staff all getting involved and sometimes phone calls being made to other 7/11s to talk the staff through the system. Just email us the ticket, simple solution, lord only knows why they don't do this.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Are there still no drinks of any kind allowed in the stands at Chonburi ? (Food & drink - including beer - are allowed inside - ed) I think it's only Chonburi and Suphanburi that have these crazy restrictions. This is an outrage!  40 degree heat and no water! My 6 year old son nearly died from dehydration and I was unable to smuggle in my usual amaretto and coke. I don't have a son, but I could have one and he would definitely get dehydrated if he came to the game and he would probably die. The blood of my dead theoretical son is on your hands Chonburi! As is the equally important lack of access to amaretto based drinks.

NEW!! Chonburi FC And The World's Most Dangerous Sports: 2020

In tribute to the club's ridiculous decision to allow striker, Teeratep Winothai to miss last Saturday's match at BG Pathum Utd so he could take part in a celebrity boxing bout, I've matched the current squad's shirt numbers to the list of "Most Dangerous Sports", according to worldsultimate.net. So, if any of the other lads fancy a bit of time off from their day job...

2. Noppanon Kachaplayuk - Gymnastics

3. Carli de Murga - Soccer (??)

4. Teerapong Deehamhae - Base Jumping

5. Kritsada Kaman - Bicycle Riding

6. Rangsan Wiroonsri - Rugby

7. Caion - Mixed Martial Arts

8. Worachit Kanitsribampen - Cheerleading (!!)

10. Kroekrit Thaweekarn - Bull Riding

13. Nattapong Phephat - Buzkashi

14. Teeratep Winothai - Longboarding

17. Sarut Nasri - Bullfighting

19. Saharat Sontisawat - Cave Diving

22. Kazuto Kushida - Helicopter Skiing

23. Dragan Bošković - Iditarod

 

24. Phanuphong Phonsa - Macau Grand Prix

26. Narathip Kruearanya - Baja 1000

28. Niran Hansson - Swimming

30. Chakhon Philakhlang - Volvo Ocean Race

33. Júnior Lopes - Jousting

35. Chanin Sae-ear - Lawn Bowls (!!)

*There are a couple of these that involve animals and which I consider barbaric, but, as they're on the list, I've decided to include them. In the unlikely event that the club would allow any of our players or staff to indulge in these "sports", I would stop supporting them immediately.

Chonburi FC Programmes: 2014

Should He Stay Or Should He Go?: 2017

SHOULD HE STAY OR SHOULD HE GO?

1st November, 2017

THE COACH

Therdsak Chaiman

Even after almost two seasons in charge, I think that it's fair to say that the jury is still out on Therdsak's capabilities as a coach at this level. We certainly haven't seen any progression, but, on the other hand, we haven't got noticably worse. A quick look at our record from this stage last season (when the league was brought to a premature end) shows an uncanny similarity:

 

2016

P31 W14 D9 L8 F52 A33 Pts51 - League position 5th

 

2017

P31 W14 D8 L9 F52 A53 Pts50 - League position 6th

 

The only real difference being the alarming increase in the number of goals conceded. So, it could be argued, that he's brought a level of consistency to the team. It could also be said that we're stagnating. Personally, I'm in the latter camp.

 

With one or two exceptions, the level of performances this year have been poor, and sometimes, very poor. Indeed, other than the Buiram Utd League Cup tie, I'm struggling to recall a time that I came away from the stadium feeling enthused and that I'd got my money's worth. It really has been that bad.

 

True, time's are tight and he doesn't have the luxury of being able to bring in better personnel than what we have/are stuck with, but he hasn't shown any signs that he'd know what to do, even with more talented players at his disposal. In fact, he's often looked out of his depth and has cut a forlorn figure during his less than frequent visits to the touchline. His team selections and substitutions also leave most of us - and I'm sure some of the players - baffled.

 

Therdsak was (still is) a great player. A real magician and some of my happiest memories of watching Chonburi come from matches that he's bossed. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to be able to pass on his expertise and get the team playing in a way that truly reflects his own talents. He's by no means unique in this, but it is frustrating - I'd go as far as to say heartbreaking - to watch a side that appears to be the complete antithesis of what the man was like in his own playing days.

 

I've said all along that he would benefit from having a more experienced coach working alongside him - and certainly one who knows how to set up a defence! However, there are no signs that this is likely to happen anytime soon so Therdy will be left to sink or swim on his own.

 

I genuinely would like him to succeed, but on what we've seen so far, I can't see it happening. The jury might still be out, but it's looking more and more like the judge is getting ready to pass sentence.

 

Verdict

Let him go. Unless someone comes in to work with him and from whom he can learn.

Likelihood

He'll stay, barring a major disaster in our last three matches. I doubt the club will want to fork out to bring someone new in.*

*He resigned 17 days later

Interview With Therdsak Chaiman: 2016

THERDSAK CHAIMAN INTERVIEW

by Weixiang Lim

1st January, 2016

Therdsak Chaiman was featured in the January, 2016 issue of the Singapore edition of Four Four Two. He talked eloquently on many subjects. Here's what he had to say about his appointment as Chonburi head coach.

 

Congratulations on being appointed as head coach of Chonburi. How do you feel about your new appointment?

For me, I am not overly excited, because I have been with Chonburi for six years already, so I am very familiar with the players and the system in Chonburi. 

 

I have to thank the chairman for giving me the job this season. I am grateful for the opportunity to move up the next rung of the coaching ladder after having been an assistant for the last three years under Witthaya Laohakul, Masahiro Wada and Jadet Meelap.

 

I am sure it will not be easy. Next year will be a big challenge. I want to do the best for my team and most importantly we must play good football.

 

What are your targets for the team?

Coming up immediately will be the AFC Champions League playoff on February 2 against a Myanmar team, Yangon Utd. That is an important tie because we want to go as far as we can in the tournament.

 

In the league, we hope to be in the top three. Last year we were fourth, so we want to move back into the top three. It’s not going to be easy because there are many good teams around like Buriram Utd, Muangthong Utd, Bangkok Glass and Suphanburi. So we really have to be organised and prepare well for our games.

 

I will be promoting five or six promising young players from the academy into the first team next season, so it will be very important to integrate them well into the team in pre-season.

 

I hope we can win a trophy. Any trophy next season will be good to reward our fans for their support.

 

NEW!! Interview With Paul Hewitt: 2020

My interview with Paul Hewitt, one of the first people to have a club dedicated English language website and write about Thai football in the wider media.

Please can you introduce yourself

Hello. My name is Paul Hewitt. I'm just about 40 years old (November 27th). I live and work in the Stamford and Rutland area in the East Midlands in England.

How, when and why did you get into Thai football?

Being footloose and fancy free and in my mid-20s, I made the decision, having holidayed there several times, to try my hand at being a teacher in Thailand. I just caught the tail end of the era when a foreigner could pitch up in Thailand with no experience, do a quick TEFL course, and get a job quite easily (I'm led to believe the rules have been tightened up since then - probably a good thing!). Having attended football matches on a more or less weekly basis since childhood there was never any question of me not trying to find matches to go to once in Thailand, though at the time I imagined it would more than likely be the national team where I'd get my live football fix as opposed to a local league team. I first saw the national team play on TV while I was still living in England. That was the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. I moved to Thailand in October 2007.

Why did you start supporting Nakorn Ratchasima?

Once in Thailand, and having "met someone" as one does, it became clear that my post-TEFL destination would be Nakhon Ratchasima. By good fortune, Korat was one of the few provinces at that time that had a team playing competitively. They played in the third tier Provincial League and that season (2008) were just one of two provinces from the whole of Isaan to have league representation - the other being Sakon Nakhon. So I felt very fortunate to have a team to watch at all.

What are your earliest memories and impressions of first going to watch the team?

My early impressions were great. I could get a song-taew (route 4) from the city centre to the municipal stadium with ease, and once there, after handing over a 20 baht admission fee, I watched a semi-professional football team play in front of a couple of hundred fans - precisely what I was used to in England as a fan of non-league Stamford AFC. The standard of football was ok. They tried to pass the ball anyway. I remember big home wins over Satun and Sakon Nakhon. There was a Nigerian forward called Osika and winger nicknamed "Jet Ka" (real name Boonyarit Latkrathok) who stood out. I was warmly welcomed by the fanclub and quickly assumed the role of "novelty farang fan" but I chose to sit with the quieter, plain-clothed fans at the other end of the main stand. 

How did you get your information back then?

Fortunately, the team's fanclub, though small, was effective and well organised, and they ran a website which regularly updated fixtures and results. Though obviously not a Thai reader at the time, it didn't require a huge amount of deduction skills to work out the names and dates on the fixture list. And if I did get stuck, a tentative question in English on the website's lively forum usually elicited a helpful response. From that day to this the club has never had a better website, and yet that was launched in the early 2000's when the club was literally amateur and had a few dozen fans. Of course, to get Thai football news in English, the only place to go was the thaifootball.com forum. Much missed.

How did you feel about NRFC's move to the new stadium?

I was astonished at the time. The club moved there halfway through the 2008 season. It wasn't a response to the 2009 boom. But they got lucky with how things turned out in 2009 and it proved to be the right decision. The inconsistent provision of public transport to the stadium was frustrating but is pretty standard in Thai football. The club was actually close to moving back to the Army Stadium at the end of 2010 following a disappointing season and dwindling crowds.

What were your initial impressions of the new ground?

Well I had just arrived in Korat in time for the SEA Games in December 2007, so I was already familiar with it before NRFC moved there. And being a stadium nerd I had thoroughly researched it before I ever set foot in it! Obviously, the stadium was designed and built for an international track and field tournament, not for a domestic football club. As such the stadium perfectly fulfills its brief and I have overwhelmingly happy memories of the place. In an ideal world a purpose-built 15-20,000 capacity football-specific stadium within the city's boundaries would be great, and is probably achievable. But the club was effectively gifted an "oven ready" (sorry!), modern stadium by the SAT and would have been mad to turn it down.

What are your happiest memories of your time supporting NRFC?

I remember walking back to the fans' bus just after we had clinched promotion in the 2011 Regional League play-offs by beating North Bangkok 2-0 at the Thephasadin Stadium. As we walked we started chatting simply about the fixtures we were looking forward to next season: "Phuket away!", "derby matches against Khon Kaen", "Saraburi away - we'll take thousands!". There was so much that was dirty in Thai football: the politics, the corruption, the players' discipline. But that was such a pure and hopeful and almost childlike moment. You've just seen your team win promotion and you start dreaming of the promise of next season. Any football fan in the world who has ever experienced a promotion season will know that feeling.

And although not an NRFC memory as such, the 2010 King's Cup matches in Korat were very special occasions. And photographing Bryan Robson in front of Yamo was a surreal moment.

And least favourite?

I could talk about walk-offs or politician chairmen or missing out on the play-offs on the final day of the 2009 season. But it has to be the incident in 2015 when the club allowed 35,000 fans to enter a stadium containing a touch over 20,000 seats. That was the last straw for me and I subsequently mothballed the website and closed down the Twitter account. I've never really subscribed to TIT. I don't believe you leave your morals and ethics at passport control when you enter the country. What is wrong in England is wrong in Thailand. That is moral consistency. Filling a stadium to nearly double its capacity is wrong. There is no TIT justification for it nor a legal one. Without getting too political, it's worth noting that this year a section of young people have dispensed with a TIT mentality and see the snowball effect. TIT is a moral myth that benefits those that believe in the status quo.

What are the major differences between the NRFC you supported & the club today?

Well the club changed beyond all recognition in the relatively short time I was supporting it. I personally had no problem with thousands of new fans appearing from 2009 onwards. My fundamental complaint throughout was how the management and organisation of the club didn't keep pace with the growth of the club's stature. The amount of times I had to tell those pleading agents and prospective players: "well actually the club doesn't have a phone number or email address". I know nothing of the club today so I can't make that comparison. I believe there is a purpose-built training ground so that's something. I would be surprised if there's an effective youth system. 

When and why did you decide to start your website?

It was during the 2008 season. I knew absolutely nothing about website design (still don't) but I managed to work out how to set up a crude webpage on which I wrote match reports and a basic league table. Initially, I did it for nothing more than my own amusement. I only expected the handful of members from the thaifootball forum to read it. But it was just too basic in terms of what I wanted to do. I couldn't put photos on it and I was having to hand type the league table every week - things like that. I discovered the Clubwebsite brand of sports based websites which made things so much easier. The downside was a largely generic appearance but it had a template system which made it so easy to update tables and fixture lists, and add photos and so on. Moving over to Clubwebsite coupled with on the field success in 2009 meant that interest grew rapidly. 

What sort of reaction did you get and who were the main visitors to the site?

It was positive. It was especially pleasing to reach other foreigners in Korat who had seen signs around the city promoting the club but couldn't work out when or where matches were being played! I was often told by other foreign fans that something as simple as a regularly updated fixture list was invaluable.

Judging by emails and messages I received, I had a mixture of curious Thai fans, foreign fans of Thai football, Korat farangs, players and of course, as we've all found out, agents offering players for trials. I only got involved twice with that sort of thing. I managed to help set up a trial for Frenchman David Lebras, who went on to be a club legend, and I took a gamble on a Canadian-Ukranian, who had spent some time in the youth system at Arsenal-Kyiv, who convinced me he was worth a trial. Apparently he lasted about thirty minutes before almost collapsing and wasn't heard of again. I recently found him on Facebook. He doesn't appear to have subsequently had a career in football.

What did you enjoy most about curating your website?

Researching the club's history. So little was known and so few records kept pre 2008 that it was a real challenge to piece things together. Stuff like player appearances and goal scorers and even match results in some cases are gone forever, but I did eventually manage to work out which stadiums were used in which seasons and I think we've got more or less complete league tables for every season going back to the club's formation in 1999. I particularly liked researching and photographing the former stadiums. One of which, the Rajabhat University Stadium, has since been demolished. 

Please can you tell us a bit about your time writing for Big Chilli

I think Adam, the editor, had started going to Thai Port matches and wanted something about Thai football in the magazine. He contacted Nigel at ThaiLeagueFootball about writing a column and Nigel generously recommended me. The challenge was that the column had to be submitted about a week before it went to print and with it being a monthly magazine your content could be weeks old before someone read it, so there was no point making it too topical. This was ideal for me as it allowed me to write about broad issues such as corruption or crowd trouble, or general descriptive pieces such as articles about stadiums (of course!) or about English-language Thai football websites, or just simply writing about what clubs existed and where they played in an attempt to encourage readers to go to matches. 

The remit was pretty broad but articles tended to be Bangkok-centric as the magazine mainly circulated in the capital and we agreed that it should be largely positive, encouraging people to give Thai football a chance, as opposed to an exposé of the darker side of the game. Although, inevitably, it wasn't always possible to keep those things out of the column. Just occasionally edits were made if my language describing certain FAT bosses or club owners was a little too florid. But by and large I was given free rein. My work with the Big Chilli was noticed by BK Magazine for whom I wrote a weekly blog on their website and occasional print article. But the idea was dropped after a while when they came to the conclusion their demographic was unlikely to be on the terraces of the PAT Stadium on a Saturday afternoon! 

When I moved back to England I immediately informed Adam of my intention to stop writing the article as it seemed a bit phoney as I was now living on the other side of the world. But to my surprise he wanted me to continue and persuaded me to stay on. I gave it another couple of years and finally dropped it around the time that I gave up on NRFC. I recommended him some people that I thought could continue the column but he said he didn't want anyone else to do it if not me. I think in reality he was just grateful to have two pages back that he could sell for advertising!

There is now a lot of English coverage of Thai football. How does it feel to have been a pioneer of this and at the time, could you ever have imagined that this would happen?

"Pioneer" sounds like a strong word but I'll take a compliment as you never know when the next one is going to come along! When I was sitting on the concrete steps of the Municipal Stadium with 200 others in 2008 I did believe the club had potential to be bigger simply because of the size of Korat, but obviously I didn't expect so much to happen so quickly whilst I was there. Not just in Korat but throughout Thai football. Growth in 2009 was so extraordinary that it could never be sustained but the Thai football landscape now, in terms of participation, clubs, fans, visibility, awareness is undoubtedly in a better place than it was when I first discovered the local game. You can see kids in Soeng Sang district, 100 km southeast of Korat city wearing NRFC shirts. In 2007 people living next door to the stadium wouldn't have been aware that the city had a team!

What advice would you give to anyone writing about Thai football in English?

Learn to read Thai 555! Seriously, it's invaluable for the aforementioned research. If you really want to get into Thai football, particularly the history of club football, there's only so much you can learn from English sources. Even many Thai sources are very thin on information compared to what we might be used to in European countries. 

How closely do you follow Thai football these days?

Beyond checking the league table every so often, not at all. I even stopped following the fortunes of the national team when I heard foreign fans had been inexplicably banned from sitting with the Thai fans. I don't even know where to begin with that one so I won't bother.

Is there a time when you can see your enthusiasm being restored?

Well I'd have to be living in Korat and attending matches. I moved back to England in April 2013, and I just couldn't maintain enthusiasm without actually attending matches. I pretty much stopped following Stamford's fortunes when I was living in Thailand for the same reason. I clearly just can't maintain interest in a team unless I can actually watch them play live. 

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I can't go without mentioning people that I have met and friendships forged through Thai football. Especially you Dale, Russ and a certain mercurial Frenchman. It was a great ride and I hope it isn't over. I'm as guilty as anyone of wallowing in nostalgia, melancholia and wistfulness, so I've found it useful this year - this extraordinary year of all years - to remind myself that I am only roughly halfway through my life, not even that with a fair wind. I don't want to spend the rest of my life reminiscing about 2007-2013. I was very young when I moved over there; I'm still young today by farang expat standards! So Thailand and Thai football can still be a part of my future as well as my past. Watch this space!

NEW!! Playing Away by Grant Aitken: 2020

"You can change your partner, your religion, your politics, but never never can you change your football team." Eric Cantona

With this in mind, I asked a group of Thai football fans who they would choose should they ever consider the unthinkable. In our latest article, Grant Aitken explains why he would desert Muang Thong Utd for Buriram Utd.

If Muangthong win it’s because we bribed the referee, if we lose then it’s karma because we bribe referees. After a few seasons of having your team’s accomplishments boiled down to nothing more than a cheap swindle you develop somewhat of a siege mentality, and there’s only one other club where that can be replicated…I just hope Kuruna can manage to put that megaphone down long enough to welcome me with open arms.

Buriram United, a fellow (temporary) fallen giant, but things have much changed between these two fierce rivals. These days we share head coaches and our Isaan brethren have even let us win our fair share of encounters between the sides in recent seasons (hospitality ranks high on my list of qualities for perspective clubs). They have more than enough stars above their badge to command respect and there’s a couple of young siblings within the camp that would be more than worth the admission fee to watch play each week. 

Although I’d be loathsome to make the commute from Nonthuburi to Buriram, I’m reliably informed that fans at the Thunder Castle have all expenses paid. Away trips include travel, accommodation and food, all generously paid for by the tax payers of the province. Plus, at home games, free match day tickets are thrown around like confetti to boost attendances. This is provided you wear the team’s colours, which I currently don’t yet own. However, the club owner literally owns no other items of clothing than the sportswear produced by the club, so I’m sure he’ll be happy to lend me a shirt. Although he is a little larger than me, so I’ll have to grow into it. Maybe one too many cases of the midnight munchies… 

Speaking of green, the pitch at their stadium is an absolute beauty and would not look out of place in any of Europe’s major leagues. A little known fact about the Chang Arena is that LEGO generously denoted over 3,000 novelty sized bricks for the completion of the exterior. LEGO was ingeniously chosen because it is a portable product, so when the local government realized the stadium and training facilities had actually been built on community owned land, relocation could be easily achieved if required. 

The timing is actually impeccable. If I switch allegiances now I can reserve my place for the New Year’s party. Grown men (and Supanat) paraded around in G-Strings for comical relief is not exactly my cup of tea, but it gets people out of the house, right? It’s always nice interacting with humble and down to earth players. Being based Buriram will probably ensure I’d cross paths with them on several occasions given the plethora of activities there is to do in the area. We may bump into each other at the Moto GP, the dirt bike track, a trash burning event or even the motorcycle racing. 

The local fans are of course warm and welcoming, and families make up the majority of the fan base, so I would appreciate the familiarity of that aspect. It’s taken me several years to learn just a handful of Muangthong chants in my non-native language, so it’s handy that Buriram have just the one song…now, is it slowly groan “Buuuurrreeeraaaaam” on the ever 2nd drum beat or the 3rd?   

Bangkok Glass 0-0 Chonburi - Match Report: 2010

TPL

Bangkok Glass 0-0 Chonburi

The Leo Stadium

Attendance: 7,500

Sunday 19th September, 2010

Match Report 

A rather strange experience for me, watching this match via the cathode ray tube from the comfort of my armchair, but a change is as good as a rest...or so they say. And I must admit I did rather enjoy my half time cup of tea, accompanied by a plateful of toast. As for the game itself, it was an entertaining affair which produced a number of chances, yet somehow remained goalless. The two keepers deserve a lot of credit for this, especially Suchin who was probably the busier of the pair.

Chonburi lost Kiatprawut early on, with what looked like a bad injury and another setback for the likeable defender, who has had a torrid time since his little "holiday" in Manchester a few years ago. Hopefully, it won't be too serious and he'll soon be back in action. A further blow for the Sharks was the withdrawal of Therdsak a few minutes later. This seemed more like a precautionary measure so I fully expect the wily old midfielder to return to the team on Saturday; he'll be rested midweek.

On TV the Leo Stadium looks quite an odd little place to watch football. There are only three sides and giant stand behind one goal seems to dwarf everything around it. While, at the other end, an away enclosure that looks like it's been lifted from an English ground in the late seventies/early eighties, comes complete with a twenty foot high fence. However, there appeared to be a decent atmosphere and the travelling Chonburi contingent could certainly be heard on the box.

Overall, I think I was happy with a point. Bangkok Glass have been a bogey side for us in the past but we have taken four points off them this season. Which hopefully means we have laid that particular ghost to rest. Obviously I would have preferred three points, if only to postpone the inevitable for another week or so, but I don't have any complaints, especially as I thought that the home side probably shaded it in the second half. They certainly had more possession, but the Sharks defended resolutely. The visitors even shrugged off the rather harsh decision to send off Suttinun, rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job.

So the whole thing picks up again on Wednesday, when the two teams meet in the first leg of a second round Toyota League Cup tie. I expect that the two line-ups will be a lot different but, hopefully, the entertainment will match that served up yesterday.

Glass Gaining Ground by Paul Hewitt: 2013

 Paul Hewitt's Bangkok Glass article from the Big Chilli, June, 2013.

NEW!! Playing Away by Stephen Romary: 2020

"You can change your partner, your religion, your politics, but never never can you change your football team." Eric Cantona

With this in mind, I asked a group of Thai football fans who they would choose should they ever consider the unthinkable. Stephen Romary explains why he would desert Muang Thong Utd for their cross town rivals.

MAKE PORT FC GREAT AGAIN BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME!

When asked which club I’d swing my allegiance, the answer is obvious. Obvious, that is, once I also accept flying pigs, a round earth, and Donald Trump as president (again).  So yes, once I agree the sun does indeed rise in the west, the choice becomes clear.

Afterall, it’s easy being a fan when your club has four league championships to its name. A club with champion’s league experience. A club with a fully formed youth academy.  A club with multiple media feeds broadcasting news and details. A club with a vision and a plan.  A club with lights that work.

Where’s the challenge in that?

Instead, time to consider the exact opposite of success.  A club so dysfunctional it makes Donald Trump look like Mahatma Gandhi.  A club where Gucci bags and glamour rubs shoulders with, on average, two head coaches per season. A club with stadium seats where you can’t see the pitch, even if the lights do manage to stay on.  A club where ticketing details are locked in an underground bunker to which there is no key.  A club that’s never managed to win the league.  

With Port FC there’s nowhere to go but up. It’s like buying stock in Apple when Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were friends.  Some consolation can be taken that several of my former club’s stars have switched to the ‘Stadium Of No Light’. Perhaps the greatness dust they carry will infuse its way into the turf.  With Charyl, Heberty, Adison, Adisak, and more, in the blue and red, I feel I’m watching my old team. So that helps.

Plus, who can forget the important role played in bringing about VAR this season!   Fans can be eternally grateful to Port FC for helping to add flow and excitement to the game.  Now, when someone scores, we all sit calmly for the long wait until we see that glorious message DECISION GOAL and the referee points at the centre spot. Such joy!

Yes, it’s obvious, Port FC is the future. A future that includes flying pigs and Donald Trump in the Whitehouse, again.  Anything’s possible.

NEW!! Interview With BG Man Andy Potten: 2020

My exclusive interview with former BG mascot, independent website curator and all round good guy, Andy Potten.

Please can you start by introducing yourself

Andrew Potten, 42 years old, originally from Canterbury in the U.K.

How are you and what are you up to these days?

I’m good thanks. Other than my connection to Thai football, not much has changed to be honest. I’m still a teacher and still married to my wonderful wife. Only that I’m now based in Bangkok rather than Pathum Thani and of course, 10+ years older.

How did you first get into Thai football?

As you can imagine, living in Pathum Thani in 2008, there wasn’t a lot to do. Watching football from back home wasn’t easy either. I desperately needed a hobby to stop myself from going stir crazy so I started by just finding out as much info as possible about the local footy scene.

And how did you end up supporting Bangkok Glass?

It turned out during my hours and hours of online research trying to find the nearest club, I lived next door to BGFC. Yes, literally less than 500 metres from my house. Who knew?? In my defence, at that time, they were a ‘new’ and fairly unknown club and weren’t actually playing ‘next door.’ They were temporarily playing at the provincial stadium about 15km away whilst the stadium next door was being developed. Anyway, that was close enough for me. It was either them or Air Force United who were a bit further away but probably easier to get to. I went with BGFC knowing that they would eventually be very close to home.

When and why did you start your website?

Before the website, I started the official BGFC Facebook page before Facebook became a big deal in Thailand. Obviously I started it in English but Facebook then took off in Thailand and it became overrun with Thai fans which despite my wife and I’s best efforts, we couldn’t even come close to keeping up with so I handed over admin duties to the club. I still wanted to do something in English though and I had a background in website development so it seemed the next logical step. I can’t remember the year but I think it was 2009. I also did one for Chiang Rai United for a while too. Both clubs linked their official sites to my sites which was nice.

What did you enjoy most about curating the site?

I have always (and still do) enjoy designing websites and I was always a bit of a stat nerd growing up, so it kind of went hand in hand. I started it really just for myself and for a few friends to view as a hobby but as Thai Football grew larger and the official site linked to it, it became more popular. It was cool hearing from people all over the world who maybe watched a game whilst on holiday here in Thailand and then continued to follow the team.

I didn’t enjoy the hundreds of so called ‘agents’ trying to get me to pass on their players’ bio to the chairman etc.

There is now a lot of English language coverage of Thai football. How does it feel to know you were one of the pioneers?

I certainly don’t consider myself a pioneer, yourself and a couple of others had sites long before me I believe. I was inspired by yours and others commitment to the cause. I don’t really remember that well but I remember seeing your site and using the same platform you did for a while before then building my site from scratch. Without seeing yours, I might not have even started.

What are your favourite memories from your time supporting Bangkok Glass?

Travelling around Thailand to places I’d never usually visit, playing in the fan club matches, making great friends and most of all, having a lot of fun. Admittedly, it was better at the beginning when it was smaller and it had more of a community feel. As Bangkok Glass and Thai Football in general got bigger as well as me getting deeper involved with the club, it started to lose the element of fun.

 

And now the big question: How did you become BG Man?

Being the only foreigner is a crowd of a couple of hundred, I stuck out like a sore thumb and I soon became the gossip on the BG forum. It only took a few matches for the fans to embrace me as one of them however BG Man came about maybe 9 months later when the club moved back into the purpose built stadium. The TPL was starting to get more attention and the club needed a mascot to supposedly protect the Rabbit Girls. BG Man was chosen, although I wasn’t the original. The original BG Man did it for about 1 month before he was ordained into monkhood. The fan club put a poll up on the forum with choices for the next BG Man and I was unknowingly on it. I apparently had about 80% of the vote without actually being asked to do it. I said ‘yes’ on the condition it would only be for a couple of months. 2 years later and I was still parading about in spandex looking ridiculous.

 

What instructions were you given as the club mascot?

Very little to be honest. Just walk out with the players and Rabbit Girls before the match. I wasn’t obliged to be at all matches. If I couldn’t make a match for any reason, it was no big deal…. Oh and don’t get (too) drunk.

What was your relationship like with the club?

Great. The chairman Pawin Bhirombhakdi’s door was open if I ever needed anything. He told me he would put BG Man in their ‘Hall of Fame’ museum at the stadium when I stopped. I have no idea if he ever did though. As for the rest of the club, it was also great. The main fan club always kept me in the loop of any activities, trips or fan club matches. I had a decent relationship with Chiang Rai United for a while too.

Please describe a typical match day for BG Man

If it was a home match, I’d usually play the fan club match in the early afternoon, then get changed into BG Man an hour or so before the match. Mingle for photos, TV cameras and meet up with friends etc. Go onto the pitch 15 mins or so before a game and throw keyrings to the kids in the crowd. Go back into the tunnel and lead out the team with the Rabbit girls. Then head into the stands for the rest of the game trying. Sometimes I’d be glued to the match and wouldn’t get involved too much, other times I’d just be having fun in the crowd with the songs and dances depending on the game and my mood. After the game, it was usually more photos.

Away games could involve full weekend trips depending on who we were playing. They were always fun and I looked forward to these. Usually some sightseeing, restaurants etc. on the first day, fan club match and the actual match on the second day, followed by a long coach journey back. The away match at Buriram was fantastic. The people and the club (despite all the negativity surrounding them at the time) were brilliant. I was given a Buriram shirt as a gift by some random Buriram fan that really meant a lot to me.

What was the best thing about being BG Man?

People were amazing towards me. Both BGFC fans and rival supporters. Being a foreigner when there weren’t that many about, people would try to talk to you even if they spoke little English as well as offer you transport, beer, food etc. but being BG Man just magnified it ten-fold. 99% of people were amazing.

 

And the worst?

There was a certain member of the PR team that couldn’t understand that this wasn’t my proper job and she was always calling me at work to do TV/radio interviews or go to public events which I wasn’t always able or willing to do. She seemed to take BG Man far more seriously than I or anyone else at the club did. When it started getting too serious towards the end, it stopped being fun.

One other thing, needing the toilet whilst wearing it was no joke either.

What was the funniest thing that happened to you as BG Man?

This is going to sound so egotistical but it’s 100% true so I’m gonna tell it anyway… ;)

The first time I was ever BG Man was an away trip to Buriram. Yep, my first appearance was in front of 20,000 or so away from home against the best team in the league at the time. I was as nervous as you might imagine. It actually went quite smoothly (other than the score line) albeit I was pretty conscientious of myself the whole time. After the final whistle and when we all headed back to the coach, there were a few Buriram fans asking for photos. Nothing too much but at this point although I didn’t really have a bench mark to what would be normal. 

I remember it taking ages to get out of the car park but finally we left and the coach headed through the town. The coach started slowing down and there were some kids shouting outside. Then the coach was surrounded and they wouldn’t let the coach leave again until BG Man went outside and signed their scarfs and shirts. I actually didn’t want to (and I was out of costume by then anyway) but I was encouraged to do so, so I did. I spent about 10 minutes signing stuff (having to make up a BG Man signature there and then) and unbeknown to me it was filmed by a couple of people. The video ended up on the local news and kind of went ‘relatively’ viral on both the BGFC and the Buriram forums. 

Two weeks later Buriram had their own mascot…. Buriram Man. A shameless rip off but I didn’t mind. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all that…  In the return fixture, Newin Chidchob (Buriram owner and prominent politician) even joked with me about blatantly stealing the idea, all in good humour of course.

Why and when did you stop?

I stopped at the end of 2011 season. I felt 2 years was enough. It was fun and was only ever supposed to be for fun, once it started getting too serious (see question 8) I decided to call it a day. However I never intended to stop going to BGFC games or even watching Thai football in general but fate dealt a cruel blow. Not long after the season finished, the floods of 2011 devastated Pathum Thani badly. My wife and I lost our house, jobs, possessions and worst of all, our unborn baby in the stress of it all. We were forced into Bangkok to find work and obviously everything else took a back seat for a very long time.

 

What do you miss most about the role?

Meeting people that would never have spoken to me had I not been BG Man.

Being recognised when going about normal life was weird but always a pleasant surprise. Once in a market in Chiang Mai someone recognised me and came over to speak to me and only a few years ago at a running event in Pattaya someone tentatively approached and asked whether or not I was BG Man even after 6 years.

It was always nice to have photos taken with kids especially in the smaller provinces where they had probably never even seen a foreigner, let alone a foreign nut job dressed as a wanna be superhero.

How closely do you follow Thai football and BG these days?

Not very. I still follow the scores and have some friends from back then but that’s about it.

 

What do you miss the most?

Definitely the community feel in the first couple of years before it all got too big. Also, I loved playing the fan club matches against all the other teams’ fan clubs. We were a half decent team too, winning most of our matches although I do remember Chonburi fan club team beat us a couple of times. BGFC and Muang Thong always had a great relationship and those matches were always big news and played on the pitch at the LEO Stadium under floodlights with the big screen on and everything, usually with a couple of hundred in the stands as well. That always felt great to play in.

 

Would you ever consider following BG again and what - if anything - would encourage you to go back?

Probably not go to actual games as it’s now an 80km round trip through the Bangkok traffic but possibly from afar on TV. I doubt it’d be the same though.

Would you like to take this opportunity to send a message to the fans of BG?

For those that were fans 10 years ago, thanks for all the memories that I will forever have. It was a great time in my life. For all the current fans, obviously, things are going very well this season for BGFC (I still can’t bring myself to say BGPU) so I really hope they continue, especially after the recent relegation. Good luck.

 

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Thank you for getting in contact with me. Just writing this brought back some fantastic memories that I haven’t thought about in years. Truly some of my best memories in Thailand. It’s great to hear from you and to see you’re still doing this with the same passion and commitment as always.

NEW!! Playing Away by Robert Scott: 2020

"You can change your partner, your religion, your politics, but never never can you change your football team." Eric Cantona

With this in mind, I asked a group of Thai football fans who they would choose should they ever consider the unthinkable. Today, Robert Scott explains who he would leave Chiang Mai FC for.

Name: Robert Scott

Current team: Chiang Mai FC

Could I support another Thai team thereby committing the equivalent of sporting adultery?

After all we are talking about Chiang Mai FC. A team that has had multiple parents, all have whom have quickly deserted their problem child. The jury is still out on BG’s ambitions for the club. A club that has remarkable fan loyalty given the club’s own lack of ambition and their failure to engage with supporters. 

So, first things first – I would have to leave Chiang Mai. Leaving Chiang Mai would be difficult but ask me again between February and April when the air quality gets into lung-destroying numbers and I might have a different view.

I cannot be a long-distance or tv supporter – I want to be in the stadium at least thirty minutes before kick-off; team sheets and notepad in hand. Anorak nearby! I want to be there at the end for the post game rituals. I dream of a seat in the press box.

So where to go and who to support? Two decisions that really do go hand in hand. The only way to do this may be by process of elimination.

Sorry - no Bangkok based clubs. I simply do not want to live there again. 

No clubs with wealthy benefactors but stuck in the middle of nowhere. No Buriram.

No club that has taken advantage of the goodwill of Chiang Mai supporters in the past or used our club to further their own ambitions. That rules out Chiang Rai.

Ideally no stadium with a running track and jumping pits outside the football pitch. A little unreasonable given that both the 700th Anniversary and the municipal stadiums in Chiang Mai both have running tracks. Though at least the stands at the Municipal Stadium are a little nearer to the action – unless you are an away supporter – and if you are then I can only apologise. Every fan I know is ashamed of how we treat our guests.

A club by the sea would be very welcome – I have always wanted to live by the sea. Which makes Chiang Mai an unlikely choice other than to say it is at a safe distance from my mother-in-law!

Ranong is a non-starter for reasons my friends will fully understand. Nice town. Loathsome football club.

Starting in League 1. Chonburi and Rayong both feel too much like an extension of Bangkok. Ratchaburi – I loved the stadium. The fans were welcoming. I just cannot imagine living there. Suphan Buri – same problem.

Which leaves just four possible League One teams – Sukhothai, Trat, PT Prachuap and Nakhon Ratchasima. Trat seems to far from anywhere – except Cambodia. Then there were three. Since I know nothing about Nakhon Ratchasima that leaves Sukhothai and PT Prachuap. Prachuap is the little town that could – in football terms battling well above its weight. But I think I would prefer to visit rather than live there. Which leaves Sukhothai which appeals to the long-forgotten historian in me. They have a proper football stadium but are currently coached by someone I cannot forgive for being complicit in ensuring CMFC were relegated last season. 

As for the Championship if you enjoy living in Issan then there are plenty of options. Udon Thani are ruled out for being Muangthong’s B team. Khon Kaen ruled out for being another BG team. Which then rules out ground-sharing Khon Kaen United. Sisaket is also too far from anywhere else. Phrae is a lovely little town with a football stadium too remote to belong to the city. Others are too close to Bangkok. How about Lampang? Given the uncertainty at the end of last season over whether the club would move to Songkhla that would seem a very short-term bet. Which leaves Chiang Mai United. I am very fond of some of the people there. I hope they get promoted to League 1. I hope they return to the 700th anniversary stadium. But, for me, they will always be the other Chiang Mai club!  

Which leaves Nongbua Pitchaya. Ambitious; financed; unbeaten. But where?

So into the Regional 3rd divisions.  The answer is Nan. A lovely city and a team with a name that I can spell. Regular flights to Bangkok. An easy drive to Chiang Rai and not so distant from Chiang Mai. But still no beach!

That’s settled then – just don’t tell Tai.

NEW!! My Thai Football Journey by Antony Sutton: 2020

My Thai Football Journey

by Antony Sutton

I grew up an Arsenal fan. In fact I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t an Arsenal fan, except for a few hours in the 1970s when we let slip a two goal lead against Derby County and I loudly told my mates who I was having a kick around with in the local park, the nearest we had to social media at the time, that I was so disgusted I wanted them to know I now supported Sunderland. 

I started going to home games in the early 70s then, as I got a paper round and then a job in the local record shop, ventured further afield following the Arsenal. And when I went to Australia I 1987 I was convinced I’d be gone for 12 months and would return to my spot on the Clock End terrace. 

It didn’t happen that way of course and in the early 90s I fronted up in Thailand hoping to broaden my mind as an English teacher. Between Australia and Thailand I’d been in Germany watching the likes of 1FC Koln, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munchen when I could. I wouldn’t say I was a football snob, I was also happy going to see non-league games in England or National Soccer League games in Australia, but I didn’t really take much notice of football in my new home. 

I was dimly aware the national team were playing in the Asian Games and saw enough to be impressed by the likes of Tawan and Kiatisuk and occasionally I would have a look round the Thai Farmers Bank store in Siam Square thinking I would like to get a souvenir and catch a game but every time I read the in depth football columns in the Bangkok Post, and they were superbly written, while sat in the teacher’s room on Saturdays I could never see the attraction of leaving a bar for long enough to traipse across Bangkok to see SET v PAT, BBC v RTAF or TTM v KTB. 

So instead I joined the library at the British Council and in those dark days between my money running out and pay day I would sit in my dimly lit room off Rama 4 and read about people like Chidchobs, Kuenplums and Sila’parchas. Little did I know but this background reading became essential to understanding local football. 

When I saw the name Chonburi popping up in the Post on Saturdays I immediately thought of the Kuenpluem family, one of whom I used to teach TOEFL primarily because nobody else fancied 7am starts. The second thing that struck me hell, was Thai football moving beyond a bunch of SOEs and government departments based in Bangkok before returning to more important matters like Bobby’s Arms, Cosmos, My Other Office, Country Road and Thermae. The 90s were something that happened to other people. 

I started Jakarta Casual in 2006, primarily as a way to keep me on the straight and narrow after getting married but it soon snowballed and within a few years I was covering Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean football. It was only a matter of time before I added Thai football to the blog. With teams like Muang Thong United, Bangkok Glass and Chonburi it was beginning to resemble a proper league and thanks to the message board there were other loonies just as football daft as I was and just as interested in the local burgeoning scene. 

So, 2009 and the holidays. ‘I’m going to Bangkok for a few days to see some football,’ I told my wife. Yeah, right I could see her thinking. Bangkok, football, that’s a new one! 

I holed up in my old manor and took a taxi out to Ekkamai before boarding a bus to Sri Racha where I was going to meet Dale. The plan was I wanted to experience a Thai style awayday so we met up, had a few beer before joining a supporters club bus to take us…into Bangkok. In fact, to a ground a mile and a half away from where I was staying! 

The ride from Sri Racha to Klong Toey took about 10 minutes as me and Dale discussed Thai football, English football and punk rock. I’d only see Oldham play a handful of times but it turned out Dale was at each of the games I went to including a Friday night game at Brighton and my last ever game at Highbury, a League Cup tie in 1994. We also had both seen a game between Thailand v South Korea in 1997, we both popped out Thai football cherry that night. 

As awaydays went it was pretty lame, especially if I were to compare with similar trips I’d made in Indonesia but 2009 was the year Thailand discovered football so there was little in the way of history or rivalry to hang your hat on. But it was a fun day out. Chonburi won 2-1 and I bought a Thai Port in the club shop and even got to chat with Kosin, the Chonburi keeper who had spent a period of time on loan with Persib in Indonesia. I asked him what he thought of Persija and he spat on the floor. Brilliant thinks I, the Persib fans will love this when I post it on You Tube. Unfortunately, I’d forgotten to press record on the handycam! 

After the game I took the 47 bus back to my hotel. The next day I went to see Chula United v Pattaya United and, um, to be honest it was crap. A few drunken foreigners had turned their backs on their favourite beer bar for a trip to the Big Durian but they produced little in the way of atmosphere, they were too busy either trying to not spill their beer or snoring. 

I was interested enough though by the first game to return later in the year when Muang Thong United hosted Chonburi. A large crowd was expected so me and Dale and his missus entered the ground some four hours before kick off and tried to make ourselves comfy on the stone steps. Good atmosphere, good game, I was tempted enough to return a number of time over the following years to catch games but for me the novelty soon wore off and looking back I can see a few reasons why my interest waned. 

First, the Chidchobs got involved. While the Kuenpluems didn’t seem interested in throwing money at the game, Chidchobs were people who didn’t lose be it politically or elsewhere. Then the Sila’parchas got involved in Suphanburi, or as I used to call in in the 90s Banharnburi, and football was rapidly becoming a playground for phu yai and their egos. I couldn’t see how the domestic league could develop with only one team winning the league every year, who was going to support a provincial club with no history and no hope of winning the title? The early boom years weren’t sustained and attendances soon levelled off as Thais discovered a new ‘latest craze.’ 

I would still book trips to Thailand but increasingly I wasn’t even bothering with the games. I went to see Bangkok United and Army United and wondered why I was bothering spending all that time and money. Yes, I know people like to say the Thai league is the best in the region but I’m not even sure what that means. Undoubtedly they have some of the best players and some of the best role models and their marketing used to be second to none but the quality was spread very thinly. 

Thai football is obviously in a much better place than it was when I first read those superbly written Bangkok Post articles a quarter of a century earlier and one of the reasons for that is the early success of Chonburi in pushing the game beyond government departments and reaching out to local communities. Part of me still thinks it would be fun to go back and zigzag across the country catching games in distant provincial towns and cities, riding local non air conditioned buses, waiting in dusty markets for them to fill up, sitting next to old buggers stinking of Sangthip as they gently caress their crowing cock. As a footballing experience the Thai game is a long way behind its Indonesian brethren but as an appendage to an all encompassing Thai experience it can’t be beaten!