My interview with Phuket FC fan, Richard, ahead of a pre season friendly in January, 2014.
Hi my name is Richard, I am 39 years old and I am from Wolverhampton, England. I have been living in Rawai,Phuket for over 12 years and I have my own building business: www.propertyforsalephuket.co.th.
Q - How long have you been supporting Phuket FC?
I have been supporting Phuket FC for the last 3 seasons and this new season will be my 4th.
Q - What first got you interested in following Phuket FC?
I am a big football fan and wanted to support a local team. I enjoyed my first visit to a Phuket game so much that I have been going ever since to home and away games.
Q - Please can you tell us a little about your fan group.
We are a Rawai based fan club but we have now grown and spread all across the world with "Mushy Peas" now on all continents. It was started by James Lakin aka 'Shaggy", and began with just the two of us but has now grown to over 500 members.
Q - How did Phuket perform last season?
The season started well and we had some good luck but then it all went horribly wrong and our form was terrible for the 2nd half of the season.
Q - Overall, were you satisfied with the performances last season?
It was a very disappointing season for everybody who cared about the club. Too many of our players did not show any heart or any passion. The foreign players that we had were either unfit or thought they were superstars but really they were not very good, apart from Geoffry Doumeng who had been at Chonburi FC. He was a good footballer but was not fit enough.
Q - What signings have the club made during the close season?
The coach has gone out and signed players who he knows and hopefully can rely on. We now have a huge central defender who should win most balls in the air in both boxes. We have a fast young winger coming into the squad and now hopefully we have signed another creative midfielder who hopefully will create chances and goals.
Q - How do you think these signings will affect the team?
The coach has bought many new players into the club, which could take a long time to build a team spirit. However, he has worked with a few of these players before and they will know how he expects to play the game. Our foreign players are all Brazilian so this should also help with communication between them and the coach too.
Q - What are your opinions on Teco, Phuket's coach?
He has experience in Thailand and also has a knowledge of the players so I very much hope he will use that knowledge to take us to the TPL.
Q - What are your expectations for next season?
Promotion to the TPL. It could be tough, with teams such as Nakon Ratchasima, Pattaya Utd, Bangkok Utd also expecting promotion.
Q - How have Phuket been shaping up during pre season friendlies?
We have won our three practice matches so far and there have been signs of improvement in different positions that have encouraged us fans. We look strong when we put our best 11 players on the field.
Q - How have the club been promoting Saturday's match?
The club have very visibly promoted this match via facebook, banners and posters. I think the club is very proud that Chonburi have chosen Phuket and our club to use as a warm up base with such an important game for them in the ACL coming up.
Q - Will the club be taking Saturday's friendly seriously?
I think the club, the fans and the players will be taking the game very seriously, as we all want to test ourselves against the best teams in the country. We want to know how good are we and how well we can expect to do in Division 1.
Q - Will the fans be taking it seriously?
The fans will take it very seriously, as Chonburi are a big club with many fans in Phuket also supporting Chonburi in the TPL.
Q - What are you expecting from Saturday's friendly?
I am expecting Phuket FC to try very,very hard and play with a lot of determination. However, class will show through in the end and if we can gain confidence in ourselves by drawing or at least having a good performance, we will all be happy.
Q - Which of your players should we look out for?
Our central defender Tales, at set pieces. Our new young speedy winger Bell, and our new Brazilian import in Midfield, Eber.
Q - What do you know about Chonburi FC?
I have been to Chonburi Stadium for a big match against Muang Thong Utd and it is an impressive stadium that was full on that ocassion with a very vocal and passionate support. Chonburi FC looks like a very well organised and professional club.
Q - Which Chonburi players do you think you need to look out for?
I like Therdsak as a player, as he plays good football, and also another player I know about is your captain, Pibob.
Q - Pre season friendlies: Are they are guide to the season ahead? Discuss
Friendlies can be a great success if used correctly by playing against better players and to test our team. Also for Chonburi to play against a hungry determined team, that will help their players with their fitness, with such an important AFC CL game coming up.
Q - Anything else you'd like to add?
My girlfiend is from Ban Bung , Chonburi and is a big supporter of Chonburi FC, so I hope Phuket do not lose too heavily or I will never hear the end of her joking.
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