For Queen And Country: 2008

In 2008, Stephen Ackroyd was on a round the world trip. In this article he relates the tale of his Thailand adventures, which included a trip to a football match and how he nearly got shot!

For Queen And Country 
by Stephen Ackroyd 
There are two experiences I’ll never forget about my time in Thailand. I arrived in the country in May 2008, just over 4 weeks into an amazing ten month trip around the world, from Hong Kong. China had been an immense culture shock, I’d never travelled before and with so few people speaking English it was an amazing feeling to be so magnificently detached from the world I knew. The food was at times unusual and at times horrific (lamb spine on the bone, ladies and gentlemen!). Thailand, on the other hand, seemed to be packed full of friendly (that’s not to say the Chinese were not friendly – far from it), English speaking people and so immediately felt more accessible. 

After a few days of getting to know Bangkok, doing the usual touristy things like pottering about the Khaosan Road and eating my own body weight in Massaman curry, we were privileged and honoured to see Her Majesty Queen Regent Sirikit. It was a surreal experience, returning to our hotel completely unaware that Her Majesty had been attending the temple at the end of the Khaosan Road for a religious festival. 

At the time I wasn’t fully aware of just how revered the Royal family in Thailand were and when I attempted to photograph Her Majesty, as she left the temple, I was abruptly told - in Thai - to stop being such an idiot. My cheeky second attempt didn’t go unnoticed either and it took a student who spoke English to turn to me and warn that the military would shoot me, without hesitation, if I didn’t stop, it to make me think better of it and give up. 

But, seeing the Queen wasn’t to be the only excitement of my time in the Thai capital, on May 25th I ventured out of the tourist trap centre to reach the Rajamangala Stadium to watch a friendly between Thailand and Iraq. The entire idea came courtesy of ThaiLatic, who I’d met at OWTB.co.uk whilst gibbering on about Oldham Athletic and our life in League One (where we currently reside under the stewardship of Paul Dickov). 

Getting to the stadium was not as hard as I'd expected, and once there Dale was easy to find, as he was the only white guy at the place! He introduced me to his wife Nui and she kindly gave me an official supporters club shirt for Chonburi (which is in my cherished pile of souvenirs of my trip), who at the time were the current Thai champions, and her and Dale’s favourite team. 

The Rajamangala stadium is decent, if somewhat basic, and holds an impressive 65,000 people. Not that it really mattered for this game, as there couldn't have been more than about 5,000 fans there - although they were certainly vocal! After a while sat at a small stall outside the stadium, observing those passing into the ground and drinking a couple of very welcome ice cold beers we headed towards the entrance. 

There I discovered a very strange rule. You are welcome to take your own beer in to the game, but not the cans or bottles (presumably to prevent them being used as a missile). So you have to put it in small plastic bags and drink it with a straw. By plastic bags that’s exactly what I mean. A plastic bag akin to those you keep your packed lunch in back home. Very strange but it kind of added to the experience really. And certainly made the guards laugh as we tried to pour out all our beers. 

So, my indoctrination into Thai football was well underway. My beer was cold and bagged and we were ready for kick off. The game itself was not as bad as I'd feared. After a goalless first half in which there were only a couple of chances, Thailand took the lead early in the second with a nicely worked goal from Theeratep Winothai. Shortly after a scrappier goal, this time from Teerasil Dangda, made it two nil before Iraq scored a consolation with 10 minutes left to play. 

Having been on the road for so long it was great to see some live football again, and more so to meet Dale and his lovely wife. We chatted about everything under the sun, as you do and were literally under the sun at the time which only added to the enjoyment. Leaving Dale and Nui I took a taxi ride home, which was great fun when the taxi driver saw my shirt and proclaimed himself to also be a Chonburi fan. He spoke pretty decent English (far better than my ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in Thai, that’s for sure!) and we were able to get across enough for a fun conversation about Alan Shearer and Chonburi’s chances for the season. 

And that was that. A curry for dinner and a bus ride out of town was all that was left for us in the Capital, as we headed out towards the islands of Koh Tao and Koh Samui in the morning. I loved my time at the football in Thailand, where there’s such an obvious passion for the game even if it comes from a somewhat minority following, and I hope dearly to return there someday to see another match (or ten!).

I Come To Buriram, Not To Praise Them: 2010

My thoughts on my first visit to watch football in Buriram.

Sandwiched in between recent trips to Khon Kaen and Korat, to visit family and friends, was an excursion to Buriram to see my team, Chonburi FC, play the newly relocated PEA FC. I had been given a taste of what to expect at the i-Mobile Stadium by Andy, a Bangkok Glass fan, who had made the same journey a couple of weeks previously. However, his account only scratched the surface.

Being unsure of how long the drive from Khon Kaen to Buriram would take, the good lady wife and I made an early start on the Saturday morning. And, thanks to the scarcity of traffic and the quality of the roads, we arrived a good five hours before kick off. "Not to worry," we thought. "We can get something to eat, have a few drinks and just relax." Unfortunately, it wasn't to be that simple. The stadium is a fair way out of the town, but we didn't think that would matter. Getting food and refreshments at Thai football grounds is as easy as...well, finding food and refreshments anywhere in Thailand. But, for starters, a visit to the toilet was in order. As we were among the first fans to arrive, we weren't that surprised to find everything was still locked up. Nevertheless, there were a fair few staff around, all on the other side of the locked gates.

My other half asked politely if she could pop in to use the lavatory. "No!" was the abrupt reply. Slightly taken aback we did what every quick thinking child does when given a negative response by one person, we went to ask someone else. "No!" said someone else, equally abruptly. Crikey! We headed for the bushes. Fortunately, whilst on our way to the wooded area, we chanced upon some security guards. Rather a lot of security guards actually. And some of them were carrying bloomin' great big rifles. Undeterred, and desperate, 'er indoors asked if she could go inside the stadium to use the toilet. A great deal of discussion followed. Finally, the gate was slid open and the missus walked, rather hurriedly, to find relief. I stood around sheepishly and waited for her return.

Our next task was to find somewhere to grab a bite to eat and I was gasping for a nice cold Chang. There were no food stalls within the stadium compound but two rather enterprising vendors had set up shop, tellingly outside the gates, on the main road. The food was excellent and the beer, with the help of some free ice cubes, was lovely and cold. We found a place to sit down and enjoy our lunch. There were still very few fans about but I counted three truck loads of security guards and police pass during the hour we were enjoying our picnic.

Appetite sated and after a brief burst of heavy rain, the stadium threw open its doors and we joined the rather large contingent of Chonburi fans who had arrived by bus, car and, in one case, motorbike, in entering the ground. Once inside, it was rather pleasant; the facilities, which had been declared off limits to us only a couple of hours earlier, were clean, modern and plentiful and the whole thing had a very professional feel about it. The concourse was getting busy so I managed to buy a beer (yes, a beer!!), find a relatively quiet spot and spent the hour or so before kick off chatting to friends and soaking up the atmosphere. This wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

As the start of the match approached, we tried to make our way on to the terraces. There was a lengthy hold up as the army of unsmiling and, in some cases, downright rude security guards confiscated all manner of things from the visiting fans. Umbrellas, water bottles, straws, snacks and a roll on deodorant(!) were among the items that were now being piled up on the table next to the entrance. I hadn’t seen anything like it since the late seventies, when Punk Rock left the sweaty clubs and nervy managers of large halls decided that these undesirables should have anything that could remotely be considered dangerous taken off them at the door. At least the bouncers at the Birmingham Odeon had a sense of humour, unlike their Buriram counterparts.

Once we’d been stripped of anything that wasn’t actually part of our anatomies, we were allowed in to the stand. The next shock was just how far away from the pitch we were. “It’s a good job I’ve brought my binoculars,” I thought, before remembering they were now sitting on a table under someone’s newspaper and next to a half eaten packet of crisps. In the event, I was rather relieved not to have been able to see the action, as we were terrible!

After the match, we were kept behind for a few minutes whilst the home fans dispersed. Common enough during my time growing up on the terraces in England but I’d never experienced this in Thailand before. Nor had I ever expected to. There had been a slightly heated exchange of words between a dozen or so opposing fans just before the final whistle, but it was hardly West Ham v Millwall and didn’t really warrant such a heavy handed response. Throughout our detention, the security staff, and a few police officers, remained unsmiling and would not be drawn into conversation. Most odd.

Once the gates were opened, we headed back to our car, fought our way off the car park and headed for Korat. It rained the whole way!

TPL Clubs As Punk Rock Groups: 2011

In 2011 I wrote an article comparing some of the top Thai teams of the day to 1970s Punk Rock groups. Do these comparisons still hold up eight years later?

CHONBURI : SEX PISTOLS

The original and still the best. Chonburi challenged the establishment and kicked down the doors, paving the way for others to follow in exactly the same way that Johnny Rotten and his mates did back in 1976.  Both are genuine innovators and trailblazers, who still have the capacity to shock and excite in equal measures. Whether they like it or not, fans of other Thai clubs must still recognize the debt of gratitude they owe Chonburi Football Club for changing the domestic scene and making it “possible”, just as everyone has to the thank the Pistols for the way British (Western?) culture was altered after the Bill Grundy incident. There was no going back. Like the Pistols, Chonburi have managed to achieve mainstream success whilst retaining their credibility – we’re talking about the first four singles and debut lp here. Let’s hope that the Sharks never stoop to recording with ex-train robbers (highly unlikely –ed) and re-releasing the same songs over and over and over again in different sleeves.

THAI PORT : SHAM 69

Thai Port/Sham 69 are Chonburi/Sex Pistols wannabes, with a small but loyal and raucous following, who are prone to shooting themselves in the foot from time to time. The Klong Toei Army are good for the occasional hit in the way of cup final appearances – the Toyota Premier Cup win was their “Hurry Up Harry”: a novelty single that brought them fame and fortune outside their usual circles - but, just like Jimmy’s boys they are destined to muddle around in mid table, plugging away with the same entertaining, but ultimately repetitive three chord thrash.

MUANG THONG UNITED : ADAM AND THE ANTS

After years of performing  in front of virtually nobody at all, just like the Ants, Muang Thong Nong Jork United gave themselves a makeover , added a second drummer (are you sure about this? - ed) and became hugely successful and popular. Great marketing and a talent for putting on a show, saw them soar into the stratosphere, eclipsing all that had gone before.  But the similarities don’t end there. The Killins and the Ant People share a common love of choreography – check out the Ultras terrace routines and compare them to the moves in the Prince Charming video. The late, great Diana Dors would feel right at home at the Yamaha. Ridicule is nothing to be scared of.

BURIRAM PEA/UNITED : THE POLICE

 The north eastern club jumped on the Thai football bandwagon in 2010 in order to give themselves a leg up in the business, just as the faux blond trio had done with Punk back in ‘77. Both team and band have enjoyed huge commercial and financial success – “helped” by well connected people within the industry: check out the drummer’s brother - but are largely despised by those close to the movements they used to get ahead. They are genuinely unpopular with everyone, apart from their large band of devoted followers, who devour anything and everything connected to them and their football version of cod reggae. There’s no doubt that there is a lot of talent there, and much to be admired regarding their professionalism and achievements, but there’s just “something “ that makes it hard to have any sort of warm feeling about either of them. Don’t Stand So Close To Me…Please.

BANGKOK GLASS : DURAN DURAN

Not strictly Punk Rock but Bangkok Glass ARE Duran Duran. And neither would have existed if it hadn’t been for the pioneers of their respective movements. Neatly packaged, glamorous, glossy, photogenic  and with a large attractive female following, both entities owe a large part of their success to their marketing departments. The quality press and the upmarket TV types love them, as they represent a life of exotic locations, fast cars, cocktails and beautiful women. Even one of the Duranie’s biggest hits sounds like the name of the Bangkok Glass stadium: Rio/Leo. Style over content? Or is there more substance lurking just below the surface? Pass me another Martini.

SISAKET : THE LURKERS

Sisaket and the Lurkers are very much of the second wave who were dragged along on the coat tails of the original innovators but who capture the spirit of what it’s all about. Both are well liked and respected by their contemporaries and it’s difficult to find a bad word to say about either of them. There’s lots to admire about the honest and straightforward heads down no nonsense approach that unites band and team. They’ll never quite scale the heights of the big boys but are guaranteed to raise a smile and get you pogoing. Ain’t Got A Clue? Hardly. They know exactly what they’re doing.

Nb England legend Stuart Pearce appears on the sleeve of the Lurkers sophomore lp God’s Lonely Men. Wouldn’t you love to see him play for the Dangerous Kouprey!

BEC TERO : EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS

Both had been around for years on the Pub Rock circuit and the Thai footballing equivalent but had to reinvent themselves - with varying degrees of success - when the new kids on the block tore up the rule book and raised the bar – this was particularly true for BEC Tero when they once refused to play a TPL match against TOT because they claimed the goals were too small.  The Fire Dragons and the Rods (they even shortened their name in an effort to become more punky) keep plugging away but without really being taken seriously by anyone. Tero’s FA Cup final appearance in 2009 was their “Do Anything You Wanna Do” – a minor hit for which they’ll always be fondly remembered.

The Ponderers: 2013

A few things that were on our minds back in 2013:

When standing on the touchline, why does Slavisa Jokanovic always have the look of a man who’s left the house and can’t remember whether he’s unplugged the iron or not.

Muang Thong Utd fans have a banner that reads “Welcome to Hell”. Do they really think the atmosphere at the SCG Stadium is intimidating?

Buriram Utd fans have a banner that reads “The Special One”. Do they mean Newin, his missus or Jerry Dammers? (I guess if it was the last one, it would say “The Specials One”)

Are Newin and Karuna the Thai version of the Krankies?

How does the TPL committee decide on the amount to fine clubs or their fans for incidents of misbehaviour?

Who in their right mind carries a baby (A BABY!!) onto a football pitch two minutes before they are due to play in a professional football match?

Where does Winfried Schafer get his hair cut?

Where does Rene Desaeyere get his hair cut?

What do those people who stand at the front of the crowd with their backs to the pitch shouting down a megaphone all through the match get out of a trip to the football?

When was the last time you saw a legitimate throw in during a TPL match?

When was the last time you saw a foul throw penalised during a TPL match?

Why do foreign players always look ridiculous in photographs when they’re waiing?

Why didn’t the TPL let Sisaket play all the fixtures in Leg 1 and Esan Utd play all the games in Leg 2? That would’ve solved the problem and everybody would have been happy.

Do players, coaches, managers and, in some cases, chairman really, really believe that those huddles actually inspire the team to play better?

What are the refs thinking during those huddles?

China 1-5 Thailand. Had Winnie “lost the dressing room?” Is Zico a better coach? Was it a freak result? Was it something more sinister?

Is there a more attractive man in Thai football than Ravi Lohtong?

Whenever there’s a TV close up of the BG girls, they’re always playing with their phones. Who are they texting/e mailing?

If Muang Thong Utd are stripped of the three points they won against Sisaket, we’ll be second in the league. What does that tell you about the standard of the TPL this season?    

Chonburi Fans Feature On ESPN/Star Sports: 2006

On September 23rd, 2006, Chonburi played Balestair Khalsa in the Singapore Cup semi final second leg. The small band of travelling supporters were interviewed by Julian Touhig for a feature on the EPSN/Star Sports show, Football Crazy, which was broadcast across Asia the following week. Here some photos and a video of the item.

Chonburi Stadium Under Construction: 2010

Chonburi Stadium Under Construction: 30th January, 2010

Interview With Dale Farrington: 2007

In September, 2007 I was interviewed by a Thai football fan who lives in Australia. At the time, we were sitting second in the table, one point behind BEC Tero, with 15 games left to play. We were to go on and win the league. Here's the interview.

Q1: Could you please introduce yourself. Name, where you are from and how long you have been in Thailand.
A My name is Dale. I come from Oldham in England and I have been living in Thailand since February 1997.

Q2: Why do you support Chonburi FC? How did you know about the club?
A I support them because they are my local team. I first found out about them when I read a story in the old Thai football magazine, "Football Siam".

Q3: How long have you supported Chonburi FC?
A 5 years.

Q4: What do you think about FAT, SAT and Thai Government? Do you think they should support Thai football more? And what do you expect from them?
A I think that they all could do a lot more to support Thai football. They seem very disorganised and are all pulling in different directions. Even simple things like organising and publishing a fixture list seem beyond them! There were signs that things were improving earlier in the season, a new matchday magazine and an up to date website, but they still have a long way to go. I'm not the only one with these views. Lots of Thai football fans are very frustrated by these organisations and even people from overseas who take an interest in Thai football are very critical.

Q5: what do you think about the Thailand Premier League and Thai Pro League? Which one is better? Why?
A From a footballing perspective, the standard of football is better in the Premier League. However, it would be nice to see Thailand's top domestic competition include more clubs representing towns and cities from all over the kingdom and not just company and forces teams from Bangkok.

Q6: Do you have any ideas which can bring success to the Thailand Premier League?
A See above. I'd also like to see more coverage on Thai TV; currently we have a two minute highlight show which is broadcast at 7:30 on Sunday morning and one live match per week on Truesport. There may be more programmes but I haven't seen them! The newspaper coverage in Siam Gila is probably the best and is read by a lot of Thai football fans. I don't think it will ever happen but I'd like to see FAT maybe bring in someone from abroad to act as a consultant to show how a proper league should be run. Someone from Europe or maybe even Singapore or Vietnam whose domestic leagues seem a lot better run than ours.

Q7: What has been your most memorable experience since you started supporting Chonburi FC? Could you please tell me about this?
A Travelling up to Korat a couple of years ago to watch us clinch the Provincial League title in the last match of the season was particularly memorable. Also, the two trips to Singapore for the semi final second leg and then the final last year were great occasions.

Q8: What do you think about the Chonburi FC fans?
A They are loyal, passionate and they love their club. They are also the friendliest people I have ever met. They really enjoy themselves wherever and whenever they go to watch the team and, in spite of our reputation, are always well behaved. The biggest compliment I can give them is that they are like English football supporters but without any of the nastiness that sometimes creeps into English fan culture.

Q9: Chonburi FC are currently second in the league table after the first leg, are you satisfied with the team's performance? And what do you expect for the rest of this season?
A I am more than satisfied with this season's performances. The team has a great spirit and a belief in its abilities. I expect us to carry on in much the same way in the second half of the season. A lot will depend on whether or not 2 of our back 4 return from their "holiday" in England and other key players stay free from injury and suspension. I will be very disappointed if we don't win the league this season. I haven't seen any team who I consider to be better than us. And that includes BEC Tero!

Q10: What is the biggest difference between Chonburi FC and other clubs in the Thailand Premier League?
A Our fan base and off field organisation. We get the biggest crowds in the league. And, as I said before, the fact that we represent a city (or even a province) means that the club has its own identity.

Q11: What do you think about Suree Sukha? Is he good enough to play in the EPL? And what about Kiatprawut?
A Popular opinion among our supporters seems to be that Suree plays better for Thailand than he does for Chonburi. He's not a bad player but, in my opinion, he's not even the best at our club. His passing is suspect and I think he won't be physically strong enough for the English game. But, I wish him well. Kiatprawut is a very capable player. He can play either centre half or in midfield. He reads the game well and is strong in the tackle. His height is a definite advantage if he wants to play in Europe.

Q12: Who, in your opinion, is the better coach, Wittaya Laohakul or Jaded Meelarb? Why?
A They are both very good coaches. Last season, under Wittaya, we played some lovely passing football but lacked a cutting edge; our record P22 W5 D12 L5 tells its own story. And this season, with Jaded in charge, the football hasn't been as good, we are more direct, but there seems to be more grit in the team.

Q13: Who is your favorite Chonburi player? Why?
A Phaisan Pona. I think he is a very talented player. He plays in the middle of our defence. He is big and strong, a great passer of the ball, has a good brain and rarely loses a tackle. Some of the other Chonburi fans think he is too slow but I don't agree. If any of our current squad could carve out a career in England/Europe it would be Phaisan. It's a mystery to me why he's not a regular in the Thai national team. Special mention must also go to our star striker and captain, Pipob On-mo. He works tirelessly every week and is very brave. He is only a small man but he works hard, never shirks a challenge and always bounces back after every tackle and foul against him. He is also our leading scorer this season.

Q14: Could you give me your opinion about the work permit rules and regulations in England? Do you think these rules are fair?
A This is a tricky one. If a special talent from outside FIFA's top 70 wants to pursue a career in England why should he be denied the opportunity because of his nation's poor showing the rankings. If you're good enough then it shouldn't matter. On the other hand a lot of English clubs choose to buy cheaply from abroad and pay the players less, but more than they would be earning in their own countries. This means that good locally born English players get overlooked and that doesn't bode well for the future.

Q15: What would you do if you were Chonburi FC's owner?
A Our owner does a great job. He works very hard to promote the team, is always available to talk with the fans (he comes and joins us on the terraces before every match for a chat and to canvass our opinions), never misses a match and lays on free transport for the fans to travel to away games. Apart from signing Chris Taylor from Oldham Athletic and maybe selling pies at the stadium, I wouldn't do anything differently!

Q16: Do you think Chonburi FC are good enough to play in the AFCCL or AFC Cup next year?
A Yes. Absolutely. We are well equipped to play in either of these competitions. It would be great to get the opportunity to play against some of the really big clubs in Asia. I can't wait!!

Q17: Could you tell me about the Singapore Cup last year?
A It was a great experience. I went to the second leg of the semi final, which we won after a penalty shootout, and the final. Obviously losing the final after being 2-0 up with ten minutes to go was very disappointing but I have some very happy memories of the trips. Sitting with a few thousand ex-pat Thai workers, who were all supporting my team, in the Singapore National Stadium was a truly moving experience.

Q18: Chonburi FC have a lot of plans for the future. They are trying to develop the club into becoming the first real professional football club in Thailand. Do you believe they can reach their goal?
A I do believe that we can achieve this. We have a very ambitious owner who cares about the club, and a large fan base. There are also a lot of big companies who are involved in sponsorship deals and I'm sure that a lot of players would love to play for Chonburi. I'm not sure when this will happen but I expect it to be sooner rather than later. However, winning the league and qualifying for the AFC Champions League will be a big step towards it.

Q19: What do you think about BEC Tero? Are they good enough to win the league this season?
A When they came to Chonburi earlier in the season they played a very effective counter attacking game and were well worth their victory. I haven't really seen much of them since but their results (especially the 7-0 win against the Police last week) speak for themselves. It will be a huge match when we go there in the middle of next month. Can I just add that a lot of their success this year is probably down to couple of ex-Chonburi players who are now in their team!!

Q20: If Suree and Kiatprawut do move to play in Europe, do you think it will affect Chonburi FC? Why? Which players would you like to sign in their place?
A Well, we missed them last Saturday at BKK University!! But, Phaisan was also out, suspended. I don't think that it will affect us too much as we have enough cover and have recently made a couple of signings. As regards new players.....I'd like to sign Chris Taylor from Oldham Athletic. He is a very exciting young winger. Do you think he'd come?!!! More realistically, I'd like to see Daniel Nascimento and Ney Farbiano de Oliveira (if he cuts out some the histrionics) from Tobacco Monopoly join us. Two very good players who would bring a lot of skill and experience to the team.

Interview With Nutlada Korsuwan: 2012

My interview with True Sports TV presenter Nutlada Korsuwan, from December, 2012.

Q - Please can you start by introducing yourself.
A - My full name is Nut-lada and my family name is Korsuwan. In Thailand people usually have nicknames, and mine is Nan. Now I am 29, working as an MC for TV cable company called True Visions. I am also an outdoor sports reporter for the True Sport channel.

Q - How long have been interested in football?
A - I did not pay much attention to football in the first place for I thought it was for the guys. My dad watches English and Thai matches, so I knew a bit about football but did not follow it regularly until I got a job at True Sport.

Q - What first got you interested in football?
A - Actually, as I said, my interest in football first came with the job. Since I have worked for the sports channel, I‘ve had to learn about many sports seriously, and one of them is football, which is considered the world’s most famous sport. But, if you ask me as a girl, I would say that my first interest in football comes from the players, both their appearance and talent.

Q - How long have you been doing your current job?
A - It has been 2 years since I started my current position as an outdoor reporter for Thai Premier League. Previously, I worked in this field for some other sports on the True Sport channel and as an MC for True Visions. So, in total, I have 6 years’ experience in sport news.

Q - How did you get your current job?
A – A few years ago, a senior at True Visions asked me if I wanted to be a presenter for a sports channel. I did not understand clearly about the definition of “presenter”. I thought it was about a TV advertisement or a photo-shooting for sports products, so I was glad that he saw me as pretty and presentable. I found out what it really was on the day I started working. He meant that the presenter is the reporter. So, I took my first step in this field as a sport reporter covering “U League, U Gen”, the variety show about the university football competitions.

As for the Thai Premier League, I actually started with just a short talk in the show’s opening and closing, but with more opportunities given by the seniors here, I have a bigger role and I have become more serious about the show and football since then.

Q - What jobs have you done before?
A - I had nothing to do with football at all and I never expected to be in this field. When I was young I dreamed to be a singer or an actress because my parents led me to these kinds of activities. My dad taught me to sing while my mom took me to Thai classical dance and contemporary dance classes, as well as gymnastics practice for many years to keep me healthy (I am not quite strong, physically). I had been a national gymnast until 18, and become a dancer at Grammy Entertainment for many artists. What made me proud the most was the opportunity to dance for Thongchai McIntyre for 3 years (Thailand’s number one singer, well know as Bird Thongchai).

One big change in my life came in 2004, when I applied for a reality show called “Academy Fantasia”, the first reality show for people who are interested in singing, dancing and acting. I did not win in the end, but it did not matter at all because at least I was chosen to be 1 of the final 12 ‘dream chasers’. I had memorable experiences, I had challenged myself, and made my family proud and that was it. Moreover, I have met good friends, and received warm support from my fans, which made me feel blessed enough. Anyway, being one of the dream chasers led me to the job opportunity in entertainment industry as I dreamed. I am what I am today from that big step.

Q - How many matches do you cover in a season?
A - Since True Visions has the authority to broadcast live Thai Premier League for the whole season, I have to go for a live report in every match. I think there are around 68 matches in total.

Q - How many different grounds have you visited?
A - I think I have been to almost every ground. Actually it depends on the schedule of the matches broadcasted on the channel True Sport 2. If you follow the match, you will find me there.

Q - How much preparation do you have to do before each match?
A - A lot, because I am not that knowledgeable about football so I have to work harder. I follow the news about the players, movements in each team, players trading and game results.

Q - Which is your favorite ground to visit and why?
A - For me I personally like the ground of SCG Muangthong United because it really gives me the atmosphere of football game there.

Q - Which are your favourite Thai teams?
A - Well, I have to say that I love every team because they are all Thai. I admire all of their efforts and hard work.

Q - Who are your favourite Thai players?
A - This is a really difficult question! I have a long favourite list! I like Kawin Tammasajjanun (Goalie – Muang Thong Utd), Sintavechai Hathairattanakul (Goalie), Teerasil Dangda (forward – Muang Thong Utd), Pipob Onmo (forward),Terdsak Jaiman (Attacking Midfield), and … Oh that should be enough already hahaha.

Q - Who is the best person you've interviewed? And why?
A - I love them all! They are all nice and very cooperative.

Q - Who would you most like to interview? And why?
A - Now I would like to interview Teerasil Dangda very much, for he is the joint top goal scorer in Thai League 2012 and his work in AFF Suzuki Cup is impressive. For me, he is considered the player with the top form.

Q - Which is the best Thai league match you've ever seen and why?
A - The match between Chonburi and SCG Muangthong United because the players in both teams brought out their best with high spirits.

Q - What is the best thing about your job?
A - The opportunity to learn new things and gain new experiences from meeting a lot of people in football society from management level to the audiences.

Q - What is the worst thing about your job?
A - Pressure! Because the live broadcast is what we call a ‘Real Time production’ which has high possibility to have errors or technical problems. I have to be very careful and try to control the imperfections and keep them at the minimum level.

Q - Do you ever get the chance to go and watch a match when you're not working?
A - Yes, I watched the Toyota League Cup  match between Bangkok Glass and Chonburi FC at Leo Stadium, and the AFC Cup tie between Chonburi FC and Al-Zawra’a at Chonburi Stadium. But for Thai Leagues I am always on duty.

Q - What is the funniest thing that has happened to you whilst covering a Thai league match?
A - It happened in my first live report while I was leading the show to the live broadcast. I said “Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I, Nut-lada Korsuwan, will take you to the universities football championship which will be broadcast live from the stadium of Bangkok Metropolitan University.” Actually, the name is just Bangkok University! I was so embarrassed and afraid that things would turn out messy and unprofessional. But the show must go on, right?!? So I just continued like nothing happened. I still laugh at myself every time I think about it.

Q - Will you be covering the AFF Suzuki Cup?
A - Probably not, but I will follow the news and I believe that the Thai team will do a great job.

Q - Which AFF Suzuki Cup match are you most looking forward to and why?
A - The final match with the Thai team, of course. We have not seen the Thai team in an international match for a  while.

Q - How do you think Thailand will do in the AFF Suzuki Cup?
A - With the potential and talent of each player, plus the skills and experience gained from Thai League matches in the previous season, I believe that, in the name of Thailand, they will have their best presence in the AFF Suzuki Cup for all Thai fans.

Q - If you could ask Worawi Makudi one question, what would it be?
A - How do you feel about the criticism of your work all the time?

Q – Anything else you’d like to add?
A - Last but not least, I would like to thank Mr. Dale Farrington for the opportunity to have this interview, everyone in my life who has helped me get this far and make me who I am today, all support and feedback, and above all, my beloved family who is everything to me, who supports, understands and guides me when I find difficulties in both my career or my life. Thank you all so much.

Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Chonburi: 2015

Some of my unofficial merchandise from 2015.

Blogger Me!: 2012

Here is Paul Hewitt's Big Chilli article from 2012, about the growth of foreign language sites covering Thai football.

Hello, Guten Tag, ¡Hola, 今日は: Thai football websites go global

The article in the May issue looked at some of the problems afflicting the Thai Premier League. This month it’s refreshing to be able to highlight a positive aspect of the game in Thailand, and one that is invaluable to foreign fans. Surely no country in Southeast Asia – not even English-speaking Singapore – can boast the wealth of independent English-language websites dedicated to the domestic game that Thailand can. Around a dozen websites, blogs and forums are run for the love of it by enthusiastic and passionate foreign fans of Thai football. And it’s not just the English-speaking community which is catered for as we shall see (Avid fans of Thai football may spot one or two notable absentees; that’s because the webmaster or blogger didn’t wish to be included in the article).

Thai League Football

This general news site was launched a few years ago but was relaunched in early March. It’s now by far and away the most popular of the websites featured here. Here’s what TLF columnist Matt Riley had to say: “Thai League Football is run by six people. Joseph and Lillian are our photographers. Malky is our reporter, Kevin runs our Twitter feed, Nigel is out content manager and I’m a writer.

Our Twitter feed has 1,900 followers, which includes a high number of English speaking players and coaches.

We have full press accreditation for matches so can produce exclusive images and videos. There is a TV show called Total Thai Football in production presented by Bangkok FC's Mika Chunuonsee and me, and a daily podcast summarizes the latest news and gossip.

Since our relaunch on March 4th the site has attracted 20,000 visits a week. We tackle the lighter side of Thai football but also, in the Football 500 articles, some of the more serious issues facing the game in the Kingdom.”  www.thaileaguefootball.com

Thai Football Forum

A very well-presented forum with sections for every TPL club and separate boards for League 1, the Regional League, the cup competitions and the national teams (men’s women’s and youth). Nearly 9,000 posts since it was launched in early 2011. www.thaifootball.freeforums.org

The Thunderdome – A Muangthong United Fan Blog

A blog for the 2009 and 2010 TPL champions run by British expat Greg (also the brains behind the Thai Football Forum). Updated on nearly a daily basis since its launch in mid-2009, the blog courted controversy recently when a ‘Fowler Out’ campaign was launched. Vocal criticism of a head coach by his own fans is a rarity in Thailand. However, ‘God’ officially parted company with Muangthong just a couple of days after the campaign was launched. The blog also has a twitter feed.www.muangthongunitedfc.blogspot.com

Muangthong United F.C. / Replay

You know you’re a big club in Thailand when you have two independent blogs in a foreign language! The ‘Replay’ part of the name refers to the fact that the blog is mainly devoted to match reports and video highlights of MTU games. www.muangthongunitedreplay.wordpress.com

Chonburi FC

Long-standing fan of Thai football Dale Farrington launched his website dedicated to The Sharks on 11^th August 2009 and is now hurtling towards a staggering 900,000 hits. Says Oldham fan Dale:“Thanks to everyone who has contributed, especially those people in the game who have made themselves available for interviews. I enjoy running the site and it's been great to get to know people from all over the world via the site. I always enjoy trying out new ideas and different things and I often get a good response from people I meet who read the site.”Despite being 100% unofficial, such is the influence and reach of the site that the official Chonburi FCwebsite recently removed its own English section as Dale’s so comprehensively covers all things Chonburi for English-speaking fans. He too has a Twitter feed and currently boasts over 1,800 followers.

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/chonburifc

Chiang Mai FC Fanzine

A website for the Lanna Tigers run by Brits Richard and Lee from Rotherham. Unlike all the other featured websites, this one is most popular on Facebook where they have nearly 2,500 Likes. There is also a Twitter feed whilst the website itself mainly deals in previews and match reports.www.chiangmaifootballclub.com

BKK Football Blog

A blog run by one of the Thai League Football contributors, Malky. As the name suggests, it mainly covers Bangkok-based clubs. The appeal of the blog lies in the fact that Malky doesn’t pledge allegiance to any one specific club in the capital. As such, he visits and blogs about clubs throughout the TPL, League 1 and the Regional League. There is also a Twitter feed and all of the blog posts also appear onThai League Football. www.bkkfootballblog.blogspot.com

Nakhon Ratchasima FC

The editor insisted I include my own modest efforts! I launched the website in November 2008 having run a very crude website for six months before that. I try and add a news story everyday and recently passed 300,000 hits. I also have a very active Twitter feed and a Facebook page and a forum. You can find the links for those on the website. www.clubwebsite.co.uk/koratfc

Other Languages

Not a native English reader? Can’t penetrate the mysteries and intricacies of the Thai language? What about German, then? Or Spanish? Or Japanese? As more and more foreigners are launching their own Thai football websites so the number of languages catered for continues to grow.

Thai-fussball.com

A dual-language (German and English) website launched in October 2009, it’s a run by a team based in both Germany and Thailand. Their well-connected contributor in Thailand has interviewed the likes of national team coach Winnie Schaefer and Army United midfielder Bjorn Lindemann. The website also includes the latest news, fixtures and results and club information down to League 1, and they have a big Facebook presence (1,600 Likes) and Twitter feed (550 followers). Almost everything they post on the website appears in both languages. www.thai-fussball.com (add /en for the English version)

Samurai TPL

A general Thai football website in Japanese. Match reports, tables, fixtures and results courtesy of a Japanese fan based in Thailand. The site was created as a response to the increasing number of Japanese players plying their trade in Thailand: 23 at the last count in the TPL and League 1. Also on Facebook and Twitter. www.tpljp.net

Futbol en Thai

The latest entry to the list of foreign language blogs and websites. This Spanish blog is run by Lucas Cotes from Murcia, a regular visitor to the Land of Smiles. Lucas explains “I decided to start the blog as there’s not too much information about Asian football in Spanish, and none about Thai football. Also this season we have the first ever Spanish player in Thai football, Jose Pedrosa Galan at Chainat, so I thought this was the right moment to start the blog and to try and let Spanish people know about Thai football.” www.futbolenthai.blogspot.com