BG Pathum United (Thailand)

BG Pathum United FC is a professional football club formed in 2006 as Bangkok Glass FC, which is based in Pathum Thani to the north of the Thai capital. A change of name to BG Pathum United came in 2018 as a pointer to the location of the club.

For its first three seasons of existence the club plied its trade in the fourth tier of Thai football, before a dramatic move propelled them into the higher echelons of the game.

In 2009 an affiliate of the Bangkok Glass group of companies; BG FC Sport Co.Ltd bought the franchise of Krung Thai Bank FC, who were members of the Thai Premier League. They played their games close to the city centre at Chulalongkorn University, but the new owners moved the club north and began to renovate Leo Stadium.

The German, Hans Emser took the side to third place in their first TPL season, before being replaced by former Thai international player Surachai Jaturapattarapong. He departed after less than a year to be replaced by Carlos Roberto de Carvalho, who would go on to manage his native Brazil.

Phil Stubbins had a reign in charge of team affairs, before another Thailand international player Anurak Srikerd took over in March 2013 on an interim basis, as 'The Glass Rabbits' looked to improve as their stadium had done.

Attaphol Buspakom took over as fulltime coach in May 2013 as form did improve. Glass reached the final of the FA Cup, going down 3-1 to Buriram United at Thammasat Stadium after taking the lead through a Chatree Chimtalay goal.

However, Glass were not to be denied the following year as they lifted the FA Cup following a 1-0 win against Chonburi at Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok thanks to a goal from Lazarus Kaimbi after Srikerd had taken over as fulltime boss a few months earlier.

The Spaniard, Ricardo Rodríguez took control of the team for the 2015 season, as Glass finished in sixth position in the Thai Premier League, before Srikerd took control for a third time until he was replaced by Aurelio Vidmar in August 2017.

The Australian coach led the team to a third place in the league as Ariel Rodríguez top scored, but form dropped away the following season, leading to him being replaced by a returning Jaturapattarapong, who was put in temporary charge of the team.

Glass weighed in with a fifth placed finish in 2017, with many of the goals coming from Jhasmani Campos and Surachat Sareepim.

Josep Ferré was appointed as head coach for the 2018 season, as the club went for a new look, changing from their traditional green colours to play in blue and white while the artificial surface at Leo Stadium was torn up and replaced by grass.

The team was captained by the Australian, Matt Smith as the Spaniard Ferré was dismissed in March 2018 to be replaced by Anurak Srikerd as the team battled to secure safety at the wrong end of the table.

The team ended in fourteenth place, which wasn't quite enough to avoid relegation, as five teams were relegated at the end of the season to streamline the top flight. Srikerd was replaced as coach by Dusit Chalermsan as the club entered a new era with a new title.

The new coach led his side to the T2 title in 2019, with the combination of Barros Tardeli and Surachat Sareepim putting away the goals. The creativity of Sumanya Purisai set up Victor Cardozo to fire United to the Thai League title in 2020-21 with the form of keeper Chatchai Budprom and his defence having a massive impact.

The following season saw BG end as runners-up with boss Chalermsan surprisingly departing before the campaign ended to be replaced by Japanese coach Makoto Teguramori. The top scorer was Diogo in a side with lots of creative force, including Deerasil Dangda.

Thongchai Sukkoki was installed as head coach in May 2023 after a disappointing 2022-23 season, which included defeat in the final of the League Cup to Buriram United. Teguramori returned for a second spell in charge of the side from January 2024.

BG Pathum United FC will play in the Thai League 1 in the 2023-24 season.

My visits

Wednesday 27th March 2013

My free day before the rest of my cricketing friends arrived in Bangkok was going well. All had gone to plan, despite a few misunderstandings with taxi drivers about my intended destinations. 

It was a murderously warm day with even the locals commenting on the heat, and I was starting to flag, grabbing much needed water along my way.

Originally I had intended to pop into North Bangkok University to see the Regional League ground of North Bangkok FC, but that would have to wait for another day. 

My new driver headed along the Rangsit Nakhon Nayok road and was confident of where he was going, so I wasn't going to stop him. My instruction to head for the well-known Dream World theme park had come up trumps. Before he turned off, we saw Leo Stadium, so I ushered him in.

I had been told in advance by my Thai based Twitter pals, that Leo Stadium was having a new Main Stand built, and they were bang on, as all kind of construction work that would have UK based health and safety officers having perpetual nightmares was being carried out. The taxi dropped me near the workers.

The gates to the stadium were open because of the work, so I soon found myself climbing the steps onto the large open away fans terrace. To the right was the new two tiered seated stand, which was rapidly taking shape. 

At the far end stood a three tier open terraced home end. There was nothing down the far touchline, although there looked to be room for construction in the future if required. A new control room was being constructed near to the Main Stand. The pitch was an artificial surface.

I continued my look around and saw the new ticket booth taking shape and then a practice pitch between the home end and the main road by another new building, which was to be the club offices and superstore. Glass had very much the look of a club moving forward.

I crossed the road by footbridge and hailed another taxi to take me to the air-conditioned shopping mall of Future Park by the Don Muang intersection, observing many renovated boats that acted as restaurants along the khlong as we went. 

I was glad of a sit down and some cold drinks and ice cream before heading to the Thupatemee Stadium for the first of two games that evening.

Bangkok Glass 0 Navy 1 (Sunday 17^th June 2018) Thai League 1 (att: 3,247)

Leo Stadium was on my bucket list to see a game ever since I first clapped eyes on it eight years previously. A two week break in Bangkok and Isaan in the English summer offered me the opportunity I’d been waiting for.

I’d arrived back to Bangkok from Buriram that morning and had already visited the League 3 game between Kasem Bundit University and Trat in Minburi with Steve Walker and Sean Newby at the closest venue to my hosts’ home.

While I’d enjoyed the first course of football action, my mind was on how easy we could possibly get to Leo Stadium for the mains. I’d done lots of calculations online in the weeks leading up to my departure and was pretty sure that it could be done as long as I could find a willing taxi driver.

Sean decided to go with me, but Steve was working the following morning and didn’t fancy it. After a couple of drivers declined while walking through the campus, we struck lucky out on the main Thanon Rom Klao.

The smiling driver even dropped Steve near to his house before continuing along Seri Thai Road. I knew that we needed to take the toll road north somewhere near Fashion Island Mall and Sean was also confident of the route.

We missed the turning for Motorway 9, not that it worried me at the time because Sean appeared pretty relaxed. I didn’t realise until later that he was looking at his phone and totally missed seeing the turn off! When we got to the Chalong Rat Expressway I knew that we definitely needed to head north.

This toll road took us at great speed and joined up with the required motorway after a few miles. The traffic wasn’t bad, and we were making good progress. My IPhone Map App didn’t have an internet connection but still offered a basic service.

We reached Thanon Rangsit - Nakhon Nayok road, where Leo Stadium is in good time for the start. I even had hopes of time for a swift beer before kickoff. However, this was where we ran into heavy traffic for the final couple of miles or so.

Our driver did his best as he manoeuvred us between the lanes. Surely not everyone was heading to the match. We alighted a few hundred metres short and crossed the pedestrian bridge and walked up to the stadium.

It was getting close to the 7pm start time. I wanted to go high up behind the goal, but we ended up with tickets for downstairs for 110 Baht, as I accepted what I had been offered, which was around £3. Fold out programmes were free. The King’s Anthem was being played as we approached the turnstiles, so we stood to attention.

The security checks were very stringent before we headed up to our area. The view was decent in the raised section but would have been much better if fans didn’t stand against the front railings, thus blocking out being able to see right to the goal line.

Both sides came into the game in relegation trouble, with Navy a couple of places below Glass. Sean wanted either a draw or a Navy win to help his side Police-Tero, who were also battling at the wrong end of the table.

We were in the area for the more vocal home fans, with the bunny girls at the front doing their dance moves with a male and female on raised platforms just behind them leading the crowd as they barked out the chants through megaphones.

Thai’s have tried to replicate much of the fan culture from abroad; mainly Europe. Once again there was a decent atmosphere, but it all seemed a little bit too contrived. The away fans from Rayong at the far end also played their part and seemed to have a band with them.

The first thing to grab my attention once the game commenced was that an extra official was placed behind each goal like in European competition. Glass started the game well but lacked penetration in the area after some fine build up play.

Toti saw a weak header easily gathered in the early stages by Navy keeper, Intharat Apinyakool. Anon Amornlertsak, on loan to Glass from Buriram United was payed in, but he miscontrolled, allowing Apinyakool to gather.

Shortly after Surachat Sareepim produced a good save out of the visiting custodian from his header. Toti tried his luck from outside the box, but once again the Navy man was equal to it. A long range effort from full back Chalermsak Aukkee saw Apinyakool once again frustrate Glass.

Navy countered, with a fine pass finding Chusana Numkanitsorn, who beat his man and cut inside before firing his shot across the face of the home goal. Back at the other end Aukkee saw his cross deceive Apinyakool and come back off the face of the crossbar.

Sareepim was teed up at the far post but couldn’t get his header on target while under pressure, as the hosts frustrations grew just before the teams headed to the tunnel in the corner near us for the half time break.

I went downstairs and grabbed a beer and a water for Sean. Glass employed a voucher system used in Europe at many venues, but they helpfully sold them in small enough denominations so that fans were not fleeced.

Glass were soon back on the offensive following the restart, with Peerapong Pichitchotirat firing a weak volley through a crowd of players that was easily saved. Sareepim missed a guilt edged chance at the near post when he failed to connect properly with a low cross on fifty six minutes.

Glass paid the penalty for the wastefulness as Navy went straight up the other end to take the lead. Ivorian forward Amadou Ouattara crossed low from the left. The ball was dummied and reached Chusana Numkanitsorn who swept the ball home past Narit Taweekul from the edge of the box.

The visiting support went berserk as the ball went in just in front of where they were congregated. The Glass fans looked dismayed but not totally surprised. The goal came against the run of play, but Navy had earned their good fortune.

The Rabbits replied with an effort from Ariel Rodríguez that was blocked after he’d been well set up by Sareepim. Pichitchotirat’s free kick was just off target as Glass tried desperately to equalise.

Navy had a bit of luck when defender Athibordee Atirat, on loan from Port, tried to head clear while under pressure, only to see the ball loop and hit the top of the bar before Apinyakool grabbed the ball to avert any further danger.

It wasn’t going to be Glass’s night. Another couple of half chances came and went before Piyachanok Darit was shown a second yellow card and sent to the stands in stoppage time to add salt to the wounds.

At full time I went up to the Main Stand and managed to get access to the top deck to take some photos, as the Glass players went across to show their appreciation to the home fans, who in turn sang the club song.

We made our way out past a practice pitch, the club headquarters and a terrific bar and restaurant which showed football with a live band also performing. Clubs with purpose built football stadiums were certainly getting it right in The Land of Smiles.

Commandeering a taxi was tricky work out on the main road. I was becoming as frustrated as the Glass team as we’d wait only for someone to pass us on the footpath at the last minute and flag down the next cab.

There was certainly no etiquette or good manners of following a queue of who was waiting first. I must admit to becoming a little tetchy as I walked a good thirty metres up the road to beat off any challengers.

Eventually we managed to get a cab and the driver was willing to go to Minburi, around twenty miles away. The journey back was far quicker and before long we were settled in a good seat with a TV view at the Sudtong Club.

This was one of my favourite Bangkok establishments and we were in time for kick off in the Germany against Mexico clash in the World Cup. Beers and snacks were ordered as we settled down for our third match of the day.

The bar had diners, drinkers and those watching the live duo playing their own stuff. The weather was a perfect temperature. All in all I would just about term it as paradise.

The night finished off just about perfectly as Mexico played superbly to beat the German’s despite being under pressure at times. Indeed, they should have won by a greater margin. I was not on my own wanting the men in green to win.

At full time a local congratulated me thinking that I was Mexican. I explained the relevance of the game to the chap who spoke good English. He had learned something that night. It was gone midnight when I eventually got to bed for a well earned sleep.

If only all football days were like this one! To see a short home made video capturing part of the evening, please click here.

BG Pathum United 2 Port FC 0 (Wednesday 2nd February 2022) FA Cup Round of 16 (att: 3,221) 

As soon as the cup draw was made, I was desperate to attend this game, scanning all possibilities of obtaining a ticket. After registering on the Line App via Port I was sent all the information I required.

Ticket reserved I was ready to plan my trip, and then Covid intervened in the two squads meaning the match was deferred for a couple of weeks. On the day of the game, I decided to await a bus heading directly to Rangsit from near my condo.

Services will still pretty much sporadic in the pandemic ridden days. In the end I hailed a taxi, arriving at BG Stadium well ahead of the kickoff. No catering stands appeared to be open in the complex surrounding the venue, so I bought a couple of beers from a vendor outside after collecting my ticket from the away fans’ booth.

Despite Port being on a poor run of form, I was optimistic. Indeed, they reasonably well in the opening exchanges. A fine flowing move saw a low cross from Kevin Deeromram was nearly pounced in by Adisak Kraisorn who slip into keeper Prasit Padungchok.

However, it was the hosts who went ahead on twenty-six minutes when fine work in the corner by Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom saw the ball slipped to Santiphap Channgom whose pinpoint cross was headed in at the back post by the unmarked Ikhsan Fandi.

A fine ball released Kraisorn through on goal. His lack of pace and great endeavor and last-ditch challenge from Ernesto Phumipha prevented him from getting his shot away. Bordin Phala was found in the box, but his chest control took him away from goal before he skewed his shot high and wide as Port pressed. 

The introduction of forwards Diogo and Teerasil Dangda from United would have an effect from the start of the second half. Dangda hot the outside of the post with a volley from a Apisit Sorada on the hour mark after Diogo had a goal chalked off for offside.

Fandi had a header superbly pushed over the bar by visiting goalie Kawin Thamsatchana before Adisorn Promrak should have restored parity. He had a free header at the back post from a corner but put his effort into the midriff of keeper Padungchok.

From the resulting set piece another header went towards goal where Sorada somehow cleared the ball off the line via the angle of post and crossbar. Suggestions were that the ball crossed the line.

A BG move at the other end saw Dangda fire in a rasping shot which Thamsatchana saved dramatically. Eleven minutes from time Dangda rose unmarked at the back post to head home the second. You didn’t have to Sherlock Holmes to see it coming.

 

Ports night was summed up with a couple of minutes remaining when Philip Roller was put through on goal. He dallied but then got his effort away that was cleared off the line. The same player headed wide from a Deeromram when well placed.

Port out of both cups within a few weeks despite having plenty of play and chances. Teerasil Dangda was magnificent for the hosts who fully deserved their win. I departed and grabbed a taxi home.

Thailand 1 Suriname 0 (Sunday 27th March 2022) International Friendly (att: 4,418) 

Having been to Chonburi Stadium the previous Thursday for the match against Nepal I was delighted to be cheering on my adopted nation once again. I had learned what I thought the best way to the stadium by public transport after heading to a game at nearby North Bangkok University the previous weekend.

I changed buses at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat to take a service to opposite Zeer Rangsit where there was a small mall and market to grab some food and drink. From there it was a bit of a wait before the busy 538 air-conditioned bus arrived. It dropped my right outside the ground.

 

Id decided to buy a ticket for the normal home end and was soon upstairs on the top deck which was great for plane spotters but not vertigo sufferers, especially as you needed to be at the back to view the near goal. I didn’t really enjoy it truth be told despite the dramatic view.

The Ultras made viewing even more difficult when they arrived with their flags, making a proper noise at the same time. The Thai Power fan group were at the other end. Bordin Phala had the first effort for Thailand, but his low shot was easily gathered by keeper Warner Hahn.

This before Hahn produced a good low save to keep out Suphanat Mueanta who then had a low near post volley disallowed for offside. At this point I moved downstairs a level to the middle tier where I felt more comfortable.

The hosts were playing some neat football with Suriname having their backs to the wall. Theeratorn Boonmatan was next to go close, with a bending free kick. Phala opened the scoring three minutes shy of the half hour mark when he came inside and fired in a curling shot from twenty-five yards. 

Head coach Alexandré Pölking had got his charges playing well and they were on a fine run since being crowned as Southeast Asian champions. But Suriname hadn’t just turned up to sightsee. They almost drew level when Leandro Kappel dragged his shot across goal shortly into the second half.

Kritsada Kaman was next to go close with a free kick for the Thais before keeper Sivaruk Tedsungnoen made a miraculous save from sub Jeredy Hilterman who really should have scored from the low cross. 

The visitors carried on carving out opportunities with Tjaronn Chery being found on the edge of the box in acres of space. His low shot was saved by Tedsungnoen. In the end the home side won 1-0.

It was now time to plan my trip home. Crossing the bridge, a minivan was waiting to take fans back to Victory Monument. I decided to bite the bullet and jump out at Lak Si, failing desperately in estimating my stop.

 

It ended in a very long walk along the side of the busy Vibhavadi Rangsit road and then along Thanon Chaeng Watthana back to the stop at the end of Ram Inthra near Wat Phra Sri Mahathat BTS from where a 26 bus was soon along to take me home.

BG Pathum United 2 Port 1 (Saturday 2nd April 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 4,314)

A Saturday night match worked perfectly for me to do a double header as I attended the North Bangkok University v Saruburi United clash in the third tier Champions League Play Offs less than a mile away beforehand.

When walking along Rangsit - Nakhon Nayok Road a car stopped and offered me a lift. It turned out to be driven by the father of Port midfielder Kanarin Thawornsak who saw my shirt. He turned out to be a lovely bloke to boot, telling me he was a Liverpool fan.

There was time for me to grab a beer using my bank phone app as BG Stadium was cashless. Diogo came close to opening the scoring for BG with his low shot going narrowly wide. At the other end Roller should have done better when the ball fell loose to him at the edge of the box.

Phala beat home keeper Kittipong Phuthawchueak to a cross but saw his looping effort headed onto his own bar by Channgom and away to safety. The deadlock was broken after twenty-six minutes when Irfan Fandi headed in at the back post, with poor marking once again leading to Ports downfall. 

The second goal three minutes later had a huge chunk of fortune attached as a cross from Ikhsan Fandi took a horrible deflection off Kannarin Thawornsak to loop over keeper Worawut Srisupha into the net. I feared the worst at this point.

A shot from Charoenrattanapirom flew wide as the pressure continued prior to Diogo stinging the fingers of Srisupha. A Sergio Saurez volley for Port tested the reflexes of Phuthawchueak in the home net.

Soon into the second half a shot from Charoenrattanapirom was half blocked as it flew just wide. Port halved the deficit on fifty-four minutes when a deep cross from Martin Steuble was converted on the volley at the back post by David Rochela.

Teerasak Poeiphimai went close to drawing the team’s level, but his header flashed narrowly wide. Ikhsan Fandi missed a guilt edged chance to restore United’s two goal lead, but he panicked in front of goal.

Roller had two efforts for Port as play ebbed from end to end. He should have done better on both occasions. Nattapon Worasut went close for BG with a glancing header in the next action. Saurez for Port and Worasut once again were the next to have efforts on goal.

At full time I decided to grab a tuk tuk back towards Rangsit, from where I caught a couple of buses heading home. I hadnt realised just how cold the wind was as it was behind the away stand at the stadium. I found out back at my local bar where staff were huddled inside to try and keep warm. It was whisky time!

BG Pathum United 0 Melbourne City 0 (Wednesday 27th April 2022) AFC Champions League Group G (att: 3,699) 

An extra opportunity for football at BG Stadium arose when the Asian Champions League groups were each given one venue, rather than home and away legs, owing to the ongoing issues created by Covid.

Tickets were 150 baht in the home end, after I previously paid 100 for the Thailand international and 200 each time in the away section cheering for Port. By now I had learned even more about local travel, and caught a minivan to Zeer Rangsit directly from Minburi, saving time and money. The 538 bus took me the rest of the way. 

Again, I plumped for the middle tier upstairs behind the goal ready to enjoy the skills of Teerasil Dangda, who had become my favourite Thai player. It was a pleasure to watch a veteran craftsman at work.

Again, the cashless system worked well as I had time for a beer and chicken drumsticks from the vendors behind the West Stand before heading to my place. I had taken a real shine to BG Stadium, despite it been three sided. A proper football ground whose away end reminded me of the old Spion Kop at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool.

 

A win for the home side would guarantee qualification into the next stage, against the Aussie side funded by Manchester City who were two points behind in the group in second place. In the early exchanges Charoenrattanapirom flicked on a corner which Dangda just failed to convert as the ball was smothered by goalie Thomas Glover.

Ikhsan Fandi was then denied by the stopper before Andrew Nabbout created problems at the other end when his low cross was parried upwards by BG custodian Phuthawchueak. Jamie Maclaren will have been disappointed to put his header wide when the ball popped up to him.

 

Dangda failed to get enough purchase on his effort when the ball was laid square from a cross, allowing Glover to save. Shortly after the interval Scott Jamieson fired in a low shot that was pushed around the post by Phuthawchueak.

Chatmongkol Thongkiri fired just over from range for the hosts on seventy-seven minutes before Maclaren was denied for City at the other end. Diogo had a drive that sliced narrowly wide as both sides looked for a late winner.

 

Towards the end the locals around me were directing some hilarious abuse at the Aussie players in pidgin English, particularly comedy villain Rostyn Griffiths who had been a rock all evening but was now using all the dark arts to wind the clock down. They apologised to me at the end, but I told them to crack on!

BG still required a win against Jeonnam in their final game, which they managed. I caught a tuk tuk back to Rangsit and then a minivan which I initially thought would drop me by Wat Phra Sri Mahathat but went all the way to Minburi. Happy days!

BG Pathum United 4 Port FC 2 (Wednesday 14^th September 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 6,470)

The game had been put back a few weeks owing to BGs involvement in the AFC Champions League and was scheduled for 6pm on a Wednesday evening. This would mean negotiating rush hour traffic.

I set off three hours before kickoff and got my first shock. Sihaburanukit Road was flooded so I had to get my shoes and socks off to wade through the water and over the bridge before getting a minivan to the BTS light green line.

The train took no time and before long a bus arrived to carry me towards Rangsit, where we encountered more flooding on certain roads. Over the many roads I got to where the songthaew had previously dropped me after games. All was going to plan with time for a couple of drinks too.

Then the wheels fell off my plan. I asked a man in the minibus station which service was going towards Nakhon Nayok and past the stadium. He pointed to a songthaew pulling up outside and he even shouted for the driver to wait. What a nice chap.

 

The vehicle then proceeded to take me in completely the opposite direction, and right into the floods. It is somewhat of an understatement to say that I was unimpressed. Eventually I managed to grab a taxi to take me to the game, arriving outside seven minutes into it.

Rushing through the complex I eventually got upstairs in the away section. Twelve minutes gone and it was 0-0. Great stuff and they were allowing beers while we watched, so I quickly nipped back down to the friendly staff to buy a Leo. 

Inevitably as soon as I was settled United went ahead. And it was yet another case of awful defending as a looped cross from skipper Sarach Yooyen found Irfan Fandi who plonked his header past a stranded Srisupha in the away net.

In the thirty-sixth minute it got worse for Port when skipper Tanaboon Kesarat was adjudged to have swung an elbow when shielding the ball. Referee Sivakorn Pu-Udom was advised to check the screen and gave a straight red card after a VAR review. A very harsh call in my view.

 

Suarez nearly got on the end of a Phala diagonal ball in the box before it was 2-0 three minutes before the break when Ikhsan Fandi outjumped and outmuscled Frans Putros to head home a cross from Sorada. It was all too easy in the air again for BG when playing Port.

Yet there was still time for the visitors to get back into the game in stoppage time. A cross saw Irfan Fandi and Hamilton collide in a challenge, with the ball ending back at the feet of Teerasak Poeiphimai just inside the box who smashed home.

The defender rolled around and stayed on the floor trying to make the most of it, and I thought another VAR decision was pending. Thankfully the ref, maybe contemplating his earlier sending off, was having none of it.

It was a jollier congregation on the concourse at the break with an air of optimism breaking out. Suphanan Bureerat was teed up by Hamilton soon after the restart, but his shot was easily dealt with by goalie Phuthawchueak. If only the Port player could kick with his right foot.

 

2-1 became 3-1 on sixty-seven minutes. A simple training ground passing move and cross undid the away side out wide. Substitute Dangda fired home a volley from eight yards with all the freedom in the world. A great finish but horrible defending.

Srisupha pulled off a couple of decent stops prior to another replacement, Conrado scoring an excellent goal with a rasping right foot finish, again with the aid of having nobody trying to challenge. Dangda was denied shortly afterwards by another save. 

Port sub, William Weidersjö showed skill and then finished with a low left foot shot in additional time at the end of the game to reduce the arrears to give the excellent away following something to cheer. Some of the numbers shown their frustrations earlier with a small outbreak of unrest by the segregation barriers.

At full time, boss Cooper came across and got a good ovation, as did both sides. His job was surely to sort out the defence, which was a shambles. Port as ever looked pretty against a good side but were lacking an underbelly. BG on the other hand looked strong and a good team. 

I headed out onto the main road and had a beer, while many home fans passing on scooters gave me high fives. I genuinely like the BG fans and the experience there. I followed this up by a van ride and walk to a place I liked the look of in the past.

Passing Balance Cafe' & Restaurant, which I noted advertised craft beers, I arrived at Kin Do Funk. It had live music, My beer, which I liked, and complimentary bowls of salted peanuts with chilis. I enjoyed myself before deciding a taxi back to Min Buri was a good option in my tired and emotional condition. I later put together a video of my adventures.

BG Pathum United 0 Buriram United 2 (Saturday 4^th February 2023) Thai League 1 (att: 10,089)

My new policy of picking a game I really fancied, rather than going for quantity continued. I bought a ticket online a few days previously, and it’s as well that I did as all spaces were sold before matchday.

Taew dropped my Minburi centre, and before long I was on the 520 bus to Zeer Rangsit, enjoying listening to a podcast along the way. There was time for a quick snack before my reliable Viabus app told me it was not long until the arrival of the 538 service.

 

The road from Rangsit towards the stadium was gridlocked and progress was slow. My intended hour before the game arrival was nearly cut to half that time, not helped by the peak period kickoff and a graduation day at North Bangkok University clogging up the roads.

Eventually, I arrived and headed for the newly reopened restaurant bar called The Rabbits. It was certainly plush inside and had a live band playing. I heard someone shouting my name outside, and it turned out to be someone I hadn’t seen for several years.

 

It was lovely to see Steve Blanchard, a teaching mate of my Minburi mate Steve who we had last chatted in Pattaya. He was at his first game and with a group of pals. Sadly, the service from inside the bar didn’t live up to its surroundings, so I headed off in search of lubrication.

I was aware that BG Stadium was cash free, and that system works, with multiple beers all poured ready to take away with a simple scanning process on a mobile phone app taking the 70 baht per beer. 

I headed upstairs, happy to get a place on the second tier to experience a good game played in front of an excellent atmosphere. Buriram would show exactly why they are champions with two pieces of individual brilliance deciding the encounter.

The teams came out to a light show, a new feature at the stadium, before the game started at a frenetic pace, with both sides testing each other out. Suphanat Mueanta was denied for the visitors by the legs of home keeper Kittipong Phuthawchueak. However, the stopper was absolutely powerless to prevent the reigning champions taking the lead.

 

What looked like a harmless square ball along the edge of the box in the eleventh from skipper Narubadin Weerawatnodom, was swept in first time with a curling shot by Haris Vučkić that flew into the top corner of the net. A wonderful strike.

My heart was sunk a little, as I knew full well that Buriram rarely concede a lead, and I wanted a close contest and preferably a home win. Therefore, I was delighted four minutes later when the hosts appeared to equalize.

Celebrations following the goal ruled out by VAR

A magnificent ball from defence found a man out wide on the right whose deep cross was met by the head of Chaowat Veerachat. Nopphon Lakhonphon made a great save, but the rebound was headed home by Stênio Júnior.

The light show kicked into action again as the majority of the sellout crowd celebrated. However, as the players lined up for the restart, referee Wiwat Jumpaoon delayed the kickoff. VAR ruled the goal out for offside, despite further BG protests.

 

It turned out to be the correct decision when I later saw the video, but it showed just how the spontaneity can be sucked out of a game. No doubt I would have had a different opinion if an unlawful goal went in against one of my teams.

Peeradon Chamratsamee went close with a low skimming shot for the visitors prior to the scorer being involved in a nasty arial exchange which required Vučkić to wear a head bandage for the remainder of the game. 

Then Supachai Chaided rolled the ball into the path of Goran Čaušić whose rasping drive brough out the best in Phuthawchueak in the final action of the half, when I headed back downstairs for another beer and to enjoy the architecture of one of my favourite venues around some genuinely friendly people.

Three minutes after the restart Stênio Júnior missed a great chance to restore parity when he side footed a lovely slide rule cross from Veerachat with the goal at his mercy. Then Lakhonphon was forced to tip over an effort from Santiphap Channgom. 

With twenty minutes remaining, the lead was doubled through a brilliant tight passing move involving Vučkić and Čaušić which saw Suphanat Mueanta superbly finish with a delicate dink. The front man was rumoured to be gathering interest from Leicester City after he had a spell training there, and it wasn’t hard to see why.

Some pushing and shoving took place with several players of both sides involved in the eightieth minute after it appeared that a home player went down after Weerawatnodom flung out an arm in the area. I was astonished the VAR team were not interested in the offence.

The hero celebrated in from of the packed masses of his team’s support, who were also superb throughout the game. Andrés Túñez saw an effort tipped round for BG in additional time, but Buriram ran out deserved winners.

I used my experience and was away bang on the final whistle and headed along the road towards Rangsit rather than getting lost in the crowds. I got a taxi within a few minutes, with Taew giving my driver full instructions to get me to my destination for lots of beautiful food and drinks.

BG Pathum United 1 Ulsan Hyundai 3 (Tuesday 28th November 2023) AFC Champions League Group I (att: 3,563) 

An easy win for the quality team from South Korea. The home side had two goals disallowed but were second best throughout.

Ulsan had a beast of a centre forward, the Hungarian Martin Adam, and a very quick and skillful Swedish winger, Gustav Ludwigson. Cheered on by a hundred or so travelling fans, they looked like a class outfit. The hosts only had pride to play for, already dumped at the bottom of the group with just one more game to play. 

Home defender Jakkapan Praisuwan put a hard low cross past his own keeper after twenty minutes, with Ludwigson doubling the advantage seven minutes later. Their fast interplay was too much for the Thais to handle, despite currently being second in the league. 

Ulsan had recently been crowned as their league champions, which exemplifies the difference in standards between the two nations. It’s as well that Ulsan seemingly held back. After the break as the crowd doubled from its kick-off figure with people finishing work at the same time as the 5pm start, the game was slightly more competitive. 

However, a low shot from Lee Myung-Jae made it 3-0 before Igor Sergeyev, the Uzbekistan wide man reduced the arears after being assisted by the aging but still excellent Teerasil Dangda. 

Great to see that the fourth stand at BG Stadium was going up. It was already one of my favourite Thai stadiums, and the addition would add to it. Great views were already offered on all the current three sides, especially mine on this occasion night as I played tour guide.

An Australian friend, Terry Kersey, who I know through cricket tournaments in Chiang Mai contacted me a couple of weeks ago. His son Adam was the fourth official for the game and asked if I wanted tickets. It was very handy as I am in Bangkok for a few days after cricket in the northern city. He did the business, leaving me to collect them at the office. 

On the way to the game, after a ride on the newly opened Pink Line sky train I was joined on the bus by a young couple asking if I was heading to the stadium. My Hull City shirt might have been a giveaway. Anyway, we alighted and shared a taxi. They were without tickets and wanted to get there as soon as possible.

I had to explain that the stadium is nearly all cashless, although some food vendors do accept notes. I tried to buy them a couple of tickets on my club account, but sales had closed. When the lady met me to hand out my ticket, she asked how many I required and kindly gave me three complementariness. 

We got great seats and could take beer to them. My new friends insisted on looking after me, so what I thought would be a quiet evening doing reports for the podcast I’m involved in turned into a merry little session.

My video report of the evening compiled for A Thai Football Podcast

A taxi home, where my good lady suggested I was a little drunk. Rather a large one to be fair. All was good, with new friends being made and an excellent evening out.

BG Pathum United 2 Chiangrai United 2 (Thursday 28th December 2023) Thai League 1 (att: 5,713)

A fantastic game of football to round off my year of 45 matches which started with Kasem Bundit University 3 Samut Prakan 2 which was also attended in the company of my mate Steve who again came along for this cracker.

It was a big night in the Thai League with this game seeing third up against fifth, while reigning champions Buriram United were away to bottom side Prachuap, while leaders Bangkok United travelled to second from bottom Chonburi. We were royally entertained at our match.

CRU went into an early lead when the impressive 39-year-old Brazilian who was in the thick of the action as ever played him part as compatriot Felippe Veloso raced clear to finish neatly after five minutes. 

BGPU piled on the pressure, and were guilty of overelaborating, while the visitors’ defence put in a superb display, most noticeably Diego Landis and Marco Ballini who were like rocks. Finally, they conceded seven minutes from the break when Danilo Alves rose to power home a header past keeper Saranon Anuin. 

It appeared that it would be the foothold to power the hosts towards victory, but there was a shock awaiting them. A superb passing move right from the back was finished with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box from Sivakorn Tiatrakul leaving Chatchai Bootprom grasping thin air

This was a few seconds before the halftime whistle was blown by impressive referee Songkran Bunmeekiart who saw through plenty of play acting from both sides as he allowed the game to flow and a proper contest emerge.

The second half saw more home pressure, and they looked like they were about to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty. The ref was persuaded to check his VAR screen. The offence had taken place outside the box, so he amended his decision. 

However, that was bad news for last defender Ballini whose yellow card was upgraded to a red. It was going to be a mighty task for the final thirty-five minutes or so for the team in all orange. CRU took off a forward but still looked dangerous on the break, and they missed a good chance following a low cross which caused confusion in the BGPU box. 

Sadly, for me, Bill had gone off at the interval. He’s a true panto villain with lots of skill and a box of dirty tricks which any football fan can admire. Like a large Frank Worthington with dark arts. Or Tony Rogers of Dagenham near the end of his career.

The board went up showing eight additional minutes, and it was in the seventh of them that substitute Igor Sergeev headed home the equiliser. The CRU players sank to their knees, and that was followed by the home team at fulltime. Everyone had given their last ounce of energy. It was a superb advert for Thai football.

Steve and I were joined by Mark, an Oxford United fan living in Bangkok. We took the skytrain to Lak Si and then a bus to a bar called Kin Do Funk a couple of miles down the road from BG Stadium. Unfortunately, they weren’t opening until 6pm, and with a 7pm kickoff, we decided to head to the venue.

We went into the air con Rabbits clubhouse for a tower of Leo beer and snacks before sitting outside in the fans zone, taking in the atmosphere. Our view inside the stadium was superb and we could drink on the terraces. We returned to the rammed Kin Do Funk for drinks at fulltime. 

The evening in video for A Thai Football Podcast

What a superb experience it turned out to be among friendly locals. We had a wonderful lads day exchanging tales and chewing the fat with lots of laughter, food, and drinks. We also did a fair bit of walking which might, or might not, of explained my condition the following day. Thankfully we got a taxi home.