Welcome to Volume Two of my blog which covers all clubs and stadiums outside the English League System along with the wonderful people responsible for keeping them going and their maintenance.

Since I was a little lad I've been fascinated in football and more so where games are played. With my love of travel and curiosity of the game I wanted to visit as many grounds and see games wherever possible.

I was fortunate that my Dad also loved the game and spent so much of his spare time taking me to matches. As I got older the boundaries widened owing to my location and increased wages to Europe and indeed the world. The sight of a stand or a floodlight pylon in the distance immediately heightens my senses and eagerness for a closer look.

I hope this site gives you the chance to share in my pleasure and experiences and maybe one day set you on the road to adventure. If you get half as much out of the hobby as I've done, I can guarantee some great memories, good friends and stories to pass on to future generations.

Give your local club a try today. They'll be delighted to see you!

Everlasting thanks primarily to my late and very much missed and dearly loved parents; my Dad Bob Bernard and my Mum; Ann, who put up with endless years of football chat and my brothers Nick and Paul who gave me the chance and encouragement to do what I have. Thanks to all my friends who offer encouragement and Sally and Stan who inspire and give me great pride. Stan is showing a keen interest in my hobby as he grows into a young man!

Please feel free to post any comments (please use sensible language - I want everyone to be able to enjoy reading) or ask any questions relating to visiting grounds or events. If you want to see any ground reviewed please let me know. It will take quite some time for everywhere to appear, but make sure you keep having a look as the site is continually updated.

If you click on a lot of the pictures you will get a larger version on your screen.

I have also added links to video clips on YouTube where appropriate for those of you who are bored of reading or are filling in time at work. I haven't always gone for the most obvious choices, but items that will be in some cases unusual but always historically interesting.

Click here to see volume one of HAOTW for everything in the English League System.

Rob Bernard

London

May 2020

Monday 22 April 2013

Kasetsart FC (Thailand)


Kasetsart FC is a football club who represent Kasetsart University, which is located to the north of the centre of the Thai capital of Bangkok. The club were formed in 1988, playing against similar organisations.

The 2007 campaign saw the team located at the university's Kampaeng Saen campus in Nakhon Pathom before a move to Insee Chantarasatit Stadium back in Bangkok. In 2008 Kasetsart won the Khǒr Royal Cup and also won a place in the Regional League Division Two for the following season.


After a couple of seasons of disappointment, the 2011 campaign ended with 'The Emerald Nagas' finishing top of the Bangkok Area division. Sadly the play-offs ended in disaster, with the team faring badly on the pitch

It also saw and their home Insee Chantarasatit Stadium being badly damaged by the city's floods, with the team having to return for the 2012 season to the Nakhon Pathom campus. The campaign ended in agony as Kasetsart missed out on a play-off place on the final day.


After repairs were made, Kasetsart returned to their traditional home for the 2013 season. However, the club aimed high as the club embarked on a successful season as they reached the play-off rounds for promotion. 

They decided to build a new stand in readiness for the potential of Division One football. The team lost out and the stadium was not completed leading to Kasetsart taking a sabbatical from league action in 2014.

TOT Stadium. Kasetsart's home from 2017 to 2019

The team returned to the Regional League Bangkok Metropolitan Region in 2015, finishing the campaign in fourth position while returning to the Nakhon Pathom campus for the year. This was followed up by a runners-up slot in 2016, back in Bangkok.

Thai league football was restructured for the 2017 season. The club changed their title from Kasetsart University FC to Kasetsart FC and moved to the TOT Stadium a mile away in Chaeng Watthana as they were placed in the second tier Thai League 2.


Meanwhile, an academy was set up, which would provide players for the continued Kasetsart University amateur team. They would go on to compete in the Thailand Amateur League. In 2022 the Academy team finished second in Bangkok Group A.

Meanwhile, the Kasetsart FC team that eventually finished in thirteenth place was led by Yuthapong Boon-amporn until April 2017 when replaced by Chusak Sriphum. A third different coach; Adul Luekijna took over from August as Jonatan Ferreira Reis.


The 2018 campaign saw Kasetsart finish in an identical position as the previous season. Kayne Vincent was the top scorer under Brazilian coach Fernando who departed at the end of the season.

In 2019 the team attracted the second lowest attendances in the second tier as they weighed in with a twelfth place slot with Brazilian Alexandre Balotelli the marquee signing with both Somdet Hitates and Warit Boonsripitayanon having spells as coach.


Thai coach Paniphon Kerdyam was placed in charge of the team for the 2020-21 season with loan signing Ailton and Apiwit Samurmuen tucking away the goals. Further improvements saw a return to Insee Chantarasatit Stadium as Kasetsart finished fourteenth.

An improvement of just one place in 2021-22 saw the appointment of interim head coaches  Itthipol Nonsiri and Sarawut Janthapan before the seasons end.

Kasetsart FC will in the Thai League 2 (T2) in the 2022-23 season.


My visits

Wednesday 27th March 2013

I awoke after a good night in Bangkok in the early part of my three weeks cricketing tour ready to visit some football stadiums. Planning while in the UK meant that I thought my task would be relatively easy. The sun was blazing down, with even the locals commenting on how hot it was.


A good lunch was a necessity as I had slept in through breakfast, so I wandered round to see my old mate Brian Walker at the Crossbar. Like many of my acquaintances he shook his head when I told him my plans for the afternoon and evening. 

I realise everyone has their own hobbies, but I couldn't think of anything better than broadening my knowledge and seeing parts of a city that its inhabitants couldn't be bothered with.


Fully fed and watered I headed for the MRT subway to make the first leg of my journey a little easier. I took the train from Sukhumvit to Pahon Yothin, where I flagged down a taxi. Now I knew from experience that Bangkok taxi drivers could be very knowledgeable or next to useless, but I thought a self explanatory map for a ride of no more than two miles would be easy enough. Alas, no.

My driver took me to what I knew was the wrong side of main road heading out of town, but there was no getting through to him. He dropped me outside a huge corporate complex, where even the guards seemed to agree with him. I paid him up and looked for another cab.


Fortunately my second driver spoke good English and knew immediately where the university was, and even better exactly how to get to the stadium once inside the campus. Sure enough with ten minutes I was smiling with a group gathering behind the Main Stand before their away game later in the afternoon at Customs United.

I strolled inside to take a look. The pitch was surrounded by a shale running track and apart from the impressive raised and covered seated Main Stand, it was basic. A few wooden terraces were placed behind one goal for when needed, but the rest of the arena was open. 


Railings separated the ground from the rest of the campus. Anyone would be able to look in when a match was on. Some students were losing the pounds on an open air gym as they looked on.

I made my way through the entrance onto Thanon Ngam Wong Wan, using the pedestrian bridge to find the right side of the road for a taxi to my next destination at TOT.

Kasetsart 1 Khon Kaen United 2 (Wednesday 12th January 2022) League Cup First Round (att: 542) 

Football in the top two tiers had restarted after the mid-season international break and I was keen to see as much of it as possible. This League Cup tie stood out for me, with the chance of an upset and being a sensible midweek distance from home.

Some clubs do advance purchase tickets online, which are collected at certain 7/11 convenience stores. Kasertsart were one such club, so I decided despite warnings from seasoned expats to give it a whirl. 

It’s fair to say that my idea caused interest in the nearest store operating the system. There was a cheer when the four young eager members of staff eventually sussed it out and gave me my printout after about twenty minutes of trying. My ticket cost THB 100.

Kick-off was 6pm so I gave myself plenty of time having been stuck in teatime traffic in the past. I was actually ahead of time on the 26 bus, so I did some sightseeing and photography at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat temple.

Onward from there caught the light green BTS a few stops south to the Kasetsart University stop from where it was a twenty minutes walk through its impressive grounds to Insee Chantarasatit Stadium, while sadly failing to locate the student union bar!

For anyone wishing to point out the tongue in cheek comment. Alcohol and the advertising of it is prohibited inside Thai educational sites. Instead, I made use on the onsite 7/11 for some pop and nibbles.

 

Like several work or educational based clubs, locals also came to watch what was a good evening cup tie. I usually find that floodlights help the spectacle. Several eager folk were using the free exercise machines and some kind of non-contact martial art class was going on.

I’d got myself a good spot in the large stand that had been erected since my previous visit, facing across to the structure hosting the players, TV cameras and officials. I sat and couldn’t quite believe the updates as Port FC slid out to third tier Muang Loei United on penalties. 

The crowd were remarkably silent early on as we watched a cagey opening. Nigerian front man Raphael Success looked likely up front for the hosts as he shot narrowly over from a tight angle with Khon Kaen’s Brazilian midfielder Douglas Cobo showing signs of experience.

The attendance grew during the first period as people arrived from work. They were in time to see United take the lead with a cleverly constructed goal, when a low cross was side footed home by Tanapol Srithong shortly before referee Winat Phophat blew his whistle for half time. 

There was still time in between for Success to tee up Chakrit Wasprasertsuk who scewed his shot badly wide. I remained where I was at the break and spent it catching up on the other scores. Other entertainment was provided by the cheers of nearby volleyball players.

Muang Thong United were on the way to losing lower opposition in Uthai Thani in their tie. I honestly couldn’t see Kasetsart beating their higher division opponents who just seemed that bit more streetwise.

The shambles back home in the UK with Prime Minister’s Questions on my App while watching the game seemed to get me more fired up and into the game for some strange reason once the babbling and avoiding any questions had finished.

Kasetsart came out pushing for an equaliser with again Success causing the Khon Kaen defence problems with a great run. Sub Apiwit Samurmuen failed with his attempt at the near post when fed.

 

A rasping left foot drive from Success beat United goalkeeper Chirawat Wangthaphan all ends up but came back off the inside of the post. Success then hit the same post with his right foot. He could not believe his bad luck as the game intensified and he was substituted with thirteen minutes remaining.

Surely that was the home sides chances over. Just what was head coach Panipol Kerdyam thinking of? He was vindicated a couple of minutes later when earlier sub Sukunchai Saengthopho scored with a low shot across the outstretched Wangthaphan. What did I know anyway! 

No further scoring meant extra time. Saengthopho set up a fellow substitute Simon Dia. Somehow the Frenchman managed to miss an open goal from the low cross. Then a prostate Samurmuen hit the post with a shot while swinging his leg as a lay on the ground.

Surely a goal was coming for the university based club. The pressure continued as Kueanun Junumpai headed wide at the back post from a corner. In the second period of extra time Khon Kaen’s Yashir Islame played a majestic ball out wide, before getting on the end of the return cross but headed wide.

 

I could see how Dia had missed his earlier sitter. He had bags of skill but was cumbersome and awkward. He went on a rampaging run but eventually lost control as he was about to pull the trigger. It summed up his cameo.

Junumpai was denied by Wangthaphan as a penalty shoot out looked a certainty. However, there was a sting in the tail from the visitors as in the second of three minutes additional time a shot from Brazilian sub Ibson Melo went in across goalie Thirawooth Sraunson off the far post. 

The away fans along from us celebrated along with their team. Kasetsart only themselves to blame after wasting a plethora of chances. It had been a very enjoyable game which improved as it went on. I headed back through the campus to catch the number 26 back to Minburi.

Kasetsart University 5 Minburi City 0 (Friday 18th March 2022) Friendly (att: c40)

I’d ordered a couple of Minburi City shirts from the online store, one for my pal Steve, so I was delighted with the scheduling of this fixture so I could collect them. It was also a handy venue travel wise as the number 26 bus dropped me opposite the gates to the campus.

The transport was much lighter than I anticipated, meaning I arrived just before 5pm. My earliness was also aided by a loony bus driver who went at breakneck speed. I nearly headed for the front window when needing the middle doors at my stop after he slammed all on.


I went in search of a bar or options to fill in some time. Sadly, the area around the University seemed still affected by the pandemic. Those establishments showing on Google Maps were not open.

Not to worry. I had a good walk and then grabbed some finger food and drinks from the onsite 7/11 before taking up a seat in the main stand of Insee Chantarasatit Stadium. A pleasant young lady came across and gave me my two shirts. Obviously, I had been the only foreigner to have made an order thus far! 

Kick off was late, no doubt with players trying to make their way across Bangkok after work. Locals and students continued to jog around the track as the game got underway. Indeed, I had gained access to the stand through the same entrance as those exercising.

The scoreboard was in operation, but strangely showing highlights of previous Kasetsart FC matches. The team out on the pitch was the amateurs of the university along with its academy arm.

The home side players had no numbers on their shirts, so please excuse the lack of names. Minburi had a big squad, including several goalkeepers, as they looked to trim their roster before the commencement of the Thailand Amateur League.

There was a bit of drizzle in the air with the sound of overhead planes and birds adding to the overall scene. It was a slow start to the game before the visitor’s number 23 showed skill before seeing his shot saved. 

Minburi’s custodian clattered a home player outside the box on fifteen minutes. The makeshift referee decided that a free kick was enough punishment. It appears that he had some sort of prophecy.

The resulting free kick was put in at back post by an unmarked Kasetsart player to open the scoring. In an open game the City number 6 seemed to be reading the game well. However, he had a tendency to overplay and then be caught out of position.

 

The score was 2-0 on twenty-five minutes with a good strike going in at near post after the scorer had been put in with a neat slide rule pass put in. It became 3-0 twelve minutes later. A through ball was slotted past the away team keeper from outside box.

The teams gathered for drinks on the pitch at the interval. Kasetsart extended their lead further nine minutes after the restart. A university forward simply brushed aside a defender before firing home. Again, it was a case of extremely poor defending from the City outfit.

Twelve minutes from time it became 5-0 when an excellent quick one two skipped through the threadbare defence before the move was finished. To add to Minburi’s woes, their number 11 was put through. He rounded the keeper but hit outside of post with his effort on goal.

The better more organised side had deservedly won. It was nice to later receive a message of apology for the performance from the City media team the following morning. There was no need but it was a nice touch all the same from a classily run club.











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