SPA Srongpol is an amateur football club based in the Thailand capital
of Bangkok who were formed in 2020. The club is connected to the company of the
same name that specialises in accounting, administration, and office services.
The team joined as members of Division Four of the Bangkok Premier League, playing home league matches at Bhutthi Anant Sports Center under head coach Phichai Piyapiwat. The club moved to Grand Keeper Football Stadium on Hathai Rat Road in Sam Wa for the 2022 campaign.
My visit
Grand Keeper Football Stadium
SPA Srongpol 3 Nonthaburi City 3 (Thursday 9th December 2021) Friendly (att: c20)
I had arrived to start a new life in Thailand the previous week and was
gradually getting used to living in Minburi in the eastern suburbs of Bangkok.
It was the middle of an international break for matches in the AFC Suzuki Cup
so I thought I might have to wait for live football.
With nothing to lose I appealed to some fans of Thai football I follow on Twitter to try and source something. I received a reply from Svein, a Norwegian supporter of Bangkok United which would open up opportunities I never knew existed.
He suggested checking out the Bangkok Premier League on Facebook. There was a match advertised the following day, so I asked the question if spectators were allowed to attend, bearing in mind some restrictions still in place owing to COVID.
Within minutes, Chai the Srongpol coach got in touch and told me that I was welcome. Even better was that the match was taking place just three miles from my apartment. I was as excited as a kid at Christmas, which was convenient for the time of year.
Thursday evening arrived and after a dire second day of the Ashes cricket on TV I headed over the bridge at the end of my road to await the 197 bus which would drop me nearby to the Grand Keeper Ground.
I waited and waited even longer until it was apparent that I was going to have to grab a taxi to the game. Fortunately, this is never a problem in Bangkok. They are plentiful and good value. I arrived at the ground around ten minutes before the 8pm kick off.
Grand Keeper’s pitch was surrounded by high netting held up on the wooden floodlight pylons. It had a smaller pitch in use behind the entrance end goal, where there was also a small cover to accompany the snack bar. The main tenant of the ground appeared to be Khlong Samwa FC.
Along the roadside of the venue were small changing facilities behind a small cover, where I grabbed a plastic chair. Either side were two covers, which I guess could be both for substitutes and coaches and spectators. The ground was surrounded by trees and bushes.
Chai spotted me and came across and said hello. He had asked me if I
wanted a trial for the team when we spoke online. I think he now realised why I
declined. A couple of decades earlier I’d have jumped at the opportunity, but I
knew my limits.
Both sides would use lots of players throughout the friendly, with rolling subs being implemented. The away side took the lead on fourteen minutes against the run of play. It was nearly two, but a shot went wide across goal.
Srongpol’s farang (western) goalie tipped a shot over from a Nonthaburi forward, whose side played in green with no numbers, while the officials were in bright orange. Both sides wore sleeveless training tops. Which made sense in the heat which was in the early 20’s.
The equaliser arrived when SPA’s 42 set up number 44 to slot home midway through the first half. Nonthaburi were getting through the hosts high line offside trap regularly. Srongpol’s western defender wearing the 67 shirt was composed on the ball if he did overplay at times.
City missed another good chance in a game played in excellent spirit with
no dissent. It was a similar standard to higher level local district league
football back home. Of course, players of that standard are susceptible to the
occasional howler, and so it proved.
Srongpol’s keeper let a seemingly harmless low shot through his grasp and into the net to make it 1-2 a few minutes before the break. However, his side went straight up the other end to level things up as a low cross was deflected past the stranded visiting custodian.
The frenetic end to the half wasn’t over as number 62 pulled a man back in the box. He briefly protested and blamed teammates, but the ref was bang on. The penalty was slotted away for City to head for the interval with a 3-2 lead.
The pace was lesser after half time, as both coaches made several changes. SPA’s 27 restored parity when he collected a pass on sixty-eight minutes and shot across goal into the far corner.
Space and time became more prevalent as the match entered its final period. Nonthaburi piled on the pressure but couldn’t find a winner as Srongpol stood firm against a late onslaught. A draw was a fair result.
While I enjoyed the game, it was put in the shade by the kindness and hospitality of Chai and his club as he gave me a team shirt. It looks like I’m now Srongpol’s number 77! Several players also joined in with the general welcome, with some becoming Facebook friends.
After the game I made the decision to walk home. It took around an hour
and was fine aside from occasion feral soi dogs which gave me a shock at times.
At least I found out about several good options for food, drink and nightlife
along Hat Yai Road.
The following morning saw me engage in further research, with everyone being most helpful. My love for Bangkok had grown even greater with the realisation that I would not be going short of football to attend and supplement my cricketing activities. I made a mental note that mosquito repellent was a necessary purchase for night football.
Please click here for another SPA Srongpol friendly at the same venue as an ‘away’ side.
thank you and you'll welcome
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