Ubon Kruanapat FC is a professional football club that represents the city of Ubon Ratchathani in the Isan region of Thailand. The club was formed in 2009 prior to becoming an expansion club in Regional League Division 2 North Eastern Region in 2010 as Ubon Tiger FC.
This was the
third tier of Thai football at the time, with the team playing their home games
at Ubon Rachathani Sports School Stadium. Surasak Thongkae top scored as the
side ended near the bottom of the table, prior to moving into Ubon Ratchathani
University Stadium south of the city for the 2011 campaign.
It saw an even lower finish despite the goals of Christian Fokou, with the 2012 campaign seeing the club return to their former home ground and changing title to Ubon Rachathani FC. Not that it did much good as the Tigers finished bottom of the table.
A change of
name this time to bon UMT followed. This should not be confused with the club
of the similar name that later played in the top flight of Thai football. However,
the influence of the UMT university saw the team finish third thanks to the
goals of David Srangnanaok.
The league title followed in 2014, which saw qualification for the Champions League playoffs. Elvis Job had put away the goals, but Ubon failed to go up from the group stages. Obviously impressed with the potential on offer UMT set up their own side in 2015 to enter the competition.
This meant a change of name to Ubon Rachathani FC for the side formed in 2009. They played second fiddle to their money laden neighbours and finished in seventh spot with Kim Ji Hun banging in the goals. Bouba Abbo became the next goalscoring hero for the fans, as he and his side ended as runners-up in 2016.
Again, the play-offs were a step too far, prior to league re-organisation which saw the introduction of four tiers in 2017. Ubon Ratchathani returned to the University Stadium for a solitary season as they finished second from bottom in Thai League 3 Upper Region.
A much improved second place ensued in 2018, when back in the city, as Ahmed Abdalazen and Abbo shared the goals. Nattapon Tabtanon led the scoring tally in 2019 which ended in a seventh place finish before further reconstruction of the Thai League took place.
The competition reverted to a European calendar in 2020-21 by which time the club had been renamed Ubon Kruanapat after ownership of the club was completed by the local food production company, Kruanapat.
Jirayoo Suwandee was appointed as head coach as Ubon finished fourth in Thai League 3 Northeast. Tana Chanabut and then Danuson Chaiyawan led the side from the touchline. Saran Srideth was at the helm for the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
It saw the Tigers repeat fourth place, as Oscar Plape led the scoring charts, as he did once again in 2022-23 under head coach Kittiyuth Puttakru. This time the side finished fifth. The 2023-24 saw the club change home venue to the Ubon Rathchathani Rajabhat University (RBRU) Stadium.
Chaleamkwan Rienthong was appointed as head coach as the side was sent three Thai under 20 year old stars on loan from Buriram United for the second leg of the season.
My visit
Ubon Kruanapat 0 Sisaket United 0 (Sunday 14th January 2023) Thai League 3 Northeast (att: 522)
Despite the scoreline this was a very watchable 0-0 in a local derby with the clubs only being an hour apart. League leader Sisaket increased the pace that they played at with Brazlian striker Danilo a man transformed from previous showings.
In a tight first period which fluctuated in terms of ascendancy, the visitors came closest to scoring when a free kick from Heman Kittiamphaipruek cannoned back off the angle of post and bar with keeper Klanarong Wissutiyanpirom motionless.
After the break the usually ultra reliable Matias Pannigazzi missed a sitter from close range when getting on the end of a delicious free kick delivery, and the away side spurned another couple of chances on the break.
All the while Ubon played their part going forward and putting in a string of good centres without getting a shot on target in anger throughout. Defender Mounzir Coulidiati was impressive as he was in the game that ended 0-0 in the reverse fixture.
The game
became stretched in the closing stages after decent home midfielder Jakree Burapha
was shown a second yellow card, when it looked like he’d fallen and done a good
job of using his chest while on the floor to block a through ball, but the ref
was having none of it.
Sisaket failed to capitalise, in what was a frustrating ending. Second placed Mahasarakham closed the gap at the top to two points, with them having a game in hand. The two sides were scheduled to meet in the final game of the season in Sisaket.
A great day out, being dropped halfway in Kanthararom by my wife to meet my mate John who drive us to Ubon Ratchathani. A late lunch was enjoyed at the excellent American owned Peppers, where I generally take friends if are using the nearby airport. It provided a good menu and fridge with a warm welcome from the boss, was nice.
Ubon has five stadiums, all worthy of staging league football. We visited UMT Stadium for a look, now home of Ubon Poly United who are trying to win promotion from the semi-pro league, where the team was training.
UBRU Happiness Stadium is one of several Rajabhat Universities around Thailand and is a pleasant place to watch football. It used to have a shale track but is now grassed over with raised covered stands down either side. It was upgraded for sporting games between the staff of all of Thailand’s university to compete in, like a mini-Olympics and they have done a great job with it. Leg room and viewing was excellent.
The away fans were congregated on the open curve behind the goal. We went in the main stand, with my Sisaket shirt giving our game away. We weren’t the only ones in there! Not that there was any issue. The locals could not have been friendlier, with the crowd including a high ratio of aesthetic onlookers.
To round off
a near perfect day, my good lady was waiting at my pickup point with a can of
Thai brewed German style dunkel which was most appreciated. Some top snooker
and the Everton v Aston Villa game on TV over grub and more drinks most
entertaining before bedtime.
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