Futera
United FC is a semi-professional football club based in the Thai capital of
Bangkok which was formed in 2019. It is a club with a fascinating story and
concept, which goes back to its previous incarnation.
Back in 2012 Futera Seeker FC was born. Within a year they had become members of Thai League in the third tier Central-West playing their home games at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi Stadium.
Futera is a company that is a leading name in trading cards. They are synonymous with those who collect and trade them, with many football clubs around the world being connected with them. They teamed together with Seeker FC to form the club.
It was a football club with a difference to say the least. Members, or holders could obtain shares in the club and then be involved making decisions which included team tactics, selection, and even substitutions, as described in the away game on this page.
The expansion club finished fourth in their debut 2013 season. However, the Futera arm of the operation left the club that became Seeker FC who initially moved to National Housing Authority Stadium in Bangkapi.
Seeker went on to become Pathumthani University FC, gradually morphing and being known as PTU Pathum Thani Seeker, and PTU Pathumthani along the way. That club continues playing in Thai League 3 West as of the 2024-25 season.
Meanwhile, after a few years out of football, Futera owner Mark Watson formed Futera United FC. It had similar concepts to the old club, only without holders being able to make tactical decisions during a game.
United became members of the Bangkok Premier League playing in its lower divisions while joining ranks with PSW Academy. The side played in the FA Cup in 2022-23 and went out 2-0 away to Sisaket United with coach Pisal Rumrai in charge of the team. The club was placed in Division Two of the BPL for 2023-24 where they ended in second place.
Futera became one of the clubs that passed the requirements to enter the Thailand Semi-Pro League for 2023-24. The club managed to secure Stadium of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) for their home matches with Pissanu Suwannaprom in charge of the team.
United continued to lead the way where others in Thailand often flounder with superb live match coverage on YouTube as well as superb merchandise which is sold globally. It is a club with huge potential which continues to attract new holders and have lively online discussion.
My visit
Futera United 1 Dome 4 (Saturday 16th March 2024) Thailand Semi-Pro League Bangkok (att: 134)
I was keen to tick off a Futera game and catch up with Mark Watson ten years after I had met him and been given a lowdown on Futera Seeker at an away game when they were members of the Thai League.
I was down in Bangkok sorting out some administration and staying with my wife Taew at our Minburi condo, so this fixture worked out perfectly. I headed to the game by songthaew and then walked the fifteen minutes or so from Lat Krabang Road to the KMITL Stadium.
Admission as usual was free to a match in the competition. I had stocked up with snacks and drinks on the way as catering is generally missing at the ground. Each attendee was given a free packet of trading cards which contained three Futera players, a nice touch.
A match that went pretty much as expected, with Dome favourites to reclaim their Thai League place after a few years absence. They proved to be the better marshalled and fitter of the two sides, yet the hosts also offered great value until their legs gave way after leading at the interval.
While holders, as Futera’s members are called still have a say in the running of the club, they no longer do so during matches. They have a worldwide following and sell merchandise in great numbers.
They also have an academy across the city. While some shake their heads in disbelief, in a similar way to when Hashtag United joined the English non-league ranks, it is proof that the beautiful game is for more than middle aged blokes.
In this encounter, in which I sat again with Mark Watson, and his mate Sean, while it was also great to meet groundhopper and Bangkok United fan Svein for the first time, who is of great assistance with information on all things Thai football.
United took
the ascendancy after a quiet opening ten minutes. They had players of great
individual skill, one moved to centre back from upfront, on the suggestion of
those who studied performances. Itthiphon Yotphrom had a fine game.
They went ahead after Dome goalie Atituch Chankar made a fine save to thwart an excellent move. The resulting corner was headed home by Nattawut Jandit after sixteen minutes. The following half hour is as stretched and exciting as I have seen so early in a match with Dome missing a sitter.
Futera had what I thought was a stone wall penalty turned down by the otherwise impressive referee Pichit Thongjanmoon who was keen to employ advantage as often as possible and let the game flow. Then the visitors hit the bar and gradually wrestled control. The Futera contingent were happy to hear the whistle for the interval.
Dome levelled up a minute after the break. Home keeper Padchaya Panya had sustained a knock in the first half and was slow off his line, bringing down a forward. The ball ran loose with Mr Pichit letting play go on for Peerapat Kantha scored into an empty net.
Itthiphon had to be replaced after a wonderful old school crunching tackle damaged his knee. The respect his opponents and supporters showed him as he hobbled off said everything about his performance.
A fine away side move was thwarted just past the hour mark. However, the corner saw a good save from Padchaya but Teeraporn Atawongsa was on hand to smash home. Futera were reduced to counter attacking and came close on one occasion. However, it was becoming one way traffic.
Dome hit the
bar for a second time, and one felt the hosts best hope was to stay in the game
as long as possible and somehow get a late equaliser. It was not to be.
Peerapat Chunhacha and Karintron Phakum added late goals as the energy levels
sapped out of the Futera players.
After the
match I managed to requisition a Bolt taxi to take me to an Isan restaurant
where an interesting evening ensued with my good lady and Thai friends.
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