Nongbua Pitchaya (Thailand)

 

Nongbua Pitchaya FC is professional football club based in the small town of Nong Bua Lam Phu in Isan, Thailand’s northeast region. The club’s story since their formation in 2010 is one of building gradually to achieve success.

They started out life after being formed by the by Sports Association of Nong Bua Lamphu Province playing at Nong Bua Lamphu Province Stadium. They were called EGAT Nongbua Lamphu United following a sponsorship deal and placed in the third tier Regional League Division 2 North Eastern Region.

Suthin Srithong took charge of the team in their debut season before being replaced by Prasith Seelachai and then Vilas Thipparos. Coaches continued to come and go including, Ong-ard Prawong, Supete Srisuwan, Kiattisak Kamnerdboon, Natthasak Phusordngern and Saneh Lungkaew.

There was nothing to suggest of future progression when Theerawekin Seehawong into the role in January 2015, but the opening of the club academy to bring through their own players proved a pivotal moment a year later. The club’s name was changed to their present title as an increased transfer budget was released. 

Thawatchai Aocharod, one of the early graduates would spend a future season at Leicester City. In 2016 the club was placed in the Northern Region, going on to win their regional title. Wins against Ayutthaya and Udon Thani in the Champions League round saw promotion being achieved to the second tier Thai League 2.

Jardel Capistrano was among the goals in 2017 as the ‘Gamecocks’ settled into their new status, with Goran Jerković top scoring in 2018. Fifth place was achieved with the Spaniard David Pons Carbonero having a short spell in charge of the side before he was replaced by Sugao Kambe for the first six months of 2019. 

Matthew Holland oversaw the second half of the campaign, in which Nongbua finished ninth with Christer Youssef topping the goals chart. That mantle was taken by Valdo in 2020-21 as Thai football reverted to the European calendar. Somchai Chuayboonchum was in charge as the side won the Thai League 2 title.

The success had heralded the moving into the purpose built Pitchaya Stadium at the start of the season, prior to Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul taking over as head coach. An impressive sixth place saw Hamilton put away the goals. 

Emerson Pereira da Silva came in as team boss in December 2022, and despite the goals of fellow Brazilian, Barros Tardeli, Nonbua were relegated. However, the club failed to panic, regrouped, and appointed Sukrit Yothee as head coach. Helped by the goals of Jardel, the Gamecocks won promotion back to T1 in 2023-24.

Nongbua Pitchaya FC will play in Thai League 1 in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Nongbua Pitchaya 3 Uthai Thani 2 (Saturday 21^st September 2024) Thai League 1 (att: 2,015) 

The chance to tick off another new Thai venue raised its head following what had been an extremely wet and long night in Khon Kaen the previous evening as part of a weekend visit to the area.

We had been to Khon Kaen United v Nakhonpathom United and then enjoyed a very convivial evening in a local bar. My wife Taew had driven us from Sisaket where we met up with my friend Dale and his good lady Nui before meeting other friends at the match. Saturday saw us gather for lunch in a not too pristine condition.

 

We headed to the countryside to our friend’s beautiful home in Ubolratana District to get a flavour of the local area before heading on towards Nong Bua Lam Phu. Dale kindly volunteered to drive, taking us through the stunning Phu Kao - Phu Phan Kham National Park along the way, which offered some great views.

The plan was to eat at a restaurant on arrival, but with everyone happy to grab some snacks we parked up at the stadium in good time. And an impressive venue it was with a superb main stand slightly reminiscent of the one in Chiang Rai the standout feature. Open sided stands stood opposite with no spectator accommodation behind either goal but with plenty of room if required in the future. 

Something that was quite surprising was seeing a few other westerners there, all supporting the home side. The town and province are extremely small. However, it was obvious that the club put a great deal of importance on attracting youngsters to games and developing their own players with many from academies in attendance.

The girls at the ticket desk were most helpful and courteous. We chose seats for 120 Baht which was the next block to the VIP centre section. The security, however, was a little bit over the top by gents dressed like they were at a far more intense event. All umbrellas for instance had to be left at a desk outside while bags were searched. 

The view of the pitch was superb, with fans being able to choose their favoured position once inside. Everything about the venue was in good condition with little extras like a net preventing birds nestling in the stand roof being noticeable along with the modern floodlights and electric scoreboard.

Looking beyond the stadium reminded me of being in East Lancashire with steep rolling hills and even an old tall brick chimney forming part of the picture. The temperatures of course being very different, although the clouds and rumble of thunder and lightning offering some similarities. 

Once the game got underway, we were treated to an absolute cracker. With my Port FC hat on it was nice to see Ben Davis and William Weidersjö in the Uthai Thani line up who were being coached by the gargantuan Serb Miloš Joksić. Dale had interest in Marcus Haber, on loan from his team Chonburi to Nongbua.

It was the visitors who took the initial ascendancy creating some fine moves. Both sides were in outfits more akin to being found in a box of Dolly Mixtures, as pink met mauve. The officials in bright yellow adding to the effect. 

Uthai Thani went ahead after twenty minutes when a fine diagonal ball from Terry Antonis was headed home by Jonathan Agudelo. The assistant with the flag adjudged that he was offside initially, until the VAR team rightly overruled him and awarded the goal.

Nongbua equalised within a couple of minutes as Haber fired across keeper Boonyakait Wongsajaem into the top corner before having a header saved by the feet of the stopper. The game was already very open as both sides looked to attack. It would be the away side that went down the tunnel at halftime in the lead, with again VAR playing its part. 

The excellent referee Wiwat Jumpaoon went to look at the screen and awarded a penalty for a pull on Davis as he jinked his way through. Lucas Dias calmly slotted the kick away sending keeper Kittikun Jamsuwan the wrong way to the delight of the impressive away following.

It was an indication of our beer consumption the previous day that we didn’t require one at the interval. Instead, just using the pristine toilets. My one slight criticism of the excellent stand was that room could have been utilised in the upstairs concourse with concession stands rather than patrons having to go downstairs and outside to obtain their refreshments. 

The home coach Suphachat Manakit introduced Sudanese striker Abo Eisa into the fray for the second half, with him making an initial impression with a shot that fizzed narrowly wide. He was to have a massive impact throughout and change the course of the game.

Just short of the hour mark he collected a clever return ball from Jakkrit Songma before laying a square pass to Haber who scored from a yard or so out. Two minutes later the comeback was completed. Eisa did terrifically well to engineer the space to pull the ball back to Haber for the Canadian to collect his hattrick. 

Kwanchai Suklom played a great ball to Agudelo, but the Colombian couldn’t get his shot away as his side searched for an equaliser with fifteen minutes remaining. Despite further pressure, the hosts hung on to take all three points.

Post match we headed back in what were some very difficult driving conditions in the rain and on barely lit wet surfaces. Dale was a star and ready for the beer collected before home. It had been an excellent night out. Everyone slept very well. 

The following day after working out how to convert some old VCDs containing Thai football from a couple of decades ago and breakfast, Taew and I headed back to Sisaket in what would be further terrible weather conditions.

 

 

 

Khon Kaen United (Thailand)

 

Khon Kaen United FC is a professional football club, representing the Isan city of the same name in northeast Thailand, who was formed on the 13th of October 1994, to set up competition to the longer established Khon Kaen FC.

The ‘King Cobras’ were awarded a place in the third tier Division 2 Northeast of the Thai League in 2015, under coach Thongchai Sukkoki. The side won the league title to progress to the Champions League round. A 4-1 victory against Rayong sealed promotion as Samuel Kwawu led the scoring chart.

However, things were not going to plan off the pitch for the side playing their home games at Khon Kaen Sports School Stadium. They were suspended during the 2016 Thai League 2 season, in which Dave Booth and then Ljubomir Ristovski had spells in charge of the team, with eight games remaining owing to a criminal enquiry.

By now United had moved into the Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) Stadium to share with their city rivals. The FA of Thailand decided that United could rejoin their competition in 2018 as members of Thai League 4 North Eastern Region with Apichai Pholpitak installed as head coach.

Capistrano Jardel put away the goals as his side ended as runners-up and then reached the playoff final in the Champions League, which ended in an aggregate defeat to Nakhonpathom United, but promotion was still claimed to Thai League 3 Upper. By now, the club was starting to attract larger support in their home city.

Sarayuth Chaikamdee had been put in charge of the team before being later replaced by Patipat Robroo in 2019 as the T3 Upper title was won, thanks in part to the goals of Natan Oliveira. The league changed its calendar to that of European competition in time for the 2020-21 season.

Khon Kaen United appointed Sugao Kambe as coach before he was temporarily replaced by former boss Patipat. The side finished fourth as Paulo Conrado put away the chances. This was enough to reach the playoffs, where Phrae United and then Nakhonpathom United were defeated on aggregate after penalties.

This was during the period of Covid-19 restrictions meaning the games were played in empty stadiums before fans returned in 2021-22 as the team played in Thai League 1. The goals of Ibson Melo helped consolidate their status in a season that saw Carlos Eduardo Parreira coach the side. 

Pairoj Borwonwatanadilok replaced the Brazilian in November 2022 before Patipat returned for a third spell at the helm a few weeks later as the King Cobras avoided relegation by one place.

Ekalak Thong-am was the new coach from October 2023 before Tana Chanabut took charge of the team in April 2024. An improved eighth place ensued with Brenner top scoring. Srdan Trailovic arrived as the new team boss in September 2024. 

Khon Kaen United FC will play in Thai League 1 in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Khon Kaen United 0 Nakhonpathom United 0 (Friday 20^th September 2024) Thai League 1 (att: 2,246)

There are occasions when I head to a game and I am reminded of the time when I fell in love with football, when conditions were treacherous, but the match went on regardless, cheered on by passionate fans. This was one.

It is fair to say that neither side produced too much quality football on the waterlogged surface, which already had puddles when they kicked off, but they gave it everything they’d got. As often happens when both teams are desperate for points in what was an early relegation six pointer, it ended up all square. 

Taku Ito for the visitors forced Khon Kaen keeper Chirawat Wangthaphan to save with his feet in the only effort on target from either outfit in the first half. Conditions got worse as the rain increased after the break. Nakhonpathom under new head coach Sirisak Yodyatthai had a spell on top in the second half when they looked like they might claim all three points.

The ball stopped at times preventing a scoring opportunity while both keepers made saves within twenty seconds as the encounter became stretched. Valdo Eggres for the away side saw his effort parried away by Chirawat after a deflected cross from Phanuphong Phonsa had been clawed out by Wattanachai Strathongjan. 

Taku was then denied with twelve minutes remaining by a fine tip over from Chirawat, in what was a thoroughly entertaining encounter, quite possibly aided by the conditions. However, whoever had to wash the kits after the game could well have disagreed.

At the other end Wattanachai spilled a shot from Steve Ambri, then smothered the follow up from Parndecha Ngernprasert before Niphitpon hadchan saw his effort blocked as chaos reigned. Massive credit must be given to referee Natee Choosawun who used his common sense throughout. 

It was a fun packed day away from the match too, as my wife Taew drove us to the city where we stayed overnight at the Ingtara Hotel. We enjoyed a fine meal at a favourite chain restaurant which involved plenty of adventure trying to find a parking spot.

We met Dale and Nui at the rooftop bar as the weather began to close in before Grab took us to the stadium, where vendors were struggling in the weather, with a crowd nearly less than average turned out. We met Lyle, a regular contributor to A Thai Football Podcast, along with his wife and friends. 

Our ladies decided we were OK to go on the open terrace. The ticket a pricey 160 Baht, with drinks available once inside to take upstairs. The guys on drums and megaphone were giving it rock all to try and rouse the home support, with the away fans in the far distance behind the goal.

Taew won some kind of stuffed cushion come toy in the halftime draw. The ladies headed off to the far side to collect the prize not to be seen again. They used their common sense and stayed under the cover downstairs. 

Dale via a brolly and me in a poncho braved it out before we all adjourned to Yokotai Restaurant, where we’d enjoyed pre-match festivities before the Khon Kaen v Sisaket United game the previous year.

A live musician was very amiable, leading to an extremely long evening involving pool and karaoke. Our carriage took us away at 3am. It was a lot of fun. The next day saw myself and good lady appear late on parade.

My video of the fun in the rain

A wonderful khao man meal near the hotel set us up to travel to our friends house before continuing to Nongbua Pitchaya v Uthai Thani. 

 

Prime Bangkok (Thailand)

Prime Bangkok FC is a professional football club that has a long and interesting history, at least in terms of Thai football. The club was originally formed in 2006 as Bangkok North Central ASSN, before being granted a place in the second tier Thailand Division 1 League the following year as members of Group B.

Their debut season ended in relegation to the third tier Division 2, again performing in Group B which ended in an approved performance with home games being played at North Bangkok University Stadium before the club was shifted to Division 2 Bangkok in 2009.

The club changed their title to North-Sarawitaya FC, finishing bottom of the table using Chaloem Phra Kiat Stadium, otherwise known as Khlong 6 Stadium, then later retitled Queen Sirikit's 60th Anniversary Stadium, followed by playing under the name of North-Central in 2010.

Home games were staged at 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi as the team finished joint bottom of the table. The club missed a season before returning in 2012 to the same competition this time as Central Lions when three home venues were used in a season that ended in relegation.

Widespread locations, RMUTR Stadium in Nakhon Pathom province, Thupatemi Stadium in Don Muang, and BEC Tero Sasana Nong Chok Stadium all staged games before the club dropped down to compete in Khǒr Royal Cup football.

2016 saw the club reform as Air Force Central Robinson playing at Ratchakram Stadium in Ayutthaya province as the goals of Patcharapon Usmali led to promotion after winning their section of the Thailand Amateur League in 2017. The reward was a place in Thai League 4 Bangkok in the restructured national competition setup.

Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium, a former home of Prime

The club moved into Thupatemi Stadium before moving to Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium near to Rajamangala in the capital in 2019. after Air Force had set up their own B team, with Somprat Inthaphut leading the scoring charts.

Further restructuring of Thai football saw a move to realign with the European calendar, with a place in Thai League 3 Bangkok Region being awarded. Moussa Abakar led the scoring for the club now called Prime Bangkok as they ended the 2020-21 season in fifth place.

Jatuporn Pramolbal had been appointed as head coach prior to stepping back into a role as club manager and being succeeded by a short spell under Chaiporn Ngampravatdee and then later in the season Wajee Kertsombun. These were difficult times for Thai football’s lower reaches while dealing with Covid restrictions.

Prime played home games in 2021-22 behind closed doors, first at Kasem Bundit Stadium and then Thai-Japanese Stadium, eventually finishing seventh with Japanese forward Omae So supplying the goals.

Thai Japanese Stadium, temporary refuge to Prime during Covid restrictions

Thidarat Wiwasuku took charge of the team in 2022-23 which saw an improved fourth place finish, thanks to the goals of Tishan Tajahni Hanley despite having to play home games at Kasem Bundit and then Thonburi Stadium before Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium was available once more.

Thanyaphon Khlaykam took over as head coach at the start of the 2023-24 campaign prior to Jatuporn Pramolbal taking over at the mid-season break. The side finished sixth with Chawanwit Sealao top scoring.

The club changed location to Boonyachinda Stadium as tenants of Police Tero from the start of the 2024-25, adopting the same kit as their landlords, while being placed in Thai League 3 Central Region as Thanyaphon Khlaykam returned to coach the side.

Prime Bangkok FC will play in Thai League 3 Central Region in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Prime Bangkok 3 Saraburi United 0 (Saturday 31^st August 2024) Thai League Cup 1st Round Qualifiers (att: 256)

It was my final day of the latest trip to stay at our condo north of Minburi in the capital and I was on the lookout for a game. The options were down to watching Prime in action in a home game for the first time or watching Customs United take on BFB Pattaya in the same competition.

Prime swung it for me with their 3pm kickoff, rather than 4.30 at Customs, and the fact that my mate Marco, another groundhopper from the UK was going to be in attendance. My original lunchtime appointment in Chachoengsao sealed it, especially as my wife offered to drop me near to Minburi monorail station.

After grabbing some food and putting my inexpensive mini cool bag to good use with some small cans of beer for later, I set off, slightly underestimating the time my journey would take. In hindsight it may have been ambitious walking from Lak Si station to the stadium in the hot weather.

The Tero team bus passed me as it headed off to their evening game at Ayutthaya United while I wandered round to the main stand, which was the only part of the ground which was opened and paid my 50 THB for a ticket. The teams were lined up observing the King’s Anthem as I walked up the steps.

My pal had chosen a good view near the back in the section I’d watched a couple of Tero games from in the past. While the view was fine, the drummers and rather portly and out of tune on the megaphone caused a real cacophony which made conversation difficult.

Saraburi took the initiative in the early stages, forcing Prime keeper Phijak Donwithai into a fine tip over, and then created another good half chance. I was expecting the visitors to win the game, on little more evidence than them being a bigger provincial club. How little I knew.

The hosts went 1-0 up just gone the half hour mark after growing into the game and threatening to take the lead. They did so through the extremely impressive Chawanit Saelao, who Marco commented had been the star man when he saw them in action the previous season.

At the interval we adjourned out the back after the man on the PA decided to outdo the volume of the fans by playing music at full blast. We nattered while finishing the beers before returning to see a polished home performance.

They were helped massively four minutes after the break when a weak back pass was pounced upon by Aekkaphong Phlmankasemsri to round goalie Ittikorn Kularb to roll the ball into the empty net. From then on it was aways going to be a struggle for Saraburi.

They thought they had got themselves back into the game when a header from giant forward Santiago Corral, who had been brought on as sub ricocheted off a combination of woodwork and keeper, with the linesman claiming that the ball stayed out. It’s fair to say that the Argentinian saw things differently.

That was as good as it would get for his side, with Chawanit adding the third twelve minutes from time with a fine finish. We didn’t hang around for the applause for both sides as with respect, we had more enjoyable plans to execute, which began with an entertaining walk through the communities to Bang Bua station.

I had suggested we say our farewells for a few months over a couple of beers. There were no arguments from Marco, but the issue as ever was finding a bar in the vicinity that had previously drawn up blanks. We crossed the busy main road but found nothing.

That was until we ventured down the narrow soi, Phahon Yothin 46 and spotted a bar down an alley and one that was open right on the corner with open fronts and wooden chairs and stools. It was my perfect kind of establishment, as we watched the bustling street life carrying on while we enjoyed cold beers.

It was certainly one to add for further reference, as it had a TV showing the early kickoff from the UK, great background music and a young and happy client base. When we had done, I grabbed some chicken from a stall for back home and headed off by a couple of sky trains and then a taxi before watching some football.

It had been another wonderful few hours of enjoyment seeing some new places and being entertained. My app said that I’d completed over 10km on foot, which certainly explained me sleeping so well before our ten hour meandering journey back to Sisaket the following day.

 

 

Nakhonpathom United (Thailand)

 

The origins of Nakhonpathom United go back to 1999 when they were originally founded as Nakhon Pathom FC, representing the historic city located fifty-six km west of the Thai capital of Bangkok.

The club became members of what was considered the second tier Thailand Provincial League where they finished midtable at the first attempt. The side achieved three consecutive third place finishes in the competition between 2004 and 2006, which saw them move up to the Thai Premier League.

At this time the team played their home games at Sanam Chan Palace Sports Stadium in the city centre. They had relocated to Kasetsart Kampangsan University Stadium in 2009 when they had former Northwich Victoria players Michael Byrne and Michael Aspin in the side.

Unfortunately, the overseas signings couldn’t help, as Nakhon Pathom were relegated. In 2010 the goals of Phuwadol Suwannachart helped the team to the playoffs which ended in chaos and a fracas against Sisaket which saw the club suspended for two seasons.

Returning as Nakhonpathom United as members of Thai Division 1 League in 2013, the club took up residence at Nakhon Pathom Municipality Sport School Stadium. Kim Woo-Chul led the scoring as the team ended up in twelfth spot under head coach Vimol Jankam.

He was succeeded by Peter Withe in 2014 as Jeong Woo-geun put away the goals. After a disappointing campaign, the ‘King Tigers’ finished fifth after the managerial reins had been passed onto Jason Withe. Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul took over team affairs the following season, one in which the team finished twelfth and Yusei Ogasawara top scored.

League rebranding took place for 2017 as Nakhonpathom played in the second tier Thai League 2, finishing seventh thanks to the goals of Berlin Ndebe-Nlome in the team coached by Phayong Khunnaen. However, the club failed to hand in their club licensing documents and were therefore demoted administratively to Thai League 4.

The goals of Diego Oliveira Silva took the side to the T4 West title following the appointment of new head coach Thongchai Sukkoki. The same combo paid dividends the following season as the Thai League 3 Lower championship was won, with the reward being a place in Thai League 2 in 2020-21.

The playoffs were reached with Tauã topping the scoring charts, as Chainat Hornbill were defeated before Khong Kaen United won the final on penalties after sides had finished level on aggregate. Around this time the club owner Panuwat Sasomsup announced plans to build a new stadium along similar lines to Ratchaburi FC.

Neto Santos was the next fans favourite in front of goals before Peter Nergaard hit the target regularly in 2022-23 as Nakhonpathom lifted the title under coach Thongchai to win promotion to Thai League 1. The coach was lured by the temptation of taking the job at BG Pathum United to be replaced by Singaporean, Akbar Nawas.

The team ended twelfth in 2023-24 with Lesley Ablorh top scoring.

Nakhonpathom United FC will play in Thai League 1 in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Nakhonpathom United 0 Bangkok United 3 (Thursday 29^th August 2024) Thai League 1 (att: 2,329) 

Being down in Bangkok for a couple of weeks interrupted by the pleasures of Trat and then the Koh Chang Beach Cricket Tournament, I was pleasantly surprised when checking out the football fixtures that I had an opportunity to visit somewhere that I hadn’t been before.

While as ever, it was always going to be about more than ninety minutes of football, it would be good to see a topflight encounter and meet Lyle Andrews, a Middlesbrough and Nathonpathom fan who is a fellow contributor to A Thai Football Podcast. It was time to put plans in place.

 

My wife Taew declined the invitation as she’d visited the city before, so I set off around 10am to make the most of the day, travelling into Minburi by songthaew and then Bangkapi by rickety bus on what was a transport themed day out. Next up after some food was the Saen Saep canal boat to Saphan Panfa in the heart of the city.

A bus took me round to Phra Arthit from where I had a nervous wait but an enjoyable chat with a Kiwi tourist waiting for the express river boat over to Thonburi Railway Station Pier, where my lack of research nearly put a spanner in the works. 

The station formerly stood near the pier, now it was an eight-minute walk away, not ideal when pushed for time. A jogged a little of the way and bought a 40 THB ticket before collapsing into my seat. I would be travelling a distance from home to Nakhon Pathom of ninety km for a princely sum of 105 THB, or £2.33.

The train ran perfectly to time through some interesting settlements and the countryside, arriving at around 3.30pm, ideal for a 6pm kickoff. Indeed, the kickoff time was the big attraction as it allowed me to get the last train back at 8.30pm. I was off in search of the major attraction which was visible from outside the station. 

Phra Pathom Chedi, a towering fourth century Buddhist temple was mightily impressive and well worth the 60 THB admission fee that foreigners were charged. I had a good look around inside the grounds before heading to an Amazon Café for refreshments and to charge my phone, but not before being met with some interesting encounters.

It was just past 4pm and some ladies asked me if I was looking for some fun as I strolled along Rachadamnern Soi 1. Well, they say it’s the quiet ones. A street in this case. It certainly gave me a giggle as I settled in the welcome air con on what was a warm afternoon, before I commandeered a Bolt taxi to the stadium. 

Lyle, his good lady Jang, and her eccentric auntie were great company before the match as they supplied me with beer and a warm welcome. The stadium wasn’t allowed to sell alcohol as it was on educational land, so it was a case of taking your own or buying from a stand on the main road.

With kickoff imminent I bought a ticket in the open end of the main stand for 140 THB so I was near the road for getting away on a tight schedule, before taking my seat inside what had been adapted into a smart arena, even though the pitch had a running track surrounding it.

The club had negated the issue by erecting a semi-permanent open seated stand behind each goal close to the pitch, adding lots of livery to brighten up what could of otherwise being thought of as a dull stadium. My seat also had plenty of leg room, which was appreciated.

The visitors were favourites going into the encounter and so it proved, despite Mahmoud Eid missing an absolute sitter when set up by the impressive Richairo Živković. It was Eid who opened the scoring with a back post header after thirty-four minutes, with credit being due to the linesman on the far side.

I was certain the player supplying the cross was offside, but a quick check by the VAR team confirmed that the goal was good. By now it was obvious to me that the hosts were going to face a real struggle as they hadn’t had a shot on goal, and things were about to get a whole lot worse.

What looked like a clear penalty close to where I was sat was not initially awarded by referee Sivakorn Pu-Udom, but he reversed his thinking after being beckoned to the VAR monitor to award a spot kick, correctly in my view. 

It had been caused when keeper Wattanachai Srathongjan scuffed his kick, hitting defender Veljko Filipović on the back of the leg. He reacted slowly and tripped up the Bangkok attacker when he was heading away from the goal. Živković made no mistake from eighteen yards a couple of minutes before the interval.

The break was spent with my friends enjoying another beer, as they lamented the performance being put up by their side. We said our farewells, with plans being made to meet up once again a few weeks later in Khon Kaen. I retook a similar position for the second half.

 

The side who travelled from the capital, or north of it to be properly accurate, were in total control despite Nakhonpathom huffing and puffing and creating pressure without really looking like scoring, as their supporters tried to rally their troops.

It was not to be as substitute Pokklaw Anan rounded off the scoring two minutes from time after Wattanachai had pulled off a fine stop.By now I was delighted to have successfully ordered a cab, as I knew that time was of the essence. 

My driver was first-class dropping me by the station fifteen minutes before my train. I had time to nip to 7/11 for a bottle of pop and some snacks before purchasing my ticket from the friendly lady behind the counter who couldn’t decipher where I wanted to go.

In the office were a group of western young ladies who looked like they were about to do a night shift in a factory, such was their miserable demeanour, rather than heading south to another stunning location to have the time of their lives. Such first world issues as having to walk up some steps to the platform while the station was being redeveloped apparently caused consternation. 

I, on the other hand, could not have been happier after enjoying a wonderful time. I alighted from the train at Jaran Sanitwong, a stop short of the Thonburi terminus, to connect with the MRT at the adjoining Bang Khun Non station. The light railway took me round to Chatuchak Park where I went upstairs for the service near home.

This time I got out at Ram Inthra Kor Mor 6, with my groceries, and took a taxi back to our Hat Hai Rat condo. It cost a bit more than the outward journey, but I was in bed three hours after the fulltime whistle, ahead of schedule. Great fun.