Nakhon
Ratchasima FC is a professional football club that was formed in 1999, who are based
in the Thai city of the same name, which is located in the north eastern region
of Isaan.
The team
began life as a club in the third tier Provincial League playing at Nakhon
Ratchasima Municipal Stadium, where they finished in tenth position for the
first two seasons. The league was split into two groups in 2002, with ‘The Swat
Cats’ finishing fourth in Group A.
The club
gets its nickname in tribute to the small domestic cat of Korat, which is
another name for the city. Mid table finishes were achieved in 2003, 2004 and 2005
before a tenth place slot in the sixteen team league of 2006.
Swatcat moved
to the nearby town of Pak Chong to play in their Municipal Stadium in 2007
while their regular home was being refurbished as the club gained a place in
the second level Thai Division 1 League.
The team was
relegated to Group A of the Division 2 league under head coach Man Chantanam,
where the team finished in fourth position as the club returned to their home
city.
The league
was extended for the 2009 season as NRMFC became members of Regional League
North Eastern Region as Wichan Chaonsri took over team affairs and the club
moved to the new 80th Birthday Stadium on the edge of the city.
The move
seemed to be a success as Korat finished as runners-up as well as reaching the
quarter final of the FA Cup after a fine run before finally going out to 3-1
away to Thai Port. 2010 saw the side finish the league in fourth place before
improving by one place in 2011 with Tewesh Kamolsin in charge of the team.
This was
enough to secure a place in the Champions League promotion play-offs in which
Nakhon Ratchasima finished top of Group B to secure promotion to Division 1
League as a new head coach Arjhan Srong-ngamsub was appointed.
Promphong
Kransumrong topped the scoring charts in 2012 as the team finished eighth in
the league and then going on to a fifth place in 2013 thanks to the goals of
Japanese star Yusuke Kato.
The crowds
began to flock to the 80th Birthday Stadium in 2014 as Japanese coach Sugao
Kambe led Swatcat to the league title after taking over from Ruither Moraira, under
the captaincy of Kraikiat Beadtaku as Ivan Bošković banged in the goals.
NRMFC
finished eighth in the Thai Premier League of 2015 with German striker Björn
Lindemann topping the charts before the Serbian Miloš Joksić arrived as head
coach for the 2016 campaign.
Marco
Tagbajumi’s goals secured an eleventh place finish before Swatcat ended the
2017 season in twelfth position as the top flight was retitled. Brazilian
forward Paulo Rangel became the locals new favourite before the signing of
compatriot Leandro Assumpção replaced him in 2018, as the team ended in seventh position.
Nakhon
Ratchasima FC will play in Thai League 1 in the 2018 season.
My visit
Nakhon
Ratchasima 0 Police Tero 0 (Friday 22nd June 2018) Thai League 1
(att: 2,630)
My twelve
day break was in its penultimate day. It had gone far too quickly as I’d had an
absolute ball. It was difficult to remember feeling as content for as long a
period. The people of Isaan and the outskirts of Bangkok had been absolutely
superb.
The Thai
League had played their part with the fixture scheduling, especially with what
was my sixth and final game of the tour, moving it for live TV to Friday night.
Korat’s opponents were also the perfect choice.
My friends
from Scarborough, Sean and Tracy Newby were living in Bangkok and had adopted
BEC Tero Sasana as their team when they played near their home in Minburi. The
couple had stuck with the club when it merged to become Police Tero.
Both were
regulars at home games and several matches on the road. Tracy was busy during
the week, but Sean was thankfully making the trip north. It was through their
help and the kindness of the visiting fans that made attending the match so
stress free.
Sean travelled
in a mini bus with some fans, who were to kindly give me a ride back to Minburi
after the game. This saved me some real logistical headaches as I was to fly
back home the following evening.
I’d arrived
in Nakhon Ratchasima the previous teatime by bus from Khon Kaen. It reminded a
little of Chiang Mai, albeit on a smaller scale with its moat protecting the
old town and its remaining walls and gates.
My hotel Sakol
Khorat just contained the bare essentials but was fair enough for the price. Absolutely no English was
spoken by anyone at the basic reception. I had wanted to see if I could pay a
surcharge to keep the room until 4pm the following day as I’d only booked one
night.
I reckoned
that would make sense, allowing me to sightsee on Friday morning before having
a siesta and shower before heading to the game. The communications were never
going to work, so instead I booked for the extra night.
Nakhon
Ratchasima seemed a pretty place. I was only a couple of minutes walk from the
moat and the ‘Gateway to Isaan’, Suranaree Monument along with lots of other
historical reminders in Suan Rak Park.
I took a
wander at dusk trying to get my bearings before heading to the George and
Dragon Pub, where I enjoyed some excellent comfort food and beers while
watching the Australia v Denmark World Cup game.
The pub was
tidy if lacking frills, but there was something about it I liked. There was a lack of pretense
and the young Thai ladies were friendly and pretty without being over the top. I felt
comfortable. I decided to try another place a ten minutes walk away with good online reviews.
I noted the
following for the Monkey Bar at the time on my Facebook page after my visit;
Chilled
music vibes and nice bar. Unlikely to show the second game. Unfortunately, a
bit too cool for school with youngish Americans at the bar vying for membership
to the Tall Story Club. “Wow, I had 10 beers & couldn’t remember the next
day” They’d better not come to the cricket at North Marine Road!
And that was
about right on reflection. I had one beer and headed back, stopping at the
excellent Drink UP, which was Thai chic with great background music, a fridge
with an excellent selection of bottled beer, a large screen for the football
and a live band.
It was here
that I got taking to a Finnish fella who asked me for advice on the city. I
suggested the George and Dragon next door. After a couple of beers, I joined
him as the France v Peru game was in progress.
He was good
company and rather keen to get through a bottle of whisky he’d bought and then
paid a corkage fee for while buying the bars mixers. He seemed rather keen on
Udon Thani before he was due to head to Hua Hin to work on a wildlife project
washing elephants, would you believe?
I turned in
at midnight, despite the temptation to look for places still open. The next
morning, I returned to the pub. Sometimes a proper fry up is very tempting when
offered in exotic climes. It certainly worked for me.
A good walk
saw me finding many oriental buildings, which were very photogenic. The large
Klang Plaza air conditioned mall was a life saver in the sweltering conditions.
The massage chairs offered me a brilliant service as I sat there relaxing and
watching the world go by.
I reflected
on what an amazing trip I’d experienced in several new locations. There was
little doubt that I’d be trying to revisit some of them. Maybe as a resident in
a place I really loved and felt happy in?
After a
siesta I made it a hat trick of appearances at the George and Dragon after
checking out of the hotel. Khao Tom Moo was an excellent pre-match meal before
one of the lovely staff flagged down a tuk tuk to take me to the stadium.
It was a
fair old hike to the 80th Birthday Stadium of at least fifteen
minutes. The stadium is the centre piece of a sports complex built for the 2007
Southeast Asian Games. It coincided with the birthday of King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, which is where it got its name.
The complex
also had a huge lake; where water skiing was taking place, an aquatic centre,
warm up track, indoor hall, a velodrome for cycling, a gym and several tennis
courts. It was very impressive with parkland and lots of parking facilities.
It’s only
fault was that it was location, which undoubtedly had an affect on attendances,
particularly when Swatcat were having a poor run. I knew that the club was well
supported as I was impressed with their following at an away game at Krabi way
down south.
I was early so
had a walk to try and work out where the away fans section would be. Typically,
I went to the wrong end! I made my way back round to where some Police Tero
fans had already arrived.
They seemed
a friendly bunch and I got talking to one gent who seemed intrigued why the big
ferang was sat outside the away turnstiles. I explained that I was waiting for
a friend. The club had brought their mobile club shop, which is allowed in
Thailand.
More and
more fans were arriving. I only expected a handful to make the journey. In the
end there must have been pushing around 200. A mini bus arrived and parked down
the steps from me. Sean got out and introduced me to his new friends.
They were
all friendly, but that was no surprise. It was a rarity to find anyone who didn’t
smile on the trip. I assisted in helping carry their drums and banners up the
steps. Admission was 200 Baht; more than the home fans paid, which was the norm
in Thailand.
Sean
explained that many Tero fans had travelled from Myanmar to cheer on their
favourite player, Aung Thu, who wore the number 10 shirt while on loan from Yadanarbon.
My mate was wearing an old original Police shirt that I’d bought several years
previously but seriously had overestimated my chances of ever fitting into it!
I dumped my
rucksack in the van and bought a Tero mug from the shop. I did laugh when I saw
the name on the drum. It’s fair to say I’m not a huge fan of them at games, so
the irony wasn’t lost on me.
A plump lady
steward enjoyed a laugh as she searched us going in. Our view was behind the
goal. The seats were well raked, but the athletics track surrounding the pitch
meant we were quite a way back.
The stadium,
like the city, reminded me of Chiang Mai with its continuous rake of seating
and a Main Stand with curved roof covering the VIP areas. The Korat vocal
support was divided between behind the goal and down the far side.
Both teams
were at the wrong end of the table going into the game, with Tero especially
needing points in their relegation scrap. Five teams were to go down at the end
of the season, unless of course the authorities changed their minds!
Nakhon
Ratchasima started the better of the sides, but I’d yet to see a home win in my
previous five matches. I confidently predicted Tero would leave with at least a
point despite having seen the hosts class in their 3-0 League Cup win at
Sisaket nine days earlier.
The visitors
keeper Nont Muangngam also made a fine save at the near post to keep out Jakkit
Niyomsuk. Aung Thu was certainly a class act for ‘The Silver Shields Dragons’
as he pulled the strings in midfield.
He fizzed
over a low free kick that Niran Hansson only just failed to get a decisive
touch on, as his own Burmese fan club sang out his name. Muangngam kept out a
weak Niyomsuk effort as the game ebbed and flowed.
An Aung Thu
corner saw a volleyed effort from French skipper Michaël N'dri strike the outside
foot of the post. A long range shot from Tero’s Santipharp Chan-ngom deflected
off home defender Pralong Sawandee and soar before landing just under the bar,
forcing Samuel Cunningham to tip over.
A fine Korat
move progressed for Ekkachai Rittiphan to set up Leandro Assumpção who took a
touch without the ball touching the deck and then volleying against the inside
of the post and away.
The whistle
blew for half time as I told Sean I was nipping out for a beer. He was most
adamant that I wasn’t. He’d arranged for me to go onto the pitch for the
traditional half time presentation between the fans.
I was most
nervous as I joined the procession round the track. Sean thought it was
hilarious. We got some comments from the stand before we lined up and an
exchange of gifts was made as we all posed for photos with sponsors and the
mascots.
The Tero
match highlights package captured my moment out in front of the fans and can be
viewed here from 8:45 for a couple of seconds.
I eventually
did get my beer, even though it was a far longer walk than I anticipated. The
stall was behind the home fans on the far side. The decent sized away following
had caught Korat out who didn’t bother opening anything by our gate.
Leandro
missed an absolute sitter when heading wide unmarked on the six yard line soon
after the restart. Shortly after a shot was blocked and found its way to Rittiphan
whose effort at the back post was kept out by the body of Muangngam.
At the other
end a fine move almost sent in Police Tero’s Marcos Vinícius who was putting in
a tireless shift. Leandro continued to look the most likely to score for Korat
as the game became stretched on the beautiful playing surface.
He then set
up Nebojša Marinković with a clever cushioned pass, but the Tero stopper was
equal to it once again. Leandro had a header go just over the bar after taking
a deflection off a defender.
The visitors
had moments of their own going forward, most notably when Nikola Petković
controlled well and crossed for N'dri who saw his fierce effort superbly kept
out by Cunningham.
The
Frenchman set up Aung Thu with a beautiful cushioned pass. The diminutive
midfielder smashed the ball home, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. The
game ended blank, but I thought it had been decent entertainment.
The Tero
fans were certainly happy, as the players came to offer their thanks while
standing to attention listening to a rendition of the club song to the tune of ‘I
am Sailing’. I really liked the Tero support but they somehow managed to make
Rod Stewart sound good; no mean achievement with that song.
We collected
the banners up and folded everything away, taking the drum stands and
instruments down to the bus before heading away. I nodded off before being
woken at the services, where a large chicken portion was just what the doctor
ordered.
The journey
back seemed smooth enough from the bits that I saw before coming around on a
Don Muang Tollway. I recognised the road by the skytrain construction. We then
went to Police Tero's Boonyachinda Stadium to drop off the gear and most of our party.
Fortunately,
our driver lived in Minburi, so he dropped us off at the bottom of Soi Sam Wa,
where a taxi came timely along to take us the rest of the way. It was about 2am
when I crashed out at Steve and Fah’s.
It had been
a long day to round off a marvellous adventure. I couldn’t have done it in
better company, for which I owe Sean and the welcoming Tero fans a favour if
ever they are stuck getting to a game over in the UK!
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