The Futera is Bright in North Bangkok

 The Futera is Bright in North Bangkok

Futera United 5 Saraburi United 2

Thai League 3 Central

(att: c300)

I guess I’m the sort of bloke for whom the phrase, more clubs than Jack Nicklaus was invented. The truth is, I love football and go out of my way to have a good day when going to a match. Over the years, I’ve grown fond of many clubs, whether just passing through for the day or going to watch them regularly.

This might be because the locals have gone out of their way to give me a warm welcome, or the atmosphere at a game has been superb. Sometimes it’s the quality of the nearby pubs or a town that has captured my heartstrings. On other occasions, it might be because a mate supports a particular team, and I don’t like seeing them sad. 

In my later years, I cannot understand the mentality behind the pleasure that some derive from baiting others over a football result or things going wrong. As for anyone who describes this as being "only banter", well, I would ban them from social media or stadiums for a year. Those, along with any wronguns who I cross paths with, are welcome to suffer at full time every week.

As a traditionalist, Futera United are everything that I should dislike. They are a club run on the 3Web, digitally, and they embrace cryptocurrency and NFTs, which are tokens purchased by those wishing to become holders, or members, in old money. Essentially, Futera is fan-owned, but in a modern way that can lead to old-school football fans screaming. They have a huge following online and sell a ridiculous amount of merchandise, appealing to the younger generation, rather than crusties who turn their hog out if a club doesn't issue a programme.

The club appeared on Talksport’s Hawksbee & Jacobs afternoon show on a feature about trading cards, as Futera is a company that produces them, and is the finance behind the football club. Their holders can have their say on tactics, selection, formations, kits, and lots of other things. There are Futera NFT holders all around the world who watch their matches live on different streaming services. How far the club can go remains to be seen.

I first met founder Mark Watson at a game in March 2013, when the original club, Futera Seeker, played in the old third-tier Thai Regional League Central West Region. I went to an away game, and Mark let me in behind the scenes to see how matchdays operated. I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing.

Back then, holders could vote and offer their input during a game. Mark monitored it all on a laptop in the press area and then contacted the coach on the bench by walkie-talkie to implement changes while the match was in progress. Unbelievable if I hadn’t experienced it with my own eyes.

Seeker went alone, before Futera United was reborn, starting in the lower divisions of the amateur Bangkok Premier League. They entered the FA Cup, losing 3-0 away to Sisaket United in 2022-23, which was a credible result against a side that would reach the Thai League 3 playoffs a few months later.

The club entered the Thai Semipro League the following season, and again in 2024-25, which is where they were the beneficiaries of extra promotion places being available. As Futera is run well, they went up in third place, despite finishing below less organised outfits, making the Bangkok University Stadium their home ground as they re-entered professional football. 

The story was one that I loved, with the sheer positivity and having the confidence to think outside the box, especially in Thailand, a country notorious for being stuck in its ways. It led me to make a video about it all for my YouTube channel.

The start of the 2025-26 season was tough, despite scoring plenty of goals, owing to a leaky defence, poor game management, and some goalkeeping best forgotten about. It’s fair to say that some refereeing decisions not awarded were also a reason for their indifferent results. It would be their fifth match before they picked up a point, going on to draw twice more. The most recent of which was against the only side below them on goal difference, Singburi Warriors, despite dominating much of the game.

The reason that I can describe much of the above is that the Thai League, through the telecom company AIS, shows every single game live free of charge on TV through a box which is cheap to get hold of, or on their App. I generally watch the afternoon Futera game in our local pre-match pub of choice, before heading off to watch Sisaket United or Rasisalai United. It’s a magnificent service.

Anyway, with me heading to Bangkok with my wife to meet up with friends before flying to Chiang Mai to celebrate my sixtieth birthday over a cricket weekend, I decided it was time for Futera to get my support in the flesh, joined by my good mate Jarvo, over from the UK and going to his first Thai football game.

What we experienced was one of the more bizarre games of football I've seen in Thailand, and there have been plenty to choose from. Three sending-offs in the first half, eight goals, and the woodwork being struck six or seven times, in a game that both sides were desperate not to lose.

The visiting goalie, Rungarun Sumala, was shown a red card in the second minute, after he handled outside the box to deny a goalscoring opportunity. He stood motionless, not quite believing what was happening. How ironic, when attending a game featuring the most modern of clubs, that we were about to be treated to something that took me back to when I think football was better.

Chaos reigned, as Saraburi didn’t have a goalkeeper on the bench. In the end, it was decided that the captain and defender, Yuttapong Srilakon, would go between the sticks after a delay of over ten minutes, as he added to the indignity of Rungarun by changing into his pink shorts and socks. Bureaucracy gone mad, especially when he then donned a yellow shirt that clashed with the colour worn by the match officials. A shout of “get on with it” was aired, which meant that another expat was in attendance, or a Thai had spent the summer at Headingley.

Whatever Yuttapong’s respective qualities are in defence remained to be seen, but it's fair to say that he wasn't great as a goalkeeper. He fumbled the weak resulting free kick, allowing Pharanyou Sawatpakdee to tap in from close range. The stand-in tipped a shot over the bar, before it was 2-0 once the corner was swung in as Nattawut Jandit pounced at the back post. We purred with delight at what we were about to receive.

There have been great memories of makeshift goalies being heroes over the years. Vinnie Jones for Wimbledon at Newcastle, Bobby Moore for West Ham against Stoke, saving a penalty from some bloke called Bernard, and of course Mitch Cook’s heroic performance replacing broken leg victim Kevon Blackwell for Scarborough away at Scunthorpe. This was not to be another to add to the list.

Play meanwhile in Bangkok’s northernmost suburbs was getting tetchy. Referee Dassakhon Hokla wasn’t particularly covering himself in glory, with his weak match management. He sent off home player Songkhun Khongsukko and away man Nitibodin Makot for a set-to, which involved nearly everyone on the pitch. There were fifteen minutes of additional time at the end of the half. Sarankrit Artwichien extended the lead in the third, with a fine low finish.

I was certainly not short of material for my Roving Report for A Thai Football Podcast. The one dampener was that owner Mark was away on business and missed the match. I’m sure he would have enjoyed sitting in relaxed mode in the stand. It was great fun, with ice-cold Leo’s lubricating the larynx regularly.

The second half was wide open as the match ball collected splinters coming back repeatedly off the post and bar, with the keepers at both ends well beaten. Sarankrit made it 4-0 seven minutes in, before a fifth was added by substitute, Kawee Deesawat, with around twenty-five minutes remaining.  

Credit to Saraburi, who were cheered on without much restraint by a healthy turnout, despite requests to respect the passing of Queen Sirikit. They continued to plug away and had a couple of decent efforts saved before the break, before they got one back through Nattapoom Naya three minutes from time. He added another four minutes into stoppage time, with one wondering what might have been if they had penetrated the often-unreliable Futera defence earlier.

It was excellent entertainment all told, albeit not a great advert for a professional league at times, as time seemed not to matter. A vital win for Futera, in a battle to secure safety, which would mark a decent return and something to build on, while their association with the PSW Academy continues to flourish.

A Grab taxi arrived to take us away, as one had delivered us at the splendid Bangkok University Stadium and campus earlier. More enjoyment followed after a ride on the BTS Skytrain with a proper catch-up and plenty more beers at a couple of bars at Lat Phrao.

Pretty much the perfect day out until Mark messaged me with the desperately sad news that the father of Futera player, Sarawin Sungkhao, had been killed in a road accident, while thought to be on the way to the match, being a supporter who rarely missed a game. This article is dedicated to the players, families, and all at Futera United.

Kanthararom United

Kanthararom United FC is an amateur football club, formed in 2017, that hails from the small town of the same name on the road between Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani. 

In 2017 and 2018, the team entered the Thailand Amateur League without any success, as well as the Thai FA Cup in 2018, when known as NBN Kanthararom United, they lost 3-0 to JL Chiangmai United, with the tie being played at SAT Sisaket Stadium in front of 240 fans.

The side returned to the FA Cup in 2022-23, going out 2-1 away to Khon Kaen in the first round with Jeerawat Thonglue in charge of the team. Fellow amateur club, Mahanakon Khon Kaen ended any hopes of progression in the competition in 2023-24 with a 3-1 victory in the Qualifying Round.

Kanthararom did not enter the following season, but returned in 2025-26, going out once again in the Qualifying Round 4-1 to Khon Kaen, with the game being switched to Sisaket Rajabhat University Stadium, as Jeerwat remained in charge of the team.

Despite playing in the national cup, Kanthararom do not play regular league football, with much of their activity centred around the small-sided NBN Arena pitch, on the main 226 Road, where local competition takes place.

My visit

Sisaket Rajabhat University Stadium

Kanthararom United 1 Khon Kaen 4 (Wednesday 24th September 2025) Thai FA Cup Qualifying Round (att: 200)

As the amateur team from my nearest town doesn’t have a suitable venue in Kanthararom, they switched the match to the Sisaket Rajabhat University Stadium, a few miles up the road.

They gave it a good go, too, against the pros from Thai League 3 Northeast. Quality and fitness were decisive factors in the end of an entertaining game played on a glue pot pitch in good spirits, which was sensibly refereed.

Khon Kaen went into a two-goal lead with efforts from the impressive Sakunchai Saenthopho in the second minute and then the excellent Charin Boodhad on the half-hour mark after he had earlier missed a penalty, as the rain teemed down before clearing near half-time. It looked like a large score was on the horizon.

This was before the hosts gradually got back into things and missed two easy chances, playing enterprising football at times despite being porous at the back. The second missed chance took some believing as a forward sliding in at the back post cleared the ball from a yard out.

The visiting coach brought on Brazilian forward Caio when Kanthararom looked like they might sneak a goal back. He was excellent, helping Charin to a second. The home team did score when a low cross was put away at the back post by Arnon Thongphanya, before the final kick of the match saw Caio put away a penalty. 

I’d met my mate John before the game for food and drink at Leo’s town, as we knew there should have only been half an hour before the second part of our extravaganza got underway. The weather certainly played a part in the Sisaket United v Padriew City game.

My Roving Report for A Thai Football Podcast

Pre-Season Friendlies. What do fans learn?

 Pre-Season Friendlies: What do supporters really learn from them?

 

Sisaket United 2 All Star 3

Wednesday 16th July 2025

Attendance: c100 – Admission Free

Last week, around the world, the pre-season friendlies began with a smattering of grand titles given to some of them to try and add to their prestige, with teams sometimes competing in smaller tournaments with absolutely nothing riding on them. Thailand is no different.

My attention was drawn to a thread on the excellent Non League Matters Forum entitled “What are friendlies telling you about the season ahead?”, wanting feedback from those who had already attended games. The general consensus being “very little”, with managers and clubs’ socials spun it in whichever way they think benefitted them.

A win would typically be described as an excellent morale booster with the new signings being a stroke of genius and a pointer of things to come, while defeat opined as being good to get some miles into the legs of players rather than just training. Much of which, of course, exists to satisfy supporters and help selling merchandise and tickets, while ensuring the optimism continues to build until reality strikes.

Anyway, with my local club Sisaket United having announced six friendlies, but only one at home, it seemed churlish not to go and meet my mate John and see what we could decipher. Here are some of the key things that I picked up.

• The match probably shouldn’t have gone ahead on a waterlogged mud bath. The pitch was heavily chewed up throughout, and while in a sensible world, at least a groundsman would use the opportunity to roll the surface and make advantage of the weather, it will be left to dry with divots going hard, ensuring the pitch will be equally hopeless when it dries.   
• It rains heavily in the wet season in Sisaket. Very heavily. So heavily that the storm five minutes before we were due to play golf abandoned our plans, rendering the course unsuitable, this two hours before the football in the stadium next door was to commence.
• Yorkshire bowled very well v Lancashire in the T20, which rerun from Friday, we watched in Hong Kong Garden instead of the golf, immediately putting a smile on my face. 
• The two-for-one pints on the promotion of Mahou in Leo’s post-match were excellent value, as was the standard of the bangers and mash.
• My wife and I have found an excellent place for food and coffee on the main road into town, on the forecourt of a Shell gas station, no less.
• The toilets have not been cleaned in the Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium since I first went in September 2022, and goodness knows how long before that, and counting. They smell like you can imagine, being frankly a disgrace, and quite possibly a health hazard.
• Ditto the seats in the stand. Yesterday we were given the option of sitting in puddles accrued in the bucket seats or choosing those at the back under the roof infested with bird droppings. Another disgrace, and something so simple for the club to sort out, even as tenants, by hiring a couple of locals to clean the seats and the toilets before each game.
• The bow-legged physio is still there, quite possibly the slowest in Thai football. A pleasant old boy, calling him a physio is akin to calling me a chef for preparing a cheese sandwich with a mug of tea after my siesta. He goes on with spray and water.
• Hardly any of the Sisaket team on display will feature in the first team squad, or at least I sincerely hope not. The young goalie who was replaced, coming off smiling after shipping in three goals I’d have fancied myself to save, should be particularly concerned about his career prospects, should they include professional footballer anywhere in the description. I suspect many were trialists whom the new coach decided to take a look at. One was withdrawn not with an injury, but what I would describe as avoiding further punishment, so bad and unfit was he.

And that’s probably about it. I shouldn’t really have expected too much more either. If I did, I was being naïve and suffering from amnesia, as it’s the same every season. At least there was a bit of intrigue surrounding this fixture, which had my imagination doing overtime on the drive into town.

During my many years assisting with the running of cricket events in this part of the world, we would sometimes need an extra team to assist with the logistics, so we would put together a hybrid side and call them “All Stars”. What they were, in effect, consisted of those who couldn’t get a game with the team they’d travelled with, solo attendees, and anyone else whom we could convince to play after a couple of beers.

It wasn’t unusual for a bloke to head out innocently for the evening with a lady in tow, for him to have to explain to her that she had a free couple of days because a set of blokes he’d never previously clapped eyes upon had convinced him that cricket was a great idea.

As it transpired, this All Star team originated from Paris, an Academy, according to one of the two coaches when I delved trying to find out some info from behind the benches at the first of two breaks. The game was being played in three periods of thirty minutes. The All Star group apparently also have a network in Thailand. In football, presumably, but one never knows for certain over here. The players and coaches spoke English or French, with some a bit of both. We thought we recognised one of the coaches, maybe from being previously an assistant at Bangkok FC.

All were available for hire should any club wish to negotiate with them. There was the Yasothon FC coach in attendance, and I wouldn’t be surprised if representatives of other clubs hadn’t gone along for a decko. Some of the players weren’t bad. Some were. They were physically stronger than the Sisaket lads and went into a 3-0 lead. We headed off after an hour and missed Sisaket scoring two in the final period.

All Star guns for hire. How many will get pro contracts?

The All Star mob played in a kit without numbers, only some of the Sisaket players had them, while the pitch had not been marked, with penalty areas, halfway and touchlines being designated by cones, some on the pitch. Not that it bothered the players, which in a way shows just how pampered some pros really are. We were ten minutes late starting, waiting for a linesman, allowing me to get my first "get on with it" of the season shout from the stand, which was pent up inside of me after watching the England v India Test match on TV.

We were soon perusing the menu in Leo’s and trying to work out what we had learned. Very little, although in a rare optimistic moment using plenty of guesswork, I suggested to my friend that Sisaket will be more than OK this season. And that is what pre-seasons friendlies are to supporters. Guesswork and something to fill a void.

The one thing that was for certain was that entering a football ground, having a chat with others, and watching the players do their thing at whatever level while discussing it, is still as magical as ever. Bring on the fixture announcements!

 

 

My pre-season musings - 8th July 2025

 My pre-season musings - 8th July 2025

It’s that time of the year once again when football supporters all around the world have no games to attend, instead filling the void by trawling any means of information for stuff about their team that they hope will deliver them hope and make all the difference.

Thailand is no different, although sometimes the communication leaves a little to be desired, which I will touch on later. I have noticed this year that more clubs seem to be advertising their season ticket offers and unveiling their new playing kits a little earlier, or is that just me? Maybe I’m using better sources.

More and more groups on social media are posting, some for the first time, about transfer rumours and who will sign for whom, particularly in the case of foreign players. Even in my few bored moments, I find myself trying to find the name of some unknown player on one of the online sites, often misspelt when translated, to see their career stats.

The sad fact is that in many cases, that gives me as much indication of the ability of the next import who’ll often flatter to deceive, mainly in the lower divisions, as those signing them. The players in question quickly decide or realise that what the club or their agent sold them doesn’t quite match up to reality, as they become part footballer, part holidaymaker with the local hotspots and those serving food that they are used to feeling the benefits. Meanwhile, the dedicated pros still around wonder why they are bothering.

COMING SOON. The excitement builds!

It never fails to amaze me just how many clubs are duped into signing a player on the evidence of a small YouTube highlight package, inflated stats, and the thought of the said signing winning favour among local support as the vanity of the owner is increased further. Some even go on to pay their players in full until the end of the season.

In fairness, it’s not easy owning a Thai club, especially outside the top division. It is a quick way to spend money without much return, with meagre attendance figures going nowhere near covering the outlay, with sponsorship and TV deals lessening the financial black hole a little. Of course, better marketing and putting a sound infrastructure in place would improve things, as well as proper recruitment, but those things seem for the birds as things stand. Asking for outside help would equate to a loss of face, which is as bad as it gets for an influential person in the Land of Smiles.

I can also see why the official pages of clubs on social media don’t make announcements about new players when sources run by fans are full of information. A lot of which is inaccurate, with clickbait being offered in return for likes. They are fed rumours by players, coaches, and agents, some of which are designed to try and press the club into making a new signing or increasing the salary of a player if it appears online that others are interested in them. It makes me long for printed newspapers and respected journalists dealing in facts.

Will they or won't they.
The guessing game continues as a few more likes are accumulated.

It's the classic playbook used everywhere, as the games of cat and mouse continue, hoping to get a few more flights home out of a club, or maybe a vehicle and accommodation being paid for. Many of the owners, not having much of a clue, take the bait, and the cycle continues.

All of which is played out while vital things that could make a massive difference, even more so as the rain falls heavily during the off-season, are ignored. Take one of my local clubs, Sisaket United. I thrash my way around the golf course next door to the Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium. The goals are still up from last season. The pitch resembles where my ball lands on occasions.

Even in provincially owned stadiums, surely a club could approach the local authority in charge and ask that, at the club owners' expense, a heavy roller be hired to flatten the pitch and carry out reseeding work. Then the players have a chance of playing on something fit for modern purposes and see passes roll in the direction that they are meant to, without making the receiver look like an idiot as it jumps up and hits them on the knee.

A very uneven Thai football pitch

Maybe employing qualified medical staff or building a local partnership in return for free advertising might not go amiss, instead of having their investments treated by enthusiastic amateurs.

Pre-season friendly matches are already being played as trialists are weeded out, while fans wait eagerly for announcements about fixtures for their chance to see the team in action and buy the merchandise. It won’t be long before coaches are sacked, and the fans see their hopes of success disappear for another season.

The only guarantees are that Buriram will become even more dominant, rumours will be flying around about clubs folding or foreign players not being paid, it will be lots of fun for very little cost, and the beers will be cold.

Warin Chamrap

Warin Chamrap is a semi-professional football club which represents the district of the same name, which is located just south of the city of Ubon Ratchathani in Northeast Thailand. The club has a heritage that goes back to 1998.

In the Thailand Amateur League in 2022, Warin Chamrap ended as runners-up to JFAM United in the Northeast Southern Zone Group E on goal difference to end any dreams of further progression in the competition.

The club partook in the FA Cup in the 2022-23 season, defeating Phachi City 1-0 in the first round at Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University Stadium before going out 4-1 away to Ratchaburi under the watchful eye of head coach Jirayoo Suwandee.

In 2024-25, the team went out in the cup in the Round of 64, 2-1 away to Lampang, before competing in the Semipro League, playing their home games at Ubon Ratchathani University Stadium in their home district. In the semi-pro league, the side finished way short of the title but attracted decent attendances. 

My visit

Ubon Ratchthani University Stadium

Warin Chamrap 0 Vongchavalitkul University 1 (Saturday 10th May 2025) Thai Semipro League Northeast (att: 480) 

My pal, John, and I had seen the visitors in action a fortnight earlier away to Ubon Kids City, when after a reasonable start they ended up getting pumped 6-0. The following week, their home game ended in a 7-1 defeat to Mahasarakhan Siwilai. We pondered what they might produce this time.

Our day out began relatively early, before this 4 pm kick-off, with John collecting me at home before we headed to Ubon to play golf at the Suppasit Prasong Military Golf Course. Fun was had playing a proper course with caddies, and certainly an upgrade on the smaller facility we had been using in Sisaket. 

One thing about playing proper golf when not used to it was the fact that it was a lot more tiring than I remembered. We needed refreshing and energy stocks replenishing. We eventually sat down inside the air-conditioned Tree Cafe Rim Moon that I’d visited a couple of times previously.

It was a Thai holiday weekend, which was reflected by the busy establishment, where excellent local snacks and a bottle of Heineken Zero were enjoyed, with me on a month of abstinence from alcohol to try and shed a bit of timber. 

It was further than we thought to Ubon Ratchathani University, if a simple enough route. The pair of us were surprised by just what a spread-out city it is, with Warin being a continuation of it these days. Many eating and drinking establishments told a tale of a large population south of the River Mun.

The area near the entrance to the campus had quite a collection of businesses, while inside the grounds, we found things to be a little dated and neglected in parts. I’d contemplated going to a game there a couple of years earlier. I would most certainly have needed a driver to the stadium, as the area was huge. 

We arrived at the same time as a bus load of military cadets, while another bus for youngsters would come later. The club had put up signage at the front entrance and along the long route inside the campus to direct those wanting to find the stadium, which impressed me.

As did the setting up of a souvenir stall selling replica shirts at a knockdown price, with the season nearing its end. Everyone seemed very friendly. The obligatory man on the mic talked incessantly while playing modern Thai tunes, creating the semblance of an occasion. 

We sat in the quieter of the two blocks in the main stand separated by the usual media and officials’ area. Three away supporters who had made the five-hour journey from Nakhon Ratchasima were behind us. My attention was drawn to something quite unusual as the teams warmed up.

I was certain that the goal to the left was taller than the one on the right. Maybe an optical illusion, or the pitch sloping, I wasn’t sure, but it simply didn’t look right. It wasn’t alcohol playing a part, of that much I was certain. 

In the early stages, it quickly became apparent that the pitch was in awful condition, with bumps all over it making control difficult. That wasn’t to say that some of the players on display couldn’t be to blame as well, as what materialised was a quite frankly shocking game of football, yet entertaining at the same time, if that makes sense.

Referee Rutratchapoom Moolpong played his part in this, as in the first half an hour, he hardly gave a foul. Players were lying down injured as he simply waved play on, leaving anyone in little doubt that he wasn’t going to be fooled by those play acting. Sometimes he let things go too far. 

By the time he signalled for the drinks break after thirty minutes, Warin looked alright going forward but hadn’t forced the VU goalkeeper, Phumin Prokkaew, into a save. Home forward Winai Jarukan seemed to know what he wanted to do in terms of chesting the ball down and retaining possession without knowing how.

The University side had gone ahead after nineteen minutes. Their left-sided defender Chayathat Thupmongkhon tried a speculative shot from thirty yards, which caught goalie, Pattarawut Saengsanoh, off his line and out of position and went into the top corner of the net.

VU came close to doubling the lead shortly after. A low cross flashed across the six-yard line, but there was no away team forward able to get on the end of it. They then decided that they would hang on to what they had, to the frustration of the home team players and supporters.

The ref completely changed tack after the restart before halftime as he blew his whistle so regularly, I was half expecting him to play the national anthem on it. Once the teams went down the tunnel, a free raffle was held to win team shirts, another nice touch. 

Play got worse, if anything, after the restart, as dark clouds began to build in the distance, with occasional flashes of lightning. VU were using all the dark arts they could think of to keep the hosts at bay, putting in a desperate display trying to please their coach Therdtoon Kahkai.

Home coach, Jirayoo Suwandee was apoplectic at the performance of the officials as his team still failed to have a meaningful shot on target despite having plenty of the ball and putting on pressure. One had to admire the doggedness of the Vongchavalitkul rearguard. 

Warin defender Chakrit Champasrl lost his rag and got booked for an X-rated foul on Adison Budken, who in turn had been fouling his way through the second half. He hobbled off in agony to be replaced by Chatchawan Chonphakdi, much to our delight in the stands.

The robust defender kicked whatever was near him in the direction he was facing, much in the same way as the last time we had watched him. A player of no discernible talent, but someone committed to the cause, he refused to waver, much like many Sunday League players back home. 

Warin mounted a couple of attacks and added pressure in the box, but the VU rearguard put their collective bodies on the line and stood firm until full-time, much to the delight of the trio sitting behind us. A terrible game of football, but enjoyable in its own way.

We stopped a couple of times on the way back towards home so that I could grab some groceries, with our car still in dock at the repair shop. A good day out.

Ubon Kids City

Ubon Kids City is a football academy based in the northeast Thai city of Ubon Ratchathani. While youngsters of all ages benefit from the available coaching and the opportunity to step up to the professional game, the seniors compete in adult competitions.

In 2019, the side entered the Thai FA Cup for the first time, going out in the qualifying round away to Nakhonsi United under head coach Chinnaphan Thanaphomsiriphong.

Their 2020-21 campaign ended at the same stage on penalties to Kranuan FC after the game ended 2-2 at UMT Stadium in their home city. City also entered the Thailand Amateur League and ended top of the pile in the Northeast Southern Zone Group B.

Loengnoktah United were dispatched at the PB Magic Arena in Roi Et in the first knockout stage, before PB Roi Et United hammered them 6-0 at The Rajabhat Stadium in Ubon Ratchathani in the next round. 

The 2022-23 campaign saw the academy being awarded a place in the newly formed Thai Semipro League, from where the winners of each of the six regional divisions were promoted to Thai League 3.

Home games were played at Ubon Ratchthani University Stadium in Warim Chamrap to the south of the city, with the Kids finishing in seventh position. They didn’t compete in the competition the following season.

 

After a break in the FA Cup, the Kids City outfit returned to the competition in 2024-25 when, in the Round of 64, they went out 2-0 away to Surin City. Semipro football also made a comeback, with the team playing their home matches at Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat Stadium in Ban Yang Noi.

My visit

Ubon Kids City 6 Vongchavalitkul University 0 (Saturday 26th April 2025) Thai Semipro League Northeast (att: 175) 

A fantastic Friday evening was the precursor to this enjoyable trip to a new venue. The night saw Gary, Steve, and Fah head across from Buriram to meet up with Taew and me, who were staying at the Vijit Nakorn Hotel in Sisaket town.

We certainly got stuck into the beer promotion at Leo’s before Craft and Cold, and then Godang 24 Bar ensured we went to bed in a tired and emotional condition. Bearings found; the fellas assembled at Hong Kong Garden, where John met us for lunch and a livener before we headed off. 

Gary dropped his vehicle at Kanthararom station as the three of us went with John for a journey of about forty minutes through the countryside. We were greeted by an excellent venue, with very few spectators.

Steve and I went exploring, with the campus being devoid of students during their summer break. The outdoor pool with large stands mirrored those of the indoor arena. Yet another educational establishment with outstanding facilities.

Water was being drunk by our dry group, while a senior of the kid’s academy dragged several unwilling volunteers to go onto the pitch as mascots with the players, with both sides wearing vibrant outfits, while the youngsters adorned black and yellow hooped tops creating quite a sight.

Both sides went for it from the off, with the visitors, at least in the early stages, looking like a decent outfit. However, their bigger builds would catch up with them in the scorching temperatures as the game progressed. 

Suphakon Phumkhong put the hosts ahead when his flick header from a driven free kick beat goalie Meechok Charoenkan between the posts for the side from Nakhon Ratchasima, just the five hours or so from home.

Four minutes before the break, Baphit Chooklin beat the offside trap wide on the right when put through as he advanced to score, before he made it 3-0 on the stroke of halftime. A kick out of the hands of goalkeeper Thanachot Sakouan evaded the VU defence for Baphit to nip in before Meechok to slot home into the empty net. 

The young academy players in the crowd seemed to be enjoying themselves, as did the man commentating for Facebook and making announcements, just along from us. We had an excellent view looking over what looked like a pristine playing surface.

The Ubon midfield was excellent, with Teerawat Lionyum, wearing the skipper's armband, the best on show. Soon after the restart, VU defender Itthichat Chantho was involved in a collision which required him to be stretchered off and taken away by ambulance.

The agony of his remaining teammates was added to as sub, Prakiattichai Sinnsook extended the lead with a fine individual goal. The fifth was added when a long ball was headed down expertly by Prakiattichai for Saharat Khiawsaard to finish in the top corner. 

The hammering was completed in additional time by Rapatphon Sodchuen who lashed home into the roof of the net from a corner, which resulted from a heroic effort from VU substitute defender, Chatchawan Chonphakdi, who looked as though he enjoyed his food. 

At full time, we were soon away and heading back to collect Gary’s wheels, as the four of us continued to our house, where Taew had made food, and we sat outside drinking, eating, having fun while watching football on TV. A wonderful day, in excellent company.