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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 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
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.
Sukhothai FC is a professional football club from
the northern Thai city of Sukhothai Thani, that was formed in 2009 initially
playing their home games at Sukhothai Institute of Physical Education Stadium.
The club,
coached by Chusak Sriphum was awarded a place in Regional League Division 2
Northern Region, finishing seventh. The side continued to finish in midtable or
below for several seasons before ending third in 2013.
Big changes
came in 2014 as the club moved into the new Thalay Luang Stadium. The regional
title was clinched, followed by promotion from Group B of the playoffs, taking the
Fire Bats to a place in the second-tier Division 1.
The prolific
Felipe Ferreira scored the goals as Sukhothai won promotion at the first
attempt, for the side led by Somchai Chuayboonchum, who had succeeded Somchai
Makmool. Renan Marques was the top marksman of an incredible 2016 season.
The side
consolidated their league standing at the top level of Thai football as well as
lifting the FA Cup. The club received the accolade when the competition was
abandoned at the semifinal stage owing to the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
All four remaining sides became joint winners.
However, Sukhothai
won the draw to represent Thailand in the AFC Champions League in 2017, where
they defeated Yadanarbon of Myanmar before losing the playoff round to Chinese
side Shanghai SIPG.
The
legendary John Baggio then began to make his mark in the team after coach Makmool
was reappointed, before he was replaced by Pairoj Borwonwatanadilok. In May 2018
Chalermwoot Sa-ngapol was given the job as his side ended in eleventh spot with
Nelson Bonilla putting away the goals.
In October
2018, Ljubomir Ristovski was appointed as Sukhothai head coach before he was
replaced by a returning Pairoj before the end of the 2019 season. Thai football
changed to the European calendar in 2020-21, with the goals of Baggio not being
enough to prevent relegation for the side led by Surapong Kongthep.
Osman Sow made
his mark up front for the Fire Bats in 2021-22 as the side won promotion back
to Thai League 1 at the first attempt under the tutelage of coach Dennis Amato.
The team stayed up before the German tactician moved on.
Chusak
Sriphum came in to lead the team for 2023-24 before he was replaced by Sugao
Kambe a few months in. A returning Bonilla scored the goals to help Sukhothai
remain safe, despite some disharmony on and off the pitch, with fans being upset
with the club owners.
Aktaporn
Chalitaporn was given the job of head coach in June 2024 as the consistent
Baggio, in his second spell at the club being joined in the goalscoring effort
by Matheus Fornazari.
Sukhothai FC
will play in Thai League 1 in the 2025-26 season.
My visit
Sukhothai 1
Buriram United 2 (Sunday 6th April 2025) Thai League 1 (att: 6,095)
One of the
great pleasures of watching football has become my involvement in A Thai Football Podcast. The weekly airing encourages all sorts of topics of
conversation, with match reports from wherever anyone wants to send one in
being welcomed.
Dale, who
does an incredible job putting it together, has found contacts from goodness
knows where, which has led to friendships being made with other like-minded
individuals when catching up whenever visiting different parts of the country.
Bill Greaves is a prime example.
Bill, with
his Aberdonian and Canadian drawl, sends in some cracking reports full of
humour and smart observations. When my wife, Taew, looked at routes to return
from the annual Chiang Mai Cricket Sixes, the fixtures, and destinations
aligned perfectly, also offering the chance to see historic Sukhothai as part of our road trip.
Bill,
through Dale, got in touch and we enjoyed a phone chat a week before we met up,
with his good lady, Toy, sorting out the match tickets. Taew drove us down on
Sunday morning along a scenic route, before we checked into our rather
underwhelming resort, much to her disappointment.
My Roving Report for A Thai Football Podcast
Not to
worry, after a siesta, we were soon meeting our hosts in a noodle shop for a
quick beer. Bill’s original suggestion to go for a burger was scuppered as AJ’s
was shut, as was his alternative plan. He didn’t seem too upset as he enjoyed
being at the Thalay Luang Stadium with lots of time to spare.
The couple
could not have been more friendly or helpful. I had a wander about for photos
before returning to the car, which had been parked next to by other hospitable
regulars as a small tailgate party ensued with food and drink purchased from
the decent choice of stores.
I did my stuff
for the podcast with Bill offering his thoughts before he and Toy went inside a
little before us, so that he could manage the steps to our seat before it got
busy. The atmosphere was building once we joined them, with beers and the spicy
local thin sausage, which I quickly took a liking to.
The stadium
was also to my approval, with magnificent views of the mountains in the
distance and seats close to the pitch without a running track. The locals were
out in force and made a proper din against the big boys of Thai football, who
were firm favourites to win against their mid-table opposition.
Love or
dislike Buriram, they are an outstanding example of what money can provide with
star players, by far the biggest club stadium in the country, and honours
galore. The way that referees seemingly bend towards them is another matter,
but not unique to Thailand in the way the most powerful are accommodated.
The first
half saw almost incessant Buriram pressure. A couple of scrambles in the home
area somehow saw the ball being kept out by a mixture of desperation, luck,
brave defending, erratic goalkeeping from understudy Supazin Hnupichai, and poor finishing. It was not dull.
The home
Fire Bats were either about to be eaten up or come up with the greatest ‘rope a
dope’ performance ever. The tiny John Baggio and giant Matheus Fornazari formed
an unlikely double act, but on occasions, they caused concern to the visiting
rearguard.
It was like
an FA Cup tie back home, watching a non-league side take on a team from several
divisions higher. That’s how much of a gulf there can be at times in Thai
football. That said, at 0-0, Sukhothai always had a chance of a breakaway to
snatch a win that would have made for the perfect evening.
Soon into
the second half, Supazin made a super save from which Supachai Chaided blasted
the rebound over. A local friend of Bill was not enamoured by the number of
foreigners taking the field for Buriram. They are not a Thai club was the gist
of his observations.
The deadlock
was broken in the fiftieth minute, as the impressive Jefferson Tabinas went on
another forceful run down the left-hand side. His powerful cross was put away by
substitute, Suphanat Mueanta, for star-studded Buriram. Shortly after, Goran
Čaušić saw a shot smash off the top of the crossbar.
In the
sixty-fifth minute, the reigning champions doubled their advantage. Sukhothai
lost the ball in midfield, where it was quickly swept wide on the right. The
cross was chested home by Martin Boakye, with my thoughts being on the rest of
the game being a case a damage limitation.
The man
beside us was further narked when Buriram introduced another foreign star, Guilherme
Bissoli, into the action. His team didn’t stop believing and grabbed a goal in
stoppage time when the ball was dragged back for Hikaru Matsui to fire past
goalie Neil Etheridge.
However,
there was not enough time to raise any more attacks, with the result being
about the right outcome. Nobody could accuse the Sukhothai players of not
giving their all, but they were beaten by a better side, who edged closer to
the title.
We still had
plenty to look forward to. Our match tickets gave free admission to a concert
in the park behind the goal, which would see the extremely popular Thai band,
Clash, playing. Off we went as best we could through the crowds, losing our
hosts when we got split up.
Eventually,
we were inside the fenced-off area, but just as the band began to play, the
heavens opened, and huge winds blew across the open space. It got very cold,
wet, and dangerous, very quickly. It was scary for a while.
Not least
because the poles holding the large Chang beer banners were being blown over,
and Bill, in a seat, would not be able to get out of the way. We protected him
as best as we could with my large body attempting to perform as a wind break
while Taew used an umbrella over him as Toy went to retrieve the car.
The gig was
abandoned, leading to chaos as everyone wanted to leave at the same time. Toy
managed to get the car near, and I forced open the fencing so my friend could
access it quickly. We had a giggle inside the vehicle, but it had been quite an
experience.
The traffic
back towards the main roads was horrendous, taking us well over an hour before
Toy deposited us at the end of the lane by our accommodation. I had a coffee to
warm up before bed.
The
following morning, we had breakfast and covered the sites of the historical
park without paying to go inside them. It was a pleasant little tour offering
me some excellent video footage, before we headed to Kamphaeng Phet to meet
more friends for another lovely few hours.
Our thanks
go to Bill and Toy for their hospitality and for making the visit so special.
Kamphaengphet
FC is a professional football club that was formed in 2009 to represent the
Thai province of Kamphaeng Phet in the upper central region of the country.
The club
took up immediate residence at the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administrative
Organization (PAO) Stadium, otherwise known as Chakangrao Central Stadium in
the centre of town, becoming members of the third-tier Regional League Division
2 Northern Region.
In their
first three seasons, the ‘Cha Kung Rao Warriors’ finished in the lower reaches
of the division before ending in sixth place in 2012, before returning to type
for the following three campaigns.
A runners-up
berth in 2016 led to a shot in the Champions League playoffs in which they saw
off Ayutthaya Warrior before falling to Surat Thani. When the Thai football
league structure was amended in 2017, Kamphaengphet were placed in Thai League
3 Upper Region.
Otsu
Kazutaka top scored as the side ended in eleventh place. This performance was
repeated a year later with Badar Al-Alawi topping the goals charts. Kawin
Nuanthat then became the fans' favourite forward for a couple of seasons.
The first
ended in eighth place before the Thai League was again restructured with the calendar
following that of Europe. 2020-21 in Thai League 3 North saw the side finish
ninth under coach Saksan Siripong.
Sakdinan Makmuang
was put in charge of the team the following season, which again ended in a
lowly position, with Punyaphat Autha top scoring. A third consecutive ninth
place ensued in 2022-23. The goals were supplied by Kaung Htet Soe and Khwanchai
Bunprakhom as former coach Saksan returned.
Natthaphon
Yueayai led the way up front in 2023-24 before Khwanchai found his old touch in
2024-25, as the team completed a remarkable fifth consecutive ninth-place
finish.
Kamphaengphet
FC will play in Thai League 3 North in the 2025-26 season.
My visit
Monday 7th
April 2025
Never being
one to miss an opportunity, a visit to see friends in Kamphaeng Phet saw an
early arrival in the town after a wonderful previous day and following morning
in Sukhothai as part of our road trip from Chiang Mai to Sisaket.
The reason
that Kamphaeng Phet was chosen was that an old journalist friend, Alan
Parkhouse, who had been of great assistance when I covered cricket media duties
at various tournaments in Thailand, was now living there. Even better, he and
his good lady, Phung, had got married a few days earlier.
The historic
park and area around the city shrine provided an immediate positive impression,
as did the Chakangrao Central Stadium. It was positioned just over the road
from the Ping River, offering a great location.
Inside the arena,
I was most impressed with how the original raised main stand had two large,
covered extensions on either side of it, making it stand out from many other
such provincial municipal venues that also have running tracks.
Opposite was
an open, raised area, and in the corner, an unusually large, detached block, as
was also the case when I visited Phitsanulok. That end of the venue had a High
School behind it, providing an enclosed feel.
A quality
lunch and then catch up with food with Alan and Phung ensued before we caught
up with them at their place the following morning, which will see their
steakhouse open in a pleasant area near the golf course. Hopefully, a return
was being planned by the ladies, which would include me seeing a football game!