The iCon RSU

the iCon RSU FC
Ground: Rangsit University Stadium
Capacity: 3,000
Club Founded: 2009
League: University Competition (current level)

There are over forty universities in the Bangkok Metropolitan region. Many have football sides, some of whom, like the Icon RSU, have played in the Thai national leagues before returning to university competition.

Club Background

Originally formed as Rangsit University, the club became a member of the Regional League Bangkok Area. They won promotion in 2010 after Prachinburi FC were defeated in the playoffs to become JW Rangsit following a deal with the JW Real Estate Group.

The team consolidated, moving to Thupatemee Stadium to share with Air Force United. Unfortunately, Thupatemee was hit by the disastrous floods in November 2011. Rangsit played out the season at Nakhon Nayok Military School. They remained there before heading to the Queen Sirikit Sport Stadium for the second half of the 2012 season.

The team was relegated to the third-tier Regional League in 2012, this time being placed in the Central East Region. Rangsit returned to play their home games at their original university home, with a sideways move to the Bangkok Region.

The club reverted to the title of Rangsit University for the 2015 campaign. After another lowly league finish, the club became usually referred to as RSU FC, although also still known in some quarters as Rangsit University.

The iCon RSU Years

Changes in the Thai League system came into play for the 2017 season as a fourth tier was added, where RSU was placed. Weerayut Phuiprom finished as top scorer for 'The Trespassing Tiger' as the side finished in eighth spot.

Banjong Padungpattanodom led the scoring under head coach Niphon Biawtungnoi. A finish next to the bottom of the table in 2019 saw the club relegated. The team competed in the Thai University League, also known as the U League. The side reformed as The iCon RSU to compete in the Thailand Semi-Pro League in 2023.

Phumipat Pinthaisong coached the side, progressing through the Bangkok Zone to clinch a runners-up spot in the Southern Zone. It was enough for RSU to reclaim their place in the national set-up. Queen Sirikits 60th Anniversary Stadium in Pathum Thani was initially selected as the home venue, but it failed to materialise.

Krisada Sangchant led the side in T3, as the club played home games at North Bangkok University Stadium before Bangkok University Stadium was adopted as their new home. The club’s stay lasted just one season before being relegated.

Bangkok University Stadium

Some doubts surrounding the backing of The iCon as owner/sponsors circulated as the company was investigated by official regulators away from football.

My visits

Stadium Visit
Wednesday 27th March 2013

A Day of Self-Indulgence

My day away from the early touring life with my cricketing pals was going well. I had already visited two stadiums and was now really getting into the mood despite the soaring temperatures that even had the locals struggling.

However, I was soon to hit frustration when I got into a taxi. Now I admit my Thai isn't the best, but with the aid of large print copies of Google Maps, I thought that finding a well-known university campus would be easy enough for my driver to find. Sadly, I was to be proved wrong.

My driver seemed anxious, almost as if he didn't want the fare. That was fine as far as I was concerned, as long as he let me know. Instead, we crawled along past Don Muang Airport before he stopped and asked for directions.


In the end, I paid him up and went in search of another cab, which soon arrived. Over the years, I have found this to be the best solution to avoid frustration on the part of all those inside a vehicle.

This time, my new pilot made no mistake and soon had me by the campus entrance, just as many students were calling it a day. I did my usual act of smiling at the guards while continuing to walk. I could see my target, and I didn't want to be denied.

As it turned out, the venue was a bit of a disappointment. The only building was the Main Stand on the halfway line around a shale running track. I did the necessary with my camera before heading back through the gate. I was soon in another taxi heading to the home of Bangkok Glass.

Stadium Visit
Monday 18th June 2018

An Unexpected Adventure

The following is a story of what can go wrong when you don't check on the websites and Twitter feeds before you set off to watch a game in the lower divisions in Thailand. There are occasions when my adventures pursuing my hobby don’t work out as I expect when leaving in the morning, and this day out definitely fell into this category.

I's begun the second half of a tremendous holiday in Bangkok and Isaan. Everything had more or less fallen into place, much to my surprise. Therefore, I could see no warning signs of the cock up approaching as I left Steve’s house in Minburi on another lovely morning.

I had my rucksack with me, as I was heading straight to Don Muang Airport after the RCU FC v Port B game in the Thai League 4 Bangkok Region. The website said it was a 4pm kick-off when I last checked. I'd taken local transport down to Bangkapi to meet Steve for coffee in the Mall, where my mate asked if I’d checked that the match was definitely on.

I laughed at him. “Of course it is”, I replied. We said our goodbyes until the following Saturday, when we’d be enjoying the final few hours of my trip, as I headed to take the Saen Saep Ferry downtown. I alighted from the packed service at Asok, then headed to Phetchaburi MRT station.

Bangkok Transport

I wanted to make my way as near as I could to Rangsit University by public transport, aside from taxis, unless absolutely necessary. I should have stuck to my plan of taking a bus from Chatuchak, but I thought I’d save time by jumping out at Phahon Yothin, as I knew this stop before when heading to watch an Air Force game by bus.

What I hadn’t realised was that I was on a different road from the one I required for this journey. I ended up walking and getting lost several times around the Central Plaza Ladprao.
I eventually worked out that I needed to cut through the Mall and out of the far side of the Centara Grand Hotel to the main Don Muang Road.

After much confusion, I managed to find a bus stop and a service going north. I decided to take it past the airport and then commandeer a taxi the rest of the way, as the bus service didn’t appear to serve the university.

A Top Taxi Driver

Everything worked fine, grabbing myself some much-needed refreshments at the 7/11 by Don Muang railway station before getting in a cab. I thought that the hard work had been overcome. How little I knew!

My driver thought I knew exactly where to go, which I thought I did. Only, he thought he was dropping me off at a condo. He hadn't understood me. For the following twenty minutes, we went up and down the main road, missing turnings, while I was becoming increasingly confused in the back.

Finally, we were on track. I expected the left turning down Thanon Ek Thaksin to be a simple enough ride to the university. The Skytrain was being developed along the route. We saw the nearly completed Lak Hok station ahead, getting ready for the new service, which reassured me as I recognised the name.

However, I had not realised that our required road was a flyover above where we were, so it could cross the new tracks. There was no access to our road. This led to us trying other turnings with no success before we took a U-turn and went back south of the station.

After what seemed like ages, with my driver still somehow finding the strength to smile, we turned down a small soi and had to pay a man a toll to cross the Khlong before we did a right and got onto Thanon Ek Thaksin. My pilot was still unconvinced as we went down an interesting road with plenty of facilities for food, drink and relaxation.

We continued past the entrance to Muang Ake Golf Club, soon turning into the grounds of Rangsit University. I got out close to the small stadium and paid up. I think the driver was glad to be shot of me, even if he had taken a good fare.

Immediately, I became aware that my test of endurance was far from over. There was a distinct lack of footballers on the pitch, ahead through the trees. Perhaps they were in the tunnel waiting to come out for the match as it was nearing kick-off time?

The stand was virtually empty, with just three or four students in there with a drum. I knew that fourth division games were sparsely attended, but surely the under-23 Port side would attract a few more than this?

I tried to convince myself that I was at the right location and time, but in truth, I was struggling. There were no team coaches behind the stand, and no desk to take admission money. I went out to the front to see the scoreboard on the far side displaying a 3-1 score.

The match had already taken place. I eventually discovered that it had been played twenty-four hours previously. This was virtually an exact repeat of my first two visits to Lamphun Warriors. What an idiot!

However, all was not lost as I salvaged something from the adventure as I took a further taxi to Thammasat Stadium, where I saw the first half of the League 4 clash between Dome and BGC, which can be read about here.

Minburi City 3 Krungthep FC 1
Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Group E - Friday 29th April 2022
👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c100 🎟️ Free

Please click here and scroll down for a full description of a wonderful occasion, as Rangsit University Stadium was used as one of several neutral venues for the group stages of the 2022 Thailand Amateur League.

Chonburi Municipality Stadium (Chonburi)

Chonburi Municipality Stadium is a sports stadium in the city of Chonburi. A multi-purpose arena, it is best known for hosting the matches of Chonburi FC when they played in the Provincial League in the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

Once accepted into the Thai Premier League in 2006, Chonburi played at the stadium until 2008, with its capacity sometimes tested as the club pushed for honours, as the Sharks were Thai Premier League champions in 2007 and finished as runners-up in 2008.

The stadium was also the home to Coke-Bangpra FC for the 2008 season in the Thai Premier League before they changed their name to Pattaya United who relocated down the coast. The venue's owners ended its agreement with Chonburi FC, who moved to Princess Sirindhorn Stadium in Si Racha.

My visit

Stadium Visit
Friday 25th March 2022

Several years earlier, I had headed south from Ekkamai bus station to spend a few hours in Chonburi and hopefully take photos of the Municipality Stadium. This was before the days of having a phone with a map app.

The day turned into a shambles as I caught a songthaew and ended up taking photos of the basic stadium of Chonradsadornumrung School. It was obvious that I was in the wrong place, so I asked a motorcycle taxi driver to take me to my original intended target.

We went all of twenty yards before I had to abort, being totally petrified. Instead, I ended up going back to the old bus station in the town centre and headed back towards the capital, misjudging the volume of traffic.

My pal Steve was not massively impressed when I finally returned, as he had to sit outside the house after a stressful day at work, on a very hot afternoon. Ironically, I eventually visited the stadium on a trip when I had no intention of doing so beforehand.

I’d been to the Thailand v Nepal friendly international the previous evening at Chonburi Stadium, then hung around Central Chonburi hoping that a van might stop heading back towards Bangkok, or ideally Minburi.

Nothing was happening, so when a songthaew pulled over, I jumped aboard, knowing it would head towards the old city where my van had stopped a couple of times on the way down. The only problem was that it veered off the main drag.

On this occasion,n I was fully equipped with technology, so there was no problem. The transport continued to Mueang Chon Buri District Office, where I alighted and headed towards the stadium. Before I got there. I enjoyed a walk around the beautiful Suan Tamnaknam public park.

There was no access inside the arena, but plenty of views inside were afforded, so I snapped away at a venue that obviously was once popular, but by now had overgrown and was looking very shabby.

It was noticeable just how far away the stands were from the pitch, as I commented online that it would be a great venue for Cricket Sixes, which I administer in Thailand. The shale track was virtually overgrown. It painted a sorry picture.

It was time for me to make tracks, and I enjoyed a pleasant walk back towards Sukhumvit Road, passing the square where the night market sets up, and the Chonburi Provincial Hall. I walked a mile or so up the main road and found a stop with some vans parked outside.

After a little bit of confusion, I was put aboard one of them, where it was explained that I would be deposited at Market Village Suvarnabhumi in Bang Na, from where another vehicle would take me to Minburi.

And that’s exactly how it worked out. A cheap return journey costing 180 THB, and I had learned a most useful link to get back home when attending football down that way.

Many thanks to Chonburi FC fan Dale for providing information for this piece. He compiles the excellent and highly recommended fanzine/blog, It's A Habit That Sticks, as well as editing A Thai Football Podcast, which comes out weekly.

The Fickle Fate of Football Fortune

Many moments have changed the course of a football club’s history. Mark Robins scored a vital FA Cup goal for Manchester United, a moment often credited with helping to save Sir Alex Ferguson's job. It had huge ramifications for years to come. Manchester City’s punishment for financial misconduct might be another.

A packed Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium

2025-26 Climax

In northeast Thailand late in the 2025-26 season, a series of events changed the fortunes of neighbouring clubs Sisaket United and Rasisalai United, altering momentum, perhaps forever.

Both teams were having good seasons. Rasi went on to win the Thai League 2 title in fine style, despite a couple of blips. Meanwhile, Sisaket looked like they might be about to blow their chances of automatic promotion.

Rasisalai were a breath of fresh air, with three talented Brazilians. They entertained and scored goals for fun. Their marketing operation was far superior to that of Sisaket’s, selling lots of shirts and putting on free travel to home games from their base. The attendance figures of the two clubs were similar.

Sisaket seemed like the old guard, even quite staid in their approach. Their coach, Somchai Chuayboonchum, was 71 years old. He looked like he dressed at Primark and was heading from an English council estate to wait outside Wetherspoons for it to open at 7 am.

Uncle Chuay

Stand By Your Man

What ‘Uncle Chuay’ lacked in sartorial elegance, he made up for in football knowledge and instilling discipline. A couple of his foreign players fell out with him, while another showed flashes of indiscipline that led to suspensions that could have seen his team missing out.

Club supremo Thanet Kruerat stood by his man when results faltered, and when it would have been very easy to make a change. Three games from the end of the season, promotion hopes hung by a thread. Their third foreign player, also their leading scorer, remained suspended as the team grabbed a 3-3 draw away to Pattaya United.

Next was an away game against Pattani. Sisaket were protecting their position in the automatic promotion places, with Pattani still capable of overtaking them. If Pattani won, they would leapfrog Sisaket with one game to go. Again, without their star man, the Fire Lamduan put on an outstanding performance, drawing 0-0 in front of a sell-out crowd. That, to me, was the turning point.

Rasisalai United Celebrate

The Turning Point?

Rumours began circulating that Rasi’s outstanding coach, Arnon Bandasak, might resign because he didn’t hold a Thai League 1 coaching license and wasn’t interested in sitting the qualifications. He had made quality signings and introduced tactics that propelled his side to consecutive promotions.

Over 7,000 fans headed to the Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium to see Sisaket beat Songkhla, ironically where Arnon would become coach, 5-1 to seal promotion. The atmosphere was off the scale, with the town looking forward to having Thai League 1 football every week.

Then another large blow landed at Rasi’s door. Because they have no suitable venue in their hometown, they play at Sisaket Provincial Stadium, also known as Koh Klang Nam Stadium.

 
Sisaket province decided to bid to host the annual King’s Cup in November 2026, with matches taking place at Rasi’s home. Their bid was successful, to widespread celebration, apart from those who understand Thai League football.

Thai League 1 at Sisaket United -
with a Rasi shirt in the crowd

On the Road

The Provincial Stadium needed refurbishing and a new pitch. Despite being only 10 years old, it’s received little maintenance. The pitch was damaged when the venue hosted a concert last season, which led to Rasi having to pay a couple of fines to the league.

Rasi needed somewhere to play their home games during renovations. They chose Buriram City Stadium for their first two matches, three hours away. Sisaket eventually ensured Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium met the required specifications to host Thai League 1 games, which I cover in this article.

While playing in another province, attendances were paltry. The team struggled on the pitch. The club appointed a new coach who lasted just five games. Meanwhile, Sisaket stole a march. 

Rasisalai in the FA Cup at Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium

Fans Go Sisaket Mad

Their stadium has been nearly full for their first three home games. Shirt sales are unprecedented. The new signings have fitted into Uncle Chuay’s philosophy of hard work and discipline. Results have been excellent, including the 3-2 away win over champions Buriram United.

The supporters create an incredible atmosphere, whether playing away or in Sisaket. Their passion gives the team tremendous backing and an advantage. Qualities that helped Rasi's title charge, with many going to cheer both sides. 

Rasi arranged to play their two home games at Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium before returning to their regular venue. Only 1,350 turned out for the 4-1 defeat to Ayutthaya United, compared with attendances of more than 9,000 at their neighbours' games.

Sisaket Celebrate at Buriram

Momentum Shifts?

Can the balance of power be restored? I suggested on A Thai Football Podcast that it was wise to enjoy Rasisalai’s moment in the sun. I think they have peaked. Coach Arnon was the catalyst. He is missed. The King’s Cup disruption has knocked them for six. Their first home game back at the Provincial Stadium is against Buriram. They need a rousing performance.

Can Sisaket continue to build on their recent upsurge? I think they can, if supporters aren’t taken for granted, and they heed Khun Thanet’s words about the club not having a big playing budget to be able to make star signings but guaranteeing that the players and management will always give their all.

What would have happened if Sisaket had lost to either Pattaya or Pattani and failed to secure promotion? They were two huge moments when the fickle hand of football fortune could have changed everything.

My 2,200km Thai Adventure by Public Transport

Being able to take off to new places without worrying about others is one of my greatest indulgences. I get immense pleasure from exploring, chatting, eating, drinking and, ideally, ending up watching football of any standard.

I’ve done it many times in the UK and mainland Europe. Until September 2026, I’d only done one tour longer than a weekend in Thailand. It was time to put things right.

The rainy season lasts much longer than many people even consider. It seemed to have dragged on longer than ever in our part of the rural northeast. It affected my mood, as did the situation described in Sisaket Stadium Shambles. I was desperate to smile again and fall back in love with where I lived.

On My Way from Kanthararom

Time for a Solo Adventure

Since January 2023, I hadn’t spent a night alone. Not that it upset me, because I love my wife dearly. But something had to give. I needed an adventure. Something slightly risky, on a budget, where I had to fend for myself.

Lo and behold, without me realising it, the football fixtures came up trumps.

I found fixtures over five days at stadiums I hadn’t seen games at, and all were connectable by public transport. My good lady couldn’t have been more supportive and was perhaps looking forward to some time to herself. So that was it. It was time to start planning.

Planning Public Transport in Thailand

Although Thai public transport is relatively cheap, it can be slow, with large distances between towns. Many towns don’t have railway stations, meaning buses are the best option. Finding information about bus services isn’t easy, as many websites are in Thai and don’t appear in search engines.

While I enjoy researching, it takes time and can be frustrating. ChatGPT became my friend. The AI tool gave me the names of companies running buses between towns. I looked up the websites, using Google Translate where necessary. Some allowed online advance bookings. I used Agoda to book hotels and my State Railway of Thailand online account to book my train ticket.

Memories came flooding back as I decided what to fit into my backpack. It became a joint operation, as my wife wanted to make sure I didn’t leave home without anything. I could only imagine how her son felt attending his first day at school or when he joined the army.

So, with enough clean clothes to last six days, toiletries, chargers, my Amazon Fire, EarPods and local food, I boarded the 6.08 train from Kanthararom on Wednesday 16th September, excited for what lay ahead.

Budgeting is Fine – To a Degree

Within the first few minutes of the seven-hour journey, I realised I had made my first mistake. To save cash, I paid 231 THB (I’ve used 44 THB to £1 throughout this article) for a third-class seat with a fan and the windows wound down. For double that, I could have had a reclining seat with air conditioning.

Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience. Legroom was negligible, and I was fortunate that nobody sat opposite. Vendors got on and off throughout the journey, selling their wares at fair prices rather than hiking them like in the extortionate buffet cars on Western services.

The journey meandered through mountains and alongside the new high-speed line under construction, which will eventually connect Singapore with China, running through Thailand.

While it was interesting, I was delighted to alight in Ayutthaya, commandeer a Grab taxi and catch the bus to Chainat, a couple of hours away.

Wat Pathom Thetsanarayanwasi - Chainat

Welcome to Chainat

The total trip took 11 hours from home. When I arrived, I took a tuk-tuk past the market and to the Chao Phraya River to see some of the town. It’s not very big, but everyone I met was extremely friendly.

A local politician owned the local football club, Chainat Hornbill, spending a few seasons in the top division.

I booked a hotel for 550 THB, a 10-minute walk from Khao Plong Stadium, which is located well out of town. When it came to hotel rooms, I wasn’t too worried about luxury, but it had to be clean, safe, have a bathroom and Wi-Fi. This one fit the bill perfectly.

The match was nothing much to write home about and ended 0-0. That wasn’t a problem because going to football matters far more than the 90 minutes or so of action. I consider the overall experience more important, like the people you meet, the atmosphere, and the food and drink. Chainat did OK.

Chainat Town Centre

A young lady had stopped me on my walk to the stadium and offered me a ride on the back of her motorbike. The youngster selling tickets spoke perfect English and was charm personified. The ultras smiled and posed for pictures. All of which was superb for filming for my YouTube Channel trilogy capturing the adventure.

The following morning, I set off on foot to the bus station with neither taxi app responding. It was a long hike, so I was delighted when a tuk-tuk sounded its horn and stopped up the road.

Amazingly, it was the same driver from the day before, taking his grandson to high school.

As I boarded my bus to Bangkok, I recalled how many times that Thai kindness had helped me over the years, and everything would be alright if I freed my mind and wanted to have fun.

Onto Chanthaburi

I really fell for Chanthaburi on a previous overnight visit with my wife, yet I knew more fun was waiting if I “roughed” it for a few hours.

I got a perfect view after pre-booking the seat next to the driver, as he weaved through traffic leaving the capital. It wasn’t for the faint-hearted.

By the River in Chanthaburi Old Town

I chose to stay in the old town. My basic hotel had all my requirements, plus a spacious balcony overlooking the river if I wanted to relax. Not that there was time for such things.

I soon sat down to eat a few doors up with a riverside view before walking to the stadium through the bustling night market.

My aims when attending a football game were accommodated too. The atmosphere was great, and the locals were friendly. One of them, originally from Sisaket, wore his team’s shirt and gave me his Chanthaburi scarf after seeing me in my Sisaket United top.

The ultras were great for filming, especially as their team won 2-0.

My night was far from done, as I took a Grab to the majestic French Cathedral and then spent a couple of hours in a fantastic craft beer bar. The music was up my street, both piped and then later played by a live duet.

Me and My New Friend in Chanthaburi

The following morning, I saw the market from a different side as the town woke.

In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t booked a seat in the back corner of the small bus back to Bangkok. Every seat was taken, and space was at a premium. However, I made friends with a local chap in the same situation. He spoke to the driver and then let me know when the bus was about to leave after a comfort break.

Back to Ayutthaya

The Minibus Station at Mo Chit is one of Thailand’s hidden treasures to many backpackers. It doesn’t have a BTS or MRT directly serving it, so it takes effort to get to. Once you are there, it opens endless possibilities for budget travellers, serving anywhere within a four- to five-hour range of the capital.

Its slight downside, at least from my experience, is that it is quite random when you might leave. You go to an information desk and tell them where you want to go. They send you to one of the offices, with ticket desks inside waiting to sell tickets.

It’s noisy and quite an experience.

This time, they sent me to Office A for Ayutthaya. Once I announced my destination, they ushered me to a desk, sold me a ticket for 80 THB, and sent me straight outside to the minibus. Once the last couple of seats had been sold, we departed.

That seems to be how it works.

Rose Garden Hotel - Ayutthaya

This time I chose to stay in an area of Ayutthaya before you enter the old city. The minibus stopped, saving me a taxi fare back. My hotel was 600 THB.

I walked to one of the main temples near the stadium, had lunch and then took a siesta before returning for the match.

The hotel staff, the old ladies who made lunch, and the restaurant across the road where I had rice porridge for breakfast were friendly and helpful.

The football attracted nearly 4,000 spectators looking for Friday night entertainment. The first half was dull, but the second was full of talking points as Uthai Thani beat hosts Ayutthaya United 2-1.

After the game, I headed to an area marked on Google Maps as Balloon Ayutthaya Night Plaza. This area is alien to most Westerners, although Eastern tourists and businessmen seem familiar with it.

Friday Night in Ayutthaya

It has a plaza for those wanting food and drink, along with many establishments catering to those looking for adult fun.

I enjoyed the two bars I used, where the friendly staff and owners bemoaned the rainy season and their lack of customers. It was a pleasant way to socialise for a few hours, knowing my mileage was massively reduced the following day.

After a walk and filming around stunning Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana, it was time to discover another new town.

More New Friends in Suphanburi

Minibuses leave Ayutthaya from Naresuan Road. I found out that the 703 would take me to Suphanburi.

Again, timetables seemed as natural as walking to the moon.

The driver waited until he had enough passengers before setting off on a route that stopped at several villages while also playing the role of a parcel courier.

We paid the driver at our destination. I noted that my fare was 100 THB, while Thais paid 20 baht less.

Banharn-Jamsai Tower in Suphanburi

Because it was too early to check into my 600 THB hotel room, I dropped my backpack and walked around the city to see how it operated.

Suphanburi had three things going for it. It had a football club with an interesting backstory. I’d never been, and it had a tower, which I’m a real sucker for.

The surrounding gardens were pristine, and the lift to the top was well worth 30 THB. I continued to the Tha Chin River and market area.

I had lunch at a tasty noodle shop opposite Wat Phra Rup before returning to my hotel for a siesta. The young man at reception turned on my AC while I was out so I could relax after my exercise, which I thought was a nice touch.

I ordered a Grab to another stadium located out of town for the match. For a short spell, Suphanburi were one of Thai football’s leading lights until the sponsors pulled out, and they now play in the third tier.

Locals still get behind the club, which offered free admission. I reckon at least 70% wore the new replica team shirts.

Food and drink options were limited, and even less so because of the large crowd who wanted to buy outside one of Thailand’s better arenas.

I found a seat in the covered stand next to a friendly chap who spoke a bit of English, while all around me were welcoming and slightly bewildered by my presence.

Sadly, the game didn’t live up to the occasion. The ref took the teams off for an hour a few minutes into the second half because of thunder and lightning, accompanied by heavy rain.

A tragedy a few months earlier in southern Thailand had seen a player killed by lightning, so stricter regulations were now in force.

By the Tha Chin River in Suphanburi

Thankfully, I managed to commandeer a Bolt ride back into town. I was slightly surprised it was the same man who had earlier driven for Grab, before changing apps to pick up a more expensive fare.

Who could blame him in that weather?

I returned to my room for an early night.

Back to Bangkok and a Great Day Out

My 8 am departure to the capital cost 120 THB and took around two hours.

In Bangkok, I took advantage of the feature all returning minibuses offer when I alighted at Mo Chit BTS station, with an interchange with Chatuchak MRT. This allowed me to take the underground train and drop my backpack at my hotel.

My room seemed like extremely good value when I booked it, costing only 520 THB. I soon found out why.

I’d booked a shared pod with another person. The Agoda website didn’t state that. The excellent receptionist helped me pay an additional 500 THB to upgrade to a single room.

While one of the priorities of my adventure was to reconnect with Thailand, it is also important not to be remote and to enjoy occasional familiarity.

The Red Lion on Sukhumvit 13 provided this, where an English breakfast and a mug of Yorkshire tea did the job as I watched the sports news on TV.

Expats and tourists have Western bar options, but this place is the best value. I think of it as Wetherspoons with multiple TVs showing live sport.

Feeling energised, I took the BTS across the city to Wongwian Yai. When I alighted, I walked a further 10 minutes to the railway station with the same name.

Wongwian Yai Station

Wongwian Yai is a splendid little station, with lots of stalls and cafes on the platforms and adjacent street.

My destination was Maha Chai, the old name for Samut Sakhon, a busy fishing port near the Gulf of Thailand on the same Tha Chin River as Suphanburi.

The journey took around an hour, and my ticket cost 20 THB.

When we arrived in the vibrant town, I wandered through the bustling market before catching the ferry across the river. This was an experience, with passengers and motorbikes sharing the same area.

On the other side, I walked to Ban Laem station.

Trains depart from there to Mae Klong station in Samut Songkhram. The journey is captured on YouTube as the train travels through a busy market, and owners pull back the awnings protecting their stalls from the tracks.

Back across the river, I wandered around Samut Sakhon. It was impossible not to know what was being sold in the market from the smells and sight of the seafood.

Ferry Across the Tha Chin in Samut Sakhon

After eating at Nampu Plaza, a tuk-tuk took me to the football match at a university campus stadium that has truly seen better days.

Samut Sakhon City have made great strides since being promoted to Thai League 3, even reaching the FA Cup semi-final a few seasons back.

Their support was passionate on this occasion, with over 600 fans cheering them on to victory against Rajpracha. It was probably the most exciting game of my tour.

Thankfully, a Bolt driver saved me a 30-minute walk back to the station, dropping me at the market at full-time as rain clouds gathered. Indeed, rain fell heavily during the train ride back to Bangkok.

I returned to the Red Lion to enjoy 150 THB pints of Tiger while watching the Premier League football from back home and having a nice conversation with a fellow expat who’d lived in Thailand for many years.

It was great to exchange stories and chat naturally for a couple of hours. I certainly slept well at my hotel.

Homeward Bound

After a bit of panic, I managed to hail a taxi to take me to where my first-class coach was setting off to take me back to Sisaket.

I travelled with Nakhonchai Air, which serves northern and northeast Thailand.

My ticket cost 750 THB and included a roomy, comfortable seat (there are only 30 on the coach), a light meal, a packet of snacks, water, a couple of cartons of juice, a blanket and a cold napkin.

Unfortunately, the entertainment screen was faulty.

I chose the company because each seat had an automatic back-massage feature, which I used plentifully.

While we travelled, I reflected on how much fun I’d had, sometimes outside my comfort zone, but always finding a solution, often with the help of friendly Thais.

Monday Morning Rush Hour in Bangkok

I ate in restaurants I might have been reluctant to try in the past, learned about the places I visited, and got in some valuable exercise.

I was reminded I was no longer a youngster, and that the following morning after a few drinks can be hard work.

But most of all, I reconnected with Thailand and its people and replicated the joy I used to feel when heading off alone.

Listen to the Full Story

You can also listen to an account of my 2,200km tour on an episode of A Thai Football Podcast.

My Thai Lifestyle Blog, The Thai Adventures of Rob B, contains information, articles, and stories of my adventures around the Land of Smiles.

Samut Sakhon City

Samut Sakhon City FC

Ground: Thailand National Sports University Samut Sakhon Campus
Capacity: 2,000
Club Founded: 2022
League: Thai League 3 West (current level)

Other football clubs represented the coastal port before Samut Sakhon City took over the mantle and gradually progressed, pushing for promotion as a third-tier club.

A Potted Club History

The club was formed in 2022 to compete in the Thailand Amateur League in May and June of that year. The side won their Bangkok Perimeter group before defeating Dome FC, STK Muangnont, and FC Bang Sao Thong in the final to win promotion to Thai League 3.

In their debut season, ‘Sakhon Tigers’ were placed in T3 Bangkok, with home games played at Thonburi Stadium, where the team had won promotion. Yossagorn Silaket replaced Sarayuth Chaikamdee as head coach before being succeeded by Rungroj Tongthinphu.

The club's former crest

Meanwhile, neighbours Thawi Watthana Samut Sakhon United were relegated from T3 West, leaving City as the province’s sole club. This was after Samut Sakhon FC had been relegated from Thai League 2 in 2020-21 and folded. 

Bireme Diouf and Wellington Adão regularly scored for the team that finished third in its first two T3 seasons. Remarkably, City also reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 2023-24, defeating Chiangmai United and Bangkok FC on the way. They lost their last four tie 3-1 to Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi.

Filipe Vasconcelos top-scored the following season after Samut Sakhon transferred to T3 West, after moving to Thailand National Sports University Samut Sakhon Campus for a season, where they won the league but fell short in the playoffs. Both Yai Ninwong and Harnnarong Chunhakunakorn coached the team during the season.

In 2025-26, Kissakorn Krasaingoen was appointed head coach as the team retained their divisional title. Diogo Pereira was the top scorer.  Prasomporn Phupan took charge for the following season.

My visit

Samutsakhon City 3 Rajpracha 1
Thai League 3 West - Sunday 20th September 2026
👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 658 🎟️ 70 THB 

My 6-day tour of Thailand had reached its penultimate day. Everything had gone according to plan, and I wanted to round off my football by watching a match at a fifth venue I'd not seen a game at. Samut Sakhon fitted the bill perfectly in several ways.

I was making a three-part video for my YouTube Channel featuring the adventure. I had visited Samut Sakhon a couple of times before and knew it was an interesting town to film, plus the football kicked off at 3.30, so I could still catch a train to Bangkok, rather than their previous 5pm starts, which made timings very tight.

I'd arrived in the capital on Sunday morning from Suphanburi. I'd watched matches in Chainat, Chanthaburi and Ayutthaya before that. The receptionist surprised me by asking me if I wanted an upper or lower bed when I left my backpack at my hotel next to Lat Phrao MRT station. I thought that the room was inexpensive for its location and quality. 

I didn't realise it was a shared pod. It cost me 500 THB to upgrade to a single room. Undeterred, I had an excellent value English breakfast at the Red Lion on Sukhumvit 13. Expats and tourists have Western bar options, but this place is the best value. I think of it as Wetherspoons with multiple TV’s showing live sport.

Feeling good, I took the BTS Skytrain from Nana to Wongwian Yai across the city and walked 10 minutes to the railway station with the same name. My ticket to Maha Chai cost 20 THB for the hour-long journey. The departure station was fascinating, with several stalls and cafes alongside the tracks.

The train was busy, with passengers thankfully alighting along the way. Maha Chai is Samut Sakhon's old name, which locals still use. I took the ferry across the river and walked to Ban Laem station, recalling my first of two previous visits.

I wanted to catch a train to Samut Songkhram from Ban Laem but got lost and confused and ended up on the bus. This time I decided to see if I could make the connection. I only just made it, but a couple from Singapore weren't so lucky. I would advise an earlier train to Samut Sakhon and a saunter to make the connection.

After wandering around Samut Sakhon and grabbing food, I needed to get to the Thailand National Sport University Samut Sakhon Campus Stadium. This was across the Maha Chai tributary. No app taxis responded, so I took a tuk-tuk and gave the driver 100 THB. 

My first impressions of the stadium were not good. It was frankly a tip. I paid 70 THB for my ticket. Away fans were being charged 50 baht more. From the steep-sided stand, the view was decent enough, even if slightly distant, with a dilapidated running track between us and the pitch. The sandpits for the long jump were being used as a rubbish dump.

The fans created a terrific atmosphere, which got louder when a second set of home ultras arrived. They wore the same T-shirts, which said they were celebrating their eighth anniversary. Either that was some time ago, or they should change their washing powder.

Yuto Yoshijama and Jaranin Promchaisee put the hosts 2-0 up within twenty-four minutes. Japanese defender Jaekyung Park was City’s standout player, with skipper Ratchapol Nawanno also looking accomplished. Alex Vajente and Edem Buenorty looked decent up front for Rajpracha. Aussie defender Riki Sheather put in a decent shift.

The referee let the game flow by being wise to tricks, which made it good to watch. A huge error by home goalie, Phacharathon Chalermitt, allowed Vajente to reduce the arrears before half-time, as the game hung in the balance. At the break, I had a walk and was impressed by the beer prices and the limited but interesting food options.

The visitors battled on, but Samut Sakhon had their fair share of chances. In one attack, they hit both the post and bar. Both sides gave it everything and the ref played his part. I enjoyed it thoroughly despite the shabby surroundings. They possibly added to it.

Thankfully, a Bolt driver saved me a 30-minute walk back to the station, depositing me by the market. Back in Bangkok, I returned to the Red Lion to enjoy 150 THB pints of Tiger and have a nice conversation with a fellow expat watching the Premier League matches before returning to my hotel.

You can listen to an account of my 2,200km tour on an episode of A Thai Football Podcast.