Air Force United

 

Air Force Central FC was a professional football club that was based in the north of the Thai capital of Bangkok. The club were formed as Royal Thai Air Force FC in 1937 as they quickly became one of the most successful outfits in the country.

The club's honours included several Khor Royal Cup and Queen's Cup triumphs throughout the decades. Success continued into the nineties as the Thai FA Cup was lifted in 1995 and 1996. This brought league honours as the Thai Premier League title was claimed in 1997 and 1999. 

Silverware once again arrived at Thupatemi Stadium in 2001 as Air Force once more won the FA Cup. Unfortunately, that saw the end of the run, which saw the team relegated from the TPL at the end of the 2003-04 season.

In 2009 the club changed its name to Air Force United as regulations in Thai football required all clubs to become private franchises. United continued in the second tier of Division One as they tried to regain their top-flight status without really getting close to promotion.

United had to relocate to Ramkhamheang University for the latter part of the 2011 season as the floods in the north of the season hit Thupatemi Stadium. They moved out once more at the end of the following campaign to North Bangkok Stadium, while their home venue was renovated.

'The Blue Eagles' battled successfully against relegation in both 2011 and 2012, while the 2013 campaign under the stewardship of club legend Narasak Boonkleng turned out to be one of great success after a couple of lengthy unbeaten runs led to the team winning promotion under the title of Air Force AVIA FC.

The club changed its title to Air Force Central FC for the 2014 campaign in a sponsorship deal. Unfortunately, the change didn't bring any good fortune back in the top flight. The team were relegated after finishing second from the bottom of the table and Boonkleng departed.

Sasom Pobprsert took over in 2015, intending to take Central straight back up at the first attempt. He took the side to ninth place with Julius Oiboh top-scoring. The goals of Valdo and Leandro fired the Air Force to fourth place in 2016, just missing out on promotion.

Thai League football was restructured for the 2017 campaign, with Air Force being placed in the second tier Thai League 2 (T2). Probrsert led his side to second place and promotion thanks in part to the goals of Kayne Vincent as the crowds flocked to Thupatemi Stadium. 

However, the clubs spell in the top flight lasted just one season. The Blue Eagles finished bottom of the table as Probrsert was replaced in March 2018 by Andrew Ord who lasted until June before former Welsh international goalkeeper Jason Brown took over. 

The Central Group pulled their sponsorship as the club was renamed Air Force United for the 2019 campaign. The team finished fourteenth in Thai League 2 as Vincent again ended as top scorer. The change of monarch also led to the withdrawal of government support to state-owned signs around this time.

The club franchise was sold as Air Force relocated and was renamed as Uthai Thani FC. You can read all about them here.

Thai Royal Air Force FC moved into Thupatemi Stadium to play in Thai League 3 in 2020. Their exploits can be seen here. 

My visits

Luk Tapfah Pathum Thani 1 Futera Seeker 1 (Wednesday 27th March 2013) Thai Regional League Central West Region (att:  c300)

To see my round-up and photos from the above match, click here: 

I had the opportunity to visit Thupatemi Stadium at the above game, after visiting several stadiums in the area. Because of its location, I'd been past a few times and had flown right over it when using the nearby Don Mueng Airport. Indeed, during the match, several Nok Air and Air Asia flights went close by over the pitch.

The stadium had a running track around the playing surface but the stands were straight at the ends, which would mean quite a viewing distance from the corners. It was immaculately painted in white, both inside and out. Just one side had a roof, with blue seating and a VIP and press area occupying the centre section. Old-fashioned scoreboards stood at the rear of both ends. 

Outside there was a large car park and some smaller pitches leading out onto Phahonyothin Road. The rear of the Main Stand had an excellent club shop, which would be well worth a second visit as it stocked shirts from many other Thai clubs as well as paraphernalia of Blue Eagles souvenirs.

Air Force Central 2 Police United 2 (Saturday 31^st October 2015) Thai League Division One (att: 3,389)

The last of my touring mates was heading home after the Beer Battered Seadogs tour. I had taken Karl and Tony for lunch at the Australian Bar in Soi 11 before we enjoyed a relaxing leg and foot massage on Soi 5. 

Last-minute shopping had been purchased by the lads at MBK which was followed by the slowest served strawberry smoothie in history, in the plush Siam Center.

I was now ready for some ‘me time’. The boys headed back to check out of our fine Bally D Varee Diva Suites on Soi 20 before they headed to the Crossbar for the Birmingham City v Wolves game to say goodbye to Steve, Vaughan and Brian.

For me, it was a step into the adventure of local Bangkok transport and I couldn’t wait. The BTS Skytrain took me to the northern terminus of Mo Chit from where I looked down on the enormous Chatuchak Weekend Market and to my delight the row of bus stops. My earlier research had offered me a list of buses heading close to the Thupatemee Stadium and fortunately, the 34 service soon arrived.

The bus had seen better days and had a Manchester United large sticker above the driver. The driver dunked his mug into a big bucket of water to stay hydrated. The engine was right next to my seat up front, so I stood for a while until a seat further back became available. Air conditioning was by courtesy of open windows. The ‘clippie’ operated from a little wooden tin. I think he charged me 8 Baht (16p). It was to be excellent value.

We went slowly up the fascinating Phahon Yothin Road, past lots of markets and thousands of people. This was proper Bangkok. To be honest I had moments when I wondered if I was on the correct bus? Time was passing by as we got stuck in traffic where the Skytrain extension works were being carried out.

Occasionally I recognised a name like Kasetsart University. I tried to place it into a virtual map in my mind. Not being able to spot the familiar Don Muang Tollway was throwing me. When I retraced my footsteps online later I realised I’d been on the same road for a short while with Steve when we took the bus from Minburi looking for the home of Police United the previous March.

Passing more built-up shopping areas and population centres I was getting a little concerned. There were less than thirty minutes to the 6pm kick-off. We passed the Air Force Museum, which gave me some comfort, but just where was that tollway? When two young lads got on in AFC shirts I was over the moon.

When they got up I followed. Sure enough the stadium was just over the busy road and through the market. Really I should have grabbed some of the chicken on the stalls, but I trusted my luck to food at the stadium. When would I ever learn? 

My ticket was 120 Baht (around £2.40). With a large Coke and some fried skewered meat in hand for 45 Baht (90p), I went upstairs to the Main Stand. This was familiar surroundings to me as I’d been to Thupatemee Stadium in March 2013 for a Luk Tapfah Pathum Thani game. The club shared the stadium. There was a good-sized mixed crowd in attendance. As usual, the game kicked off late; this time eight minutes.

Planes soared above every couple of minutes as they came to land at nearby Don Muang Airport. Police were cheered on by around 200 away fans. In a delicious twist of irony, they were placed in the worst part of the ground, at the far end and a long way from the pitch.

In the early stages, Police’s attacking midfielder Adnan Barakat was standing out. Central’s Ghanaian frontman Issac Honey on loan from BEC Tero Sasana, was proving a handful. After around the half-hour mark, Air Force took the lead with a slightly deflected shot at the near post from Hyunjin Lee. The Brazilian Valdo was having a fine game for the AFC as he took on opponents with skill.

It really was a good game. Air Force started the game just outside the promotion places against the runaway leaders. The home fans on the far side were doing their best to rouse their side. The bank blasted out a decent version of ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’. It was infinitely preferable to listen to Southampton fans sing it for the twentieth time in a game. 

Police drew level with an absolutely brilliant goal. Several one-touch passes gave the home side air sickness before a solo run and finish from Tana Chanabut gave the scoreline a more realistic tint. Police were not getting many decisions from the officials, so I thought the equaliser was deserved.

The scoring in the first period wasn’t done there. On forty-three minutes, an Air Force attack ended with the visitor’s Kon Saipanya putting the ball into his own net at the back post while under pressure 2-1 at the break. I entered the stand at the far end for some additional photography before heading across to the far open side. A fine feature at most grounds is that your ticket allows you to use other stands, as long as the stadium isn’t full.

Before I went in it was time for another Coke and a carton of small chicken pieces which really put any KFC product in the shade; quality and price-wise. I nearly repeated the dose, but I was wary of leaving room for later beers!

The atmosphere was certainly feisty in the cheap seats, but also humorous. The presence of a foreigner was greeted with lots of smiles. The home fans were excellent with vocal encouragement. One of the older fans seemed to be instructing the ball boys not to rush too much in returning the ball when it went out of play.

The game was ebbing from end to end. Air Force had chances to extend the league, but the Police weren’t destined for a swift return to the top flight for nothing. Halfway through the second period, it was time for me to make a move. I was slightly reluctant, but Port were my team and I wanted to see their 8pm kick-off at TOT.

I went through the car park past the numerous vendors and over the Lam Luk Ka Road to flag down a taxi for my second match of the evening.

I later found out from a Central fan at TOT Stadium that the final score was 2-2. Dagno Saika had levelled in the second minute of stoppage time. No wonder he looked fed up.

To see my video, as part of my tour diary, click here.