Army United FC, who were known as Royal Thai Army FC until December 2010, was a professional football club based in the Din Daeng district of Bangkok. The club was originally formed in 1916 and always had a team competing in Thai football.
Most of the clubs players were members of the Army playing at the impressive 20,000 capacity Thai Army Sports Stadium. They folded at the end of the 2019 season owing to changes to the constitution of such sporting entities and their funding.
When the Thai football league system was modernised, Army were in the Premier League. However they were relegated in 1999 and they remained in Division One until 2004-05 when they won the title. Three seasons in the top flight followed before a further relegation was suffered.
This time the team went straight back up at the first attempt in 2010 helped by the goals of Tatree Sing-Ha. In 2011 the club abandoned its policy of only fielding players from the army as the game in Thailand became more professional.
At the same time, Army Welfare Development was formed, playing in the Khǒr Royal Cup before being elected to the Regional League 2 in 2015 as Royal Thai Army FC to offer an outlet to purely army employees.
'The Gentlemen Ranger' reached the FA Cup Final in 2012, but lost out to Buriram United under the stewardship of Paniphon Kerdyam. During the run, Army were given a reprieve from a penalty defeat to Trat when it was realised that the Regional League side had fielded an unregistered player and were kicked out of the competition.
Former Scottish international defender Matt Elliott was in charge of team affairs between January and June 2014, before the ex Tottenham Hotspur and England defender Gary Stevens took over.
Stevens lasted until May 2015 when he was replaced by Issaro Sritaro, who in turn was replaced by fellow Thai and former team boss Watcharakorn Antakhamphu.
His tenure saw the team go on a poor run which saw them in the final relegation place with three rounds remaining when the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej marked the end of the season with league places at the time being counted as final. Thus Army were relegated.
The 2017 campaign in the newly rebranded second tier Thai League 2 (T2) kicked off with Thanis Areesngarkul in charge of team affairs, but a poor run of results saw him replaced by Col. Kittichet Mahothorn in March 2017.
Daniel Blanco took over team affairs in July 2017; remaining in charge until the end of the season before departing to Krabi. The former Portugal international midfielder Nascimento arrived as the new head coach for the 2018 season.
He was replaced in June 2018 by Adul Luekijna who remained in place to take the side to an eighth-place finish before Daniel Blanco was appointed as head coach for the 2019 campaign. The side finished fifth in the table as Tanakorn Dangthong led the scoring prior to the club folding.
This time the team went straight back up at the first attempt in 2010 helped by the goals of Tatree Sing-Ha. In 2011 the club abandoned its policy of only fielding players from the army as the game in Thailand became more professional.
At the same time, Army Welfare Development was formed, playing in the Khǒr Royal Cup before being elected to the Regional League 2 in 2015 as Royal Thai Army FC to offer an outlet to purely army employees.
'The Gentlemen Ranger' reached the FA Cup Final in 2012, but lost out to Buriram United under the stewardship of Paniphon Kerdyam. During the run, Army were given a reprieve from a penalty defeat to Trat when it was realised that the Regional League side had fielded an unregistered player and were kicked out of the competition.
Former Scottish international defender Matt Elliott was in charge of team affairs between January and June 2014, before the ex Tottenham Hotspur and England defender Gary Stevens took over.
Stevens lasted until May 2015 when he was replaced by Issaro Sritaro, who in turn was replaced by fellow Thai and former team boss Watcharakorn Antakhamphu.
His tenure saw the team go on a poor run which saw them in the final relegation place with three rounds remaining when the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej marked the end of the season with league places at the time being counted as final. Thus Army were relegated.
The 2017 campaign in the newly rebranded second tier Thai League 2 (T2) kicked off with Thanis Areesngarkul in charge of team affairs, but a poor run of results saw him replaced by Col. Kittichet Mahothorn in March 2017.
Daniel Blanco took over team affairs in July 2017; remaining in charge until the end of the season before departing to Krabi. The former Portugal international midfielder Nascimento arrived as the new head coach for the 2018 season.
He was replaced in June 2018 by Adul Luekijna who remained in place to take the side to an eighth-place finish before Daniel Blanco was appointed as head coach for the 2019 campaign. The side finished fifth in the table as Tanakorn Dangthong led the scoring prior to the club folding.
My visit
Royal Thai Army 1 Bangkok United 1 (Saturday 24th April 2010) Thailand Premier League (att: c1,200)
My report written for Scarborough Athletic FC fanzine, Abandon Chip.
Owing to the erupting Icelandic volcano, I was unfortunately detained in Bangkok for a week longer than scheduled. Not wanting to cry over spilt milk and ever looking to broaden my footballing education, I decided that Saturday 24th April 2010 should be spent watching a local game.
I had planned to go to the game in the Premier Division between BEC Tero Sasana and top of the table Chonburi at the Thephasadin Stadium. Unfortunately this venue was next to the old National Stadium in an area of the city disrupted by violent political clashes involving the military and the red shirt protestors. This led to the game being postponed.
Not to be deterred, I hit on a plan B. I took off after lunch with Steve and the other intrepid stranded traveller, Neil Eggar, I found a taxi and set off. My companions gave me the wind up before I set off. My chosen game was to be Army v Bangkok United. They laughed as they said I’d probably picked a grudge match.
The driver wasn’t sure of my destination so I gave him a station on the underground where I thought I could walk from. After a little conversation in very broken Thai and English, he revealed he was a reserve in the Army and showed me his ID card.
He reckoned he knew where the stadium was. I also knew vaguely as I’d passed it before on my way to Harrow International School where I help co-ordinate a cricket tournament each November.
My man was spot on and he pulled into a service station just short of the stadium off the expressway a full hour before kick off. I spotted a local in a Bangkok United shirt who luckily spoke English nit noi (a little) and he directed me to the ground.
A five minutes later saw me entering the sports campus. The guard seemed very friendly which was encouraging. I knew the stadium had a track round the pitch and one side had a roof from research so I wandered round to that side. All around were basic cafes which also served beer.
Outside both clubs had souvenir stalls, but I resisted. I decided to enter the ground and I paid 80 baht (just short of £2) for a seat in the Main Stand. I had the bottle from my water removed by courteous guards. Upon entry I found I was in the home fans section. A VIP area separated us from the away fans further up the touchline.
There were school children on the far open side. It had been my intention to gain entry into there at some point to take photos and to get on the live TV coverage while speaking to my mates on my mobile while they looked on from home.
Even better was when I could take one back upstairs for the second half. It was most welcome as it was thirsty work just watching. I noticed that the sub has to go to the fourth official and show his official TPL ID to sanction a change.
United grabbed an equaliser about ten minutes from time. The same tell tale which is found anywhere in the world signs echoed through the stand: a second or so silence followed by the roars of the away fans who numbered around 300. The total gate probably crept over 1,000.
I was sick for my new found friends who had been most welcoming with their warm smiles. Full time saw something I am very much in approval of. The teams went across to their opposing supporters and bowed; known as wai-ing in Thailand.
It is a traditional greeting like shaking hands in western culture). In return the opposing fans applauded the players. Very civilised and far nicer than the abuse they would suffer elsewhere. It IS a game after all.
At full time I went back to a bar that was showing the last half hour of the Man Utd v Tottenham match and got stuck in. Some locals tried to have a conversation but expressions and body language spoke louder than words.
I went back to the club shop and purchased an excellent quality Army team shirt for 450 baht, which was less than a tenner!. I finished off my beer and went for a taxi back to Steve’s house in Minburi.
The games kick off in Thailand at a perfect time. I was home twenty minutes into the 3pm kick offs from back home with each game being shown live on different channels.
If ever you are in the Land of Smiles, please make an effort and go and watch a local game. You will see 100% commitment offering excellent value for money.
You will generally get a cheap meal and beer and you can buy a team shirt for £10; which showed just how much all clubs in the western world were ripping off genuine fans. You will also get a warm welcome and your support will be appreciated.
Make sure you do it! To see a brief video I took at the game, click here:
To read about my confusing visit to watch Royal Thai Army FC in 2016, click here:
Owing to the erupting Icelandic volcano, I was unfortunately detained in Bangkok for a week longer than scheduled. Not wanting to cry over spilt milk and ever looking to broaden my footballing education, I decided that Saturday 24th April 2010 should be spent watching a local game.
I had planned to go to the game in the Premier Division between BEC Tero Sasana and top of the table Chonburi at the Thephasadin Stadium. Unfortunately this venue was next to the old National Stadium in an area of the city disrupted by violent political clashes involving the military and the red shirt protestors. This led to the game being postponed.
Not to be deterred, I hit on a plan B. I took off after lunch with Steve and the other intrepid stranded traveller, Neil Eggar, I found a taxi and set off. My companions gave me the wind up before I set off. My chosen game was to be Army v Bangkok United. They laughed as they said I’d probably picked a grudge match.
The driver wasn’t sure of my destination so I gave him a station on the underground where I thought I could walk from. After a little conversation in very broken Thai and English, he revealed he was a reserve in the Army and showed me his ID card.
He reckoned he knew where the stadium was. I also knew vaguely as I’d passed it before on my way to Harrow International School where I help co-ordinate a cricket tournament each November.
My man was spot on and he pulled into a service station just short of the stadium off the expressway a full hour before kick off. I spotted a local in a Bangkok United shirt who luckily spoke English nit noi (a little) and he directed me to the ground.
A five minutes later saw me entering the sports campus. The guard seemed very friendly which was encouraging. I knew the stadium had a track round the pitch and one side had a roof from research so I wandered round to that side. All around were basic cafes which also served beer.
Outside both clubs had souvenir stalls, but I resisted. I decided to enter the ground and I paid 80 baht (just short of £2) for a seat in the Main Stand. I had the bottle from my water removed by courteous guards. Upon entry I found I was in the home fans section. A VIP area separated us from the away fans further up the touchline.
There were school children on the far open side. It had been my intention to gain entry into there at some point to take photos and to get on the live TV coverage while speaking to my mates on my mobile while they looked on from home.
The fans were very enthusiastic making loud noises with drums, hooters and the plastic sticks which are found at games.
Their support never abated. The crowd was mainly aged between 14 and 30 and it has to be said that it was a pleasure to be in the company of the many females. They were certainly more aesthetic than my usual mates at a game.
A leader got the “Tra Kong Chak”, as Army are known, fans going with a megaphone and nearly everyone joined in. If only I knew what they were chanting so I could have!
The game was very entertaining, assisted by a good ref who worked well with his assistants. Army were bottom of the league but they had the better of the play, eventually going ahead. I was really getting into it by now and I was even greater enthused by finding beer for 30 baht (80p) at half time. 
Their support never abated. The crowd was mainly aged between 14 and 30 and it has to be said that it was a pleasure to be in the company of the many females. They were certainly more aesthetic than my usual mates at a game.
A leader got the “Tra Kong Chak”, as Army are known, fans going with a megaphone and nearly everyone joined in. If only I knew what they were chanting so I could have!
Even better was when I could take one back upstairs for the second half. It was most welcome as it was thirsty work just watching. I noticed that the sub has to go to the fourth official and show his official TPL ID to sanction a change.
United grabbed an equaliser about ten minutes from time. The same tell tale which is found anywhere in the world signs echoed through the stand: a second or so silence followed by the roars of the away fans who numbered around 300. The total gate probably crept over 1,000.
I was sick for my new found friends who had been most welcoming with their warm smiles. Full time saw something I am very much in approval of. The teams went across to their opposing supporters and bowed; known as wai-ing in Thailand.
It is a traditional greeting like shaking hands in western culture). In return the opposing fans applauded the players. Very civilised and far nicer than the abuse they would suffer elsewhere. It IS a game after all.
At full time I went back to a bar that was showing the last half hour of the Man Utd v Tottenham match and got stuck in. Some locals tried to have a conversation but expressions and body language spoke louder than words.
I went back to the club shop and purchased an excellent quality Army team shirt for 450 baht, which was less than a tenner!. I finished off my beer and went for a taxi back to Steve’s house in Minburi.
The games kick off in Thailand at a perfect time. I was home twenty minutes into the 3pm kick offs from back home with each game being shown live on different channels.
If ever you are in the Land of Smiles, please make an effort and go and watch a local game. You will see 100% commitment offering excellent value for money.
You will generally get a cheap meal and beer and you can buy a team shirt for £10; which showed just how much all clubs in the western world were ripping off genuine fans. You will also get a warm welcome and your support will be appreciated.
Make sure you do it! To see a brief video I took at the game, click here:
To read about my confusing visit to watch Royal Thai Army FC in 2016, click here:
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