Bangkok Christian College

Bangkok Christian College FC

Ground: Bangkok Christian College Field

Capacity: 200

Club Founded: 1997

League: Academy Football (current level)

One of many educational institutions that once competed in the Thai League, Bangkok Christian College now concentrates on playing against similar teams while developing its scholars.

Bangkok Christian College Field

Thai League Years

Bangkok Christian College FC competed in the Thai Football League, representing the educational institute founded in 1852. BCC won the Ngor Royal Cup and triumphed in the Khǒr Royal Cup on a couple of occasions to win promotion to the second-tier Thai Division 1 League.

In their second season, the team was promoted to the Thai Premier League (TPL), with their spell lasting just the 2002-03 season. Worse was to come as a result of further relegation; the team found itself playing once again in the Khǒr Royal Cup. An expansion of the Thai League to include a third-tier gave the college a pathway back to professional football.

Thephasadin Stadium
BCC's home venue in two spells

On the Move

Jarun Burapharat Stadium and then Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium were used to stage home games before the division was increased, becoming regionalised as more clubs were formed around the country. The Christian College moved into Thephasadin Stadium.

The 2013 season was spent at PAT Stadium, as the side narrowly missed out on reaching the playoffs from the Regional League Division 2 Bangkok. Teaming up with BEC Tero-Sasana the following year, playing as BCC Tero at Thephasadin Stadium, they reached the playoffs, without challenging for promotion. 

BCC in friendly action

Leaving the Thai League

The sponsorship with the Tero entertainment conglomerate ended in 2015 as the club reverted to its original title and moved back in as Port FC's tenants at PAT Stadium. TOT Stadium was the team's venue in 2017, for its final season in the professional league. They finished fourth in the Thai League 4 Bangkok after league restructuring.

The club failed to meet the licensing requirements and was banned from the competition for two seasons, never to return. Two unmemorable campaigns in the Thailand Amateur League followed.

My visit

At Vichupa Football Field V1

Bangkok Christian College 3 Minburi United 1

Friendly - Friday 28th July 2023

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c30 🎟️ Free

With no amateur fixtures over the forthcoming weekend owing to a holiday for the King’s birthday, two youthful sides got together at Vichupa Football Fields off Ram Inthra in Ram Inthra to the northeast of the capital.

This fine venue has five pitches, all with small covers and high nets around them. I'd been to V3 for a game earlier in the year, as well as a couple of games on V5, one of two pitches belonging to the same group around half a mile south.

This game was played on Pitch 1, which was a new one for me, and most convenient as I was up the road with my good lady having the car valeted when I spotted the game on Facebook. A bus dropped me off on Nawamin Road before I undertook a ten-minute walk.

I guessed that there would be no catering at the ground, so I bought a toastie from 7/11, and later, a passing motorcycle vendor sold me an ice cream while the match was in progress, as I looked on from the unoccupied fourth official's bench.

The game consisted of three periods of thirty minutes. Everyone in both large youthful squads got a game. I presume this set-up might have been agreed because United had three keepers, giving them half an hour each to impress the coach.

Minburi were competing in the local Thonburi and Thailand Amateur Leagues, while BCC seems to have reassembled well on this evidence, with this being the under-18s team. I would be keeping an eye on their future progress.

Several parents watched from fold-up chairs beside their cars outside the net. We were treated to a fast-paced encounter full of skill and attacking play. The coaches at both clubs certainly had their lads playing the right way.

There were very few fouls and absolutely no dissent either, which I enjoyed. Volunteers from BCC refereed and assisted him, even updating the scoreboard on the far side. They certainly looked to be a polite and disciplined bunch.

Minburi took an early lead in the early stages when a low free kick was turned in. The scores were levelled when a low cross was put away in sixteen minutes. Neither side had numbers on their shirts, so I had no chance of working out the scorers. Indeed, United wore their sleeveless training tops.

BCC broke quickly, but a forward missed a sitter at the near post after receiving a square ball before the Minburi keeper pulled off a smart save. A low cross-shot was tapped in at the back post a couple of minutes before the first break to make it 2-1.

The United goalie made a miraculous save not long after the restart. BCC saw a half-volley go just over and then another effort cleared off the line before the final turnaround. It became 3-1 when a good twist and turn in the box was followed by a low shot into the bottom corner.

A late effort across the goal was clipped off the Minburi post before proceedings ended. It had been most watchable fare. Good fun, and an easy, cheap bus ride home listening to TMS before watching the Test match action from the Oval with IPA from the local shop and a stunning meal cooked by my beautiful wife.