At the end of the season, PEA was bought by Isaan politician Newin Chidchob who moved the club to his hometown after failed attempts to purchase TOT SC and Thai Royal Army FC and renamed them Buriram PEA FC, much to the anger of the fan base in Ayutthaya.
At the same time, Chidchob’s wife Mrs.Karuna Chidchob formed her own club Buriram FC who were accepted into the third-tier Regional League North Eastern Region playing their matches at Buriram Rajabhat University Stadium.
By June of the 2011 campaign the club had moved into the new purpose-built New I-Mobile Stadium, nicknamed The Thunder Castle as the club began to make a name for itself in its new location.
Bandović took his side to the league title in 2018 as Diogo topped the scoring charts as well as reaching the FA Cup final where they went down 3-2 to Chiangrai United at Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok.
Another trip to a city that I thoroughly enjoyed, this time with just Steve, after Fah fell ill a couple of days before departure. On this occasion we travelled by coach on a Nakhonchai Air service, and what a choice that proved to be.
The seats were comfortable and similar to first class on a train. Each had a screen with a full entertainment package, and best of all, you could press a button at any time and have your back massaged. Plus, we got a voucher for food when we stopped. Thoroughly recommended.
Our arrival was around thirty minutes late, not that we cared a jot. We walked to the Klim hotel and had a quick rinse before Gary was along with his good lady to drive us to a usual stop off for food and drinks before the match.
The stadium was busy, with us finally finding seats right up near the back towards the goal line, even if the crowd figure was nowhere near the published attendance for the 7pm kickoff. It would prove to be another frustrating evening for Buriram.
Unbelievably my record of seeing them lose every time I had visited the Chang Arena would continue, despite them requiring a solitary point to clinch the league title. They were undone by an excellent away team performance that thoroughly merited the win.
The only goal came in the thirteenth minute through a training ground corner kick move, as a hard low ball was dragged to near the penalty spot from where Sarach Yooyen smashed home on the volley past Siwarak Tedsungnoen.
The hosts huffed and puffed against a resolute BG side, who prevented the creation of any real clear-cut chances with an effort over the bar from Theerathon Bunmathan summing up their frustration prior to the same playing bending a free kick over.
Supachai Chaided blasted over on the half-volley soon after the halftime interval when fed in. He really should have hit the target, but his effort typified the home performance, which wasn’t impressing my Buriram supporting friends.
Bunmathan was the pick of the home players, bending a low effort just wide and then threading in Jonathan Bolingi who was denied by the Pathum Thani defence. It looked like the home side had restored parity when Bolingi squared for Suphanat Mueanta to net, but the goal was chalked off by VAR for offside.
The away team nearly extended the lead with a curling shot that was tipped onto the post by Tedsungnoen before the stopped was called into action to save another attempt. Bolingi then fired wide when trying to curl an effort past goalie Kittipong Phuthawchueak.
BG should have doubled their advantage when a fine move from a free kick resulted in a low header being directed wide of the post, prior to them seeing the game out with relative ease. Buriram were still nine points ahead of BGPU with four games remaining.
After the game, it took quite a while to get out of the busy and disorganized car park, from where we headed to AkriKa bar where the amiable host Geordie and a few regulars provided excellent company and some good local advice.
Urawa Red Diamonds 5 Shandong Taishan 0 (Monday 18th April 2022) AFC Champions League Group F (att: 321)
I had returned to Isan for a two-day break, to catch some top-quality action, with each of the Champions League groups being allocated one stadium to deal with all the rigmarole caused as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.
As Kao Kradong Stadium in the city was also staging matches, it offered a great opportunity to double up matches, with the first game a couple of miles away kicking off at 6pm, prior to this match at 9pm. Plus, I hadn’t previously seen a game at the lesser of the two city stadiums.
Gary drove us from the first match, and after a beer and a bite to eat, we found ourselves in the desolate car park. Our 100 Baht tickets offered the wrong instructions on which entrance to use, meaning a walk around the perimeter of the stadium. Once inside it was a case of picking any seats we wanted.
The crowd was sparse in such a huge arena, but the Japanese Diamond fans were while small in number, noisy and they had an impressive array of banners behind the goal. Their team proved to be far too strong for their Chinese opponents who were totally outclassed.
It was one-way traffic in the first ten minutes as Yuta Miyamoto and then Kaito Yasui both had efforts on goal, closely followed by attempts from Yoshio Koizumi and Kai Shibato. Urawa’s Takahiro Akimoto then saw his shot saved by busy Taishan keeper Cao Zheng.
The deadlock was finally broken in the twenty-sixth minute when Akimoto was on hand to side foot home. The same player was fouled in the box five minutes later. The referee pointed to the spot with the right foot of Alexander Scholz making no mistake to make it 2-0
Scholz then provided a cross for Tomoaki Okubo to be denied from the edge of the box by a Zheng save. The Chinese side must have been relieved to hear the halftime whistle, but the lead was extended eight minutes after the restart.
A corner led to Takuya Iwanami setting up Alex Schalk to score from close range with his left peg. Diamonds took their foot off the pedal for a spell, with Baihelamu Abuduwaili going close for Shandong as he was supported by Chen Zhexuan following a fast break.
Fourteen minutes from time, a superb right-footed free kick from Schalk found the top right-hand corner of the net. Kasper Junker saw a low shot saved after being set up by fellow Diamonds sub, Yusuke Matsuo with less than ten minutes remaining.
Both players went on to go close before the scoring was rounded off by Yasui who fired home from outside the box. It was a comprehensive victory and an impressive performance. We headed away to see Geordie at his bar before I enjoyed a good rest at the Klim Hotel.
Some days stand out in your life as a football supporter, and this was most certainly one of them. I don’t suppose Lou Reid was thinking of me when he penned Perfect Day, but that’s what it turned out to be.
My wife Taew and I set out at just gone 8am from our Suan Kluai home in Sisaket Province, heading west, where we picked up Noon, the girlfriend of my mate Gary Griffiths who we were meeting in Buriram. It was great to see them again for the first time since they attended our wedding.
On arrival at our destination, we left the car at the Sita Princess Hotel where we were staying for the night before Gary drove us to Chang Arena so that I could collect the tickets I’d bought online earlier in the week just in case it was a complete sellout.
We headed to Khao Kradong Forest Park and Volcano, with this being my wife’s first visit to the city. We enjoyed a nice walk and took photos before being reunited and then going for a nice lunch with Gary’s 92-year-old mum at the pleasant Book'n Bed restaurant. After a quick siesta, it was time to head to the action.
We went our separate ways after beers, with our tickets being the usual ridiculous markup as away supporters. 250 Baht was pushing it in my view, but it seems to be double that of the home fans everywhere. Port’s players gave the recrowned champions a guard of honour onto the pitch ahead of the 5.30pm kickoff.
Port, backed by about 300, who’d made the six-hour trip up from Bangkok, started reasonably well. Suphanat Mueanta saw a near post header from a corner go over for the hosts before Thai international striker Supachai Chaided missed a chance when put clean through with a slide rule pass from Haris Vučkić.
A fantastic passing move from the visitors gave Negueba an opportunity but his tame side foot shot saw keeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen gather easily. The work involved strong play from forward Hamilton, described by some as the Brazilian Andy Carroll. Whatever, he was a handful throughout this encounter.
A Port counterattack from defending a deeply struck set piece saw Negueba play in Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom whose first touch was poor, and second awful as he wasted a one-on-one. Despite this, I was happy enough if the teams went down the tunnel level at the break, but no prizes for what happened next.
Some faffing about at the back between Tanaboon Kesarat and Bordin Phala allowed Suphanat Mueanta to nip in and supply Vučkić who smashed the ball into the roof of the net for the champions. He had to go off with a strain immediately after, but his work was done.
At the interval, beers were available downstairs, but I didn’t bother. There was also a pile of Euro Cakes, a sweet version of a UK cake, which were given out free outside by sponsors, but not allowed within view of the pitch. My wife was sold not to eat the tubs of sweets in her bag either and I am being totally serious.
Goran Čaušić missed a good chance for the hosts when the ball was dragged back to him, but Port continued to play OK and equalized with a superb bending free kick of around 25 yards from Airton, the third of the Brazilians in the lineup.
Mueanta stung the hands of Port stopper Somporn Yos, with the follow-up from Čaušić being easily saved. Just before the hour mark Port went ahead. Hamilton won a header which landed in the direction of Worachit Kanitsribampen, on loan from BG Pathum United, who scored.
Unbelievably the linesman's flag was up, but I said straightaway it was a goal because he had come from behind the defender. It was tighter than I initially thought, but VAR overruled the official and Port found themselves 2-1 ahead. Within three minutes the scores were level as Chaided was gifted a free header from a corner.
The restart was delayed as Negueba was going spare, indicating to referee Sivakorn Pu-Udom that black Buriram sub, Jonathan Bolingi, was making monkey gestures in his direction. The ref clearly hadn’t a clue what had happened, booked Bolingi, and made the situation worse by also showing a yellow card to Hamilton for complaining.
From the kickoff, United won possession and fed Mueanta wide. His low cross found Bolingi, who couldn’t get a firm connection and allowed Yos to save as the atmosphere increased. Ten minutes from time it got very loud in the away section as a build-up was half cleared but fell to Kanitsribampen who finished very calmly. I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
Suphanan Bureerat was denied by the legs of Tedsungnoen as the visitors threatened to extend their lead with another effort coming back off the underside of the bar before Bolingi was fortunate not to receive a second yellow when twice in quick succession he used his hands to push over a Port player in the upper chest.
Naturally enough I was extremely happy, but disappointed also. I know it’s easier when your team wins but I thought the expat Buriram fans might have been slightly more magnanimous, putting the result down to their team being poor rather than offering any praise. Not for the first time, I must add.
We went on to the Astra Bar a rooftop area on top of the Alvarez Hotel where it was surreal to hear an expat having a go at the Thai staff for poor service while a fella from Newcastle “entertained” the meagre number of customers while singing and playing the keyboard. I did well not to let my laughter show, while my missus told the moaner to calm down in Thai. Hilarious.
On to Afrika, a bar that doesn’t appear to have a clock to see Geordie, while I continued asking the locals if they enjoyed the game, followed by Tawandang nightclub until 3am where I was singing and dancing with my good lady and three young Port fans. Incredibly loud but fun, with live acts and a DJ. I should know better as a 57-year-old!
We returned home the following morning after entering a coma in the room at our hotel. A brilliant 24 hours, and I’d still seen Buriram lose every home game I’ve attended.
Buriram United 2 Chonburi 2 (Sunday 8th October 2023) Thai League 1 (att:16,813)
An incredible game of football which flowed from end to end throughout and provided a superb spectacle, at least a neutral, on a slick pitch in pouring rain which no doubt added to the excitement. The match was surrounded on either side by fun in wonderful company. A fantastic day all told.
It is thought by fans of other clubs that Buriram were carrying too much power, through their owner who does seem to carry a lot of influence. In the last few weeks, his side got huge rubs of the green from a referee astonishingly appointed despite being from Buriram and then the postponement of an away game to the top of the league side, when games are played in far worse conditions.
For all that, Buriram has the best stadium in the country, a fantastic recruitment record, huge support, with the side winning the domestic treble in the last two seasons. Think the Man United of Thailand, and you are not far off. They came into this match with games in hand on leaders Port, with opponents Chonburi in the drop zone after seven games.
I met up with Dale, my podcast co-host cheering for the visitors, and he genuinely feared a severe drubbing. After the game, he was gutted that his side hadn’t taken all three points despite being reduced to ten when star man Lira was shown his second yellow card with half an hour remaining.
Chonburi looked panicky in the early stages and conceded from a free header after five minutes when Lonsana Doumbouya bulleted him the third of three consecutive corners. The away side was playing high-risk risk if attractive football and were thankful their keeper Patrick Deyto pulled off a miraculous save from the scorer as the prophecy of my mate looked like it would play out.
Gradually Chonburi grew in confidence and kept playing in the same fashion and creating chances. Lira smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar while being dominant in the air and looking like a proper player throughout. Both sides were going from it and fashioning opportunities. Thai international striker Supachai Chaided should have scored from a header soon after the restart.
Lira’s bookable offences were both on the soft side, leading no doubt to more raising of eyebrows around the watching nation. Instead of being deflated his team found another gear and scored despite a VAR check for offside through Channarong Promsrikaew with twenty minutes to go to send the away fans wild with delight in the open corner, where my mate had been involved in a huge row with stewards who wanted to confiscate his brolly protecting him and his wife.
Chances were being missed by the hosts before Supachai finished expertly five minutes later. Again, a VAR check, this time for a push, which went in Buriram’s favour. Surely that was that. I had said to my Buriram pal high up in the seats with us, that it could easily end 4 or 5-1 as the visitors were out on their feet. Deyto and his defence were performing miracles as play stretched and turned into something like a basketball match.
However, there was a sting in the tail as the impressive Murillo turned his full-back, cut inside and then unleashed a beauty into the far corner past Siwarak Tedsungnoen in the home net. Incredible stuff, as Buriram then did everything but snatch a winner.
To their credit, a feature at Thai games always sees the opposing fans applaud their opponents who go across to greet them. The reception offered to the Chonburi players was wonderful to witness, and well deserved. Indeed, the noise from the West Zone was impressive all evening.
I was happy as earlier the woman at the ticket desk gave me 300 Baht change from 500 for my two tickets, and I was only eight numbers out from winning a bed mattress in the halftime draw. It might have been interesting carting that around the town mind.
As I said, a great day. My wife drove us through for lunch with friends at a stunning waterside restaurant, A fine Indian feed after the match at Afrika Bar, followed by a ridiculously large session of craft beer at a bar called Tiny Chick in town.
Five fridges full of bottles and cans could be chosen from around the world, with a great concept. You pick them out of the fridge and then pay at the counter and then sit down, with waitresses bringing you glasses. Live EPL on the big screen and a full house of happy young Thais, with the Everton supporting owner being very flexible with his hours of business.
We returned home with two carrier bags full of empty cans, as my good lady hit upon the idea of fixing them to the garden fence and putting pebbles in them so they would rattle in the wind and scare the chickens away from the crops. She’s dafter than me. My hangover on the way home the following morning was not pretty.
Buriram United 1 Port FC 1 (Sunday 12th May 2024) Thai League 1 (att: 31,200)
A wonderful advert for Thai football at a packed Chang Arena as the hosts requiring a win to secure the title were held by third place Port who were denied a late winner by a very dubious VAR intervention.
The first twenty minutes all Buriram before Port found their breath after ensuring that keeper Somporn didn’t have a shot to save. The visitors from Bangkok went ahead when a scuffed effort found its way to Worachit Kanitsribumphen who slotted past Siwarak Thedsungnoen.
The scorer didn’t celebrate as he, and indeed most of the crowd assumed, that he was offside. However, VAR showed that he was just on. Thai national team captain Theerathon Bunmathan creates division among opposing fans. He’s an excellent player who delivered some great crosses throughout the game, but as ever he was involved in some exchanges with the Port fans, who respect but genuinely don’t like him.
Into the second half, Port had taken control of the game and were playing at a slower pace and keeping possession with a really polished performance creating a few half-chances along the way. They really should have grasped their opportunity when it arose, as they very rarely keep a clean sheet.
Mid-season Buriram signing, Bissoli has made all the difference in them overtaking Bangkok United as they head towards their eighth title in twelve seasons. The Brazilian is a class act, always in the thick of the action and being a pest to the opposition, while never being short of a word in the ref’s ear.
It was he who found space from a corner to head home after sixty-four minutes despite Somporn’s best efforts. He went close once again from another tremendous wise delivery, which Port failed to get to grips with throughout the encounter. It was at this point that the away side decided to go for the win, rather than just being content with a draw.
They thought that they had scored a winner around ten minutes from time. A near post corner got a deflection and went in. Bissoli complained he was pushed. Referee Sivakorn Pu-Udom is a leading Thai official and had an excellent game. However, he was summoned to check the VAR monitor for reasons those who watched the highlights later, still couldn’t work out.
I’m unsure what directive referees are given by the Thai FA, but he decided to chalk off the goal. It caused plenty of anger both in the stadium and on social media. Buriram do tend to get many favourable decisions throughout a season, not dissimilar to Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
It's a shame to be tainted in such a way as the club does so much right. It is like going to a good-level European game, with a great matchday experience. On this occasion, a junior tournament which had good crowds was being played out on the nearby training pitches. My friends attending for the first time were extremely impressed.
Plenty of social activity as ever, with four couples in our group, some supporting each side. Excellent fare at Afrika bar pre-match. Beers near the away block outside, and then a proper session at a craft bar in town after the game before bedtime at the Klim Hotel which was up to its old excellent standards.
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