Chanthaburi

The current Chanthaburi FC, a professional football club from the province of the same name based in southeast Thailand was formed in 2013, playing their games at Chanthaburi Province Stadium. This was after a reformation of the club of the same title that was formed in 2004.

In 2006 Chanthaburi were admitted into Division 1, also known as the Provincial League, where they ended in eighth place. This was followed by fourth and then a fifth-place finish as Witthaya Lhoareang topped the scoring charts.

 

Sirisak Musbu-ngor put away the goals in successive seasons which ended in poor league placings, while the goals of Kassiaty Gildas Labi in 2011 saw little improvement to general performances. Bottom place in 2012 saw Chanthaburi relegated. Prawit Wasoontara ending the season as top scorer with four goals tells its own story.

This led to a drop down to Division 2 Central-East where they finished fourth, fifth, and eighth in a season spent at Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University Stadium, where the team also played in 2011.The level was restructured leading to a move to play in Division 2 East. A tenth place slot offered no inclination as to what was to follow in the 2017 season. 

Further changes had been made to the league set up, leading to ‘The Wild Rabbits’ finding themselves placed in Thai League 4 Eastern Region. The goals of Mbassegus Mbarga led the side to the regional title assisted by Lee Jung-hun, but they fell short in the Champions League promotion playoffs.

Second place was achieved in 2018 with Chainarong Samuttha leading the scoring charts. Again, the club topped the attendance average in the region, but once again fell short of winning promotion through the playoffs.

 

For the next two campaigns Tripop Janoensheep scored most goals, with the 2020-21 season back in the third tier under head coach Arthit Onkham after further reorganisation saw them back in T3 Eastern Region.

Htoo Kapaw did his bit to cheer the crowds in 2021-22 despite a lowly league finish for the side coached by Nattapon Kokittipong before he was replaced by Tanadat Sangurai for the 2022-23 season where the goals of Luan Santos saw a divisional runners-up spot arrive. 

The side went on to top the Upper Group in the playoffs and win promotion to Thai League 2 for the 2023-24 campaign, where Brazilian coach Alexander Apsrecid was put in charge of team affairs. Supachai Komslip replaced him before the end of the season, in which Wander Luiz top scored as Chanthaburi consolidated their status.

Chanthaburi FC will play in Thai League 2 in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Wednesday 16^th August 2023

Koh Chang was the destination for my wife Taew and I on the Thursday, so I suggested breaking up the journey as she hadn’t driven any distance for a while. Chanthaburi seemed as nice as place as any, so off we headed from Minburi.

 

We were a little early to be checking into our hotel, so opportunity knocked for a little sightseeing. King Taksin Memorial Park was a bit of a let-down as that and the lake surrounding it was in the middle of renovation.

Fortunately, the Provincial Stadium was on the way to our accommodation, so I asked my good lady to stop while I took some pictures, which was easy through the fence. It was another slight disappointment and certainly lacking in what I expected of a second-tier venue. It was a typical Thai multi-pupose arena complete with running track.

The one stand was fine, but that was about it. Just a few rows of open bleachers opposite. I had seen previous images of a big corner stand, like the one on situ at Phisanulok but it was no longer there. The most impressive feature were the modern floodlights.

Not to worry, it was still on my list of venues to watch a game at, hopefully sometime in the future. We headed to Hotel Kasemsarn, a rather old fashioned but tidy place before going exploring around the quaint town that would certainly warrant a revisit.

The standout was probably the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with its strong French influence, and the little lane off the river housing the Chanthaboon Waterfront Community.

Taew was happy enough as we found a lovely little boutique clothes shop, and we enjoyed a nice meal overlooking the river which was extremely good value at Yindee Café prior to retiring for the evening, before we completed our journey south the following morning.