Chonburi

 

Chonburi FC

Ground: Chonburi Stadium

Capacity: 8,680

Club Founded: 1996

League: Thai League 1 (current level)

One of Thailand's most established and successful clubs, Chonburi FC has built a proud reputation both domestically and in Asian competition. Here, I look at the Sharks' history, their passionate support, and my visit to their home ground on Thailand's eastern seaboard.

The Early Years

Chonburi FC from the eastern seaboard of the Gulf of Thailand originally played in regional competitions after being formed from the football club of Assumption College, Sriracha. An amalgamation with Sannibat-Samutprakan soon followed, with the new club being named Chonburi-Sannibat-Samutprakan FC. 

The club played at the local Princess Sirindhorn Stadium as a member of the Thailand Provincial League in 2002 under the name of Chonburi Code Red FC after separating from its previous merger. They moved to Chonburi Municipality Stadium for a couple of seasons. and adopted the nickname of the Sharks.

Promotion and AFC Football

Promotion to the Thai League came in 2006. The side was successful, being crowned national champions a year later under head coach Jadet Meelarp, with the club returning to the Chonburi Municipality Stadium. AFC Champions League matches switched to the Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok. 

In 2008, they defeated Melbourne Victory as reigning Thai champions. League matches were shared between the Municipality and Princess Sirindhorn Stadiums until the club moved to the Institute of Physical Education Chonburi Campus Stadium (IPE Chonburi Stadium), north of the city.

Thailand's Number One

Chonburi FC continue to be one of the country's most prominent football clubs with a large following. Pipob On-Mo and Chonlatit Jantakam were among the stars of the show. The team finished as league runners-up four times from 2008 to 2014. Jadet, along with Kiatisuk Senamuang and Witthaya Laohakul, had spells as head coach. 

The FA Cup was lifted in 2010 with a 2-1 victory against the Sharks' main rivals, Muangthong United, at Supachalasai. The 2014 season could have ended as one of the greatest in Chonburi's history under the leadership of Masahiro Wada. 

Bitter Disappointment

However, it ended in disappointment and in tales of what might have been. With just two league games remaining, the Sharks led the table. They could only muster draws as Buriram United overtook them. A week later, they went down 1-0 to Bangkok Glass in the FA Cup Final.

Jadet returned for a third spell in charge following the disappointment, while the goals of Thiago Cunha kept the team in the hunt. New boss Therdsak Chaiman replaced Meelarp for the 2016 campaign. Cunha departed for Port, while Brazilian striker Rodrigo Vergilio replaced him. 

Gradual Decline

Following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the FA Cup was shared between the four semi-finalists, with Chonburi one of them. Renan Marques scored the goals before the appointment of new head coach Goran Barjaktarević in 2018. Jukkapant Punpee replaced him as Worachit Kanitsribampen scored regularly.

Sasom Pobprasert was the next head coach, with Brazilian striker Lukian tucking away the goals. Caion top-scored in 2020-21 as the side reached the final of the FA Cup, going down on penalties to Chiang Rai United at Thammasat Stadium in a match played behind closed doors owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Relegation and Off-Field Issues

Yoo Byung-Soo had a good season up front before the 2022-23 campaign was riddled with serious issues off the pitch, which were not addressed. Coach Sasom resigned before the end of the season after a League Cup semifinal defeat

A lack of investment in 2023-24 would end in relegation to Thai League 2. Makoto Teguramori began the season as coach before being replaced by caretaker Nattawut Vichitrawetakan. The fact that he oversaw the final four months of the season was seen by many fans as a sign that the club was gearing itself up for the drop. 

The owners apologised at the end of the season and installed former playing hero Pipob as head coach. Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul replaced him, as the Sharks went on to lift the title and win promotion back to the top-flight with Derley scoring regularly. 

For their return, Teerasak Po-on was appointed as head coach before being replaced by Rangsan Viwatchaichok in November 2025.

My visits

April 2007

The following is my description of my visit as part of a groundhop around Thailand in March/April 2007 that appeared in Abandon Chip, the Scarborough Athletic fanzine.

The Juices are Flowing

The train transport system in Bangkok is first-class if a little sparse. Once it is eventually extended, it really will be something to behold. My destination was the old National (Suphachalasai) Stadium near Siam Square. 

This is a grand old place with steep open seating and one covered main stand, which had hosted three previous Asian Games. It was the venue for Chonburi FC's home matches in the ACL competitions. Now it is all seated, it has a 35,000 capacity.

A Mad Idea

OK, I admit it. I’m guilty of overdoing things at times, and I provided conclusive evidence the next day. Steve, my good friend and host, didn’t have a spare key for me, so I needed to be at the house for him to arrive home at 4.15pm.

I was in a bit of a quandary before I decided it would be an innovative idea to have a half-day out in Chonburi to visit the reigning champions’ home stadium. Just before my arrival, Chonburi FC had won the ACL game against Melbourne Victory, which had given me a bit of a laugh when among my Victorian friends at the cricket.

Stubborness

I should have pulled out after the taxi to the bus station was held up by an accident further up the road, before I got lost trying to find Ekkamai Bus Station, eating up more valuable time. However, my stubbornness meant I continued onwards. 

The bus fare was cheap, costing about £1.50 return for a 90-minute each-way ride, and I had thoughts of crossing off the ground and enjoying an ice-cold beer and lunch in a beach bar. The journey was OK, but it was taking slightly longer than anticipated. I should have known better as a regular in the city, but the traffic was horrendous. 

Trying to Discover Chonburi

On arrival in Chonburi, I realised I would have just over an hour in town before my return journey. Then I realised that Chonburi is not a very touristy place despite being on the coast, and I don’t think I saw another westerner during my short stay. Well, at least Google Maps showed it was by the Gulf. 

As on other occasions, I’d miscalculated the size of the town I was visiting. There were no taxis, maps, or anything written in English. I set off walking in what I naively thought was the right direction, but soon realised I was going nowhere fast, so I faced the situation and asked for directions to the beach, which is where I thought the stadium was. 

A 7/11 shop assistant told me that any songthaew, or small local bus to the uninitiated, outside would take me to the beach. I was soon on board the next service and spotting the promising signs of floodlights ahead. I rang the bell and enthusiastically sprinted up the steps, which gave passengers a safe crossing over the dual carriageway.

An Underwhelming Venue

I took photos of the sparse stadium through the surrounding railings, which I hoped was my intended target, while never totally convincing myself that I was in the right location. There was no one around except an old caretaker whose English was even more lacking than my Thai!

I now had the problem of finding my way back to the bus station as time was getting short. I stood there without the sign of a taxi until I gave in and hailed a motorbike taxi. Yes, unbelievably, this is an extremely popular form of transport over there. I hadn't been on the back of a bike since I was nineteen, when I was petrified and drunk. 

We went all of twenty yards before I begged my pilot to stop. I’d rather have been stranded for the night and face Steve’s wrath than ride on the back. I stood there, not really knowing what to do. A couple of locals obviously realised I was having problems, and did all they could to suppress laughter after experiencing my brief motorbike excursion.

Songthaew to the Rescue

After what seemed like a lifetime, I saw a songthaew approaching, so I flagged it down and took a chance on it taking me somewhere near the bus station. I alighted in the town centre and went into a shop, showing my bus ticket to indicate where I wanted to go. I made it back with two minutes to spare, to my huge relief. 

I jumped out of the bus early on my return using my knowledge of that part of Bangkok and got into a taxi back towards Steve’s house when my unhappy host's name appeared on the phone as it rang. I explained I was en route, but he seemed terribly upset. He’d had a difficult day at the office, so sitting outside his locked house in blazing sun didn't particularly help. 

I felt even more stupid when, after investigation, I had not found my intended target, but I had gone past it on the way back for my bus. I had taken photos of a college facility!  The following day, I stayed close to base. I eventually made it to Chonburi Municipality Stadium many years later.

Chonburi 1 TOT SC 1

Thai Premier League - Sunday 2nd November 2014

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 7,666 🎟️ 200 THB (£4.80)

Cricket in Thaiand

I was back in Thailand once again in October, a country I had thoroughly loved visiting for sport, sightseeing, and socialising many times over the previous ten years. This time, I was scheduled to spend the first week with my friends from the Beer Battered Seadogs Cricket Club in Pattaya. 

We then headed up to Bangkok to play in the Chaophya Park Thailand International Cricket Sixes. The second week would see some time spent in Singapore before returning to the Land of Smiles for the last round of Thai Premier League matches.

Opportunity Knocks

It looked like I’d finally get to watch a Chonburi home game on Wednesday, 22nd October, as the fixtures had them down to play a home game against Bangkok United in what looked like an excellent fixture to introduce my friends to the delights of Thai football.

Most of my teammates were also keen on the idea, so plans were arranged with Dale, who runs the English-language Chonburi FC website, It's A Habit That Sticks. That was until the Thai FA had other ideas.

Thai FA Chaos

It seems remarkable, and it puts into perspective the moans of Premier League fans in the UK, but the last six rounds of fixtures were changed with just ten days' notice. It looked like I wouldn’t get the chance to go to Chonburi Stadium.

But little did I know what was in store, and I obviously hadn't heeded the previous experience when accounting for the vagaries of Thai football.

Riots Save the Day

Fate was to play a huge hand. I had intended to go to the PAT Stadium for Singhtarua v Sisaket on the final day, with the Port side being my preferred go-to option when given the opportunity. 

Unfortunately, the stupidity of some Port supporters, along with that of Muang Thong United, had led to their fans being banned from the last four rounds of games and each club being deducted nine points. My pal Steve had gone and said it was major crowd trouble.

Ticket Request

Despite having an early flight on the Monday after the final game, I contacted Dale in the hope of getting a ticket for the possible league decider against TOT. Things had been going swimmingly for the Sharks, who had also reached the FA Cup Final and were top of the table with two games remaining. 

If he could pull off a huge favour for me, we would have the chance to finally meet up, and I would see his club and fans in a crucial match to get full value from the experience.

Match Background

The previous Wednesday, they slipped up and drew 1-1 at Chainat while nearest challengers Buriram United, partly owned by Leicester City owners King Power, had brushed aside TOT in Bangkok. It was suggested that the Isan club had received special favours from those in charge of the match.

On judgement day, Chonburi needed to win and hope Buriram didn’t against Police United. One thing was for sure. I was a Sharks fan for the day when Dale passed on the good news that he’d sorted me a ticket, so the trip was on. 

Taxi to Chonburi!

Fah sorted me a taxi from my hotel on the outskirts of the capital down the gulf to the match, so off we set as heavy rain engulfed the area. We got slightly lost and passed the school field I’d visited a few years earlier in the belief that it was the home of the Sharks. How little I knew back then!

There was a certain irony not lost on Dale or me, as Scarborough and Oldham Athletic fans met on a miserable afternoon weather-wise. “All we are missing is the chippy over the road”, as my host commented.

Pre-Match Beers

We settled down to some pre-match beers as other expats started to arrive, some with their wives. Tim and Brian had gone to the midweek game and weren’t especially impressed with the tactics of coach Wada or the match officials. 

The consensus was that Chonburi’s chance had gone with their draw a few days previously, although the supply of Chang’s installed a little more optimism from the growing crowd. It was good to see that football fans are the same around the world.

Dark Humour

Dale had added some humour to what was obviously going to be a tense couple of hours as the gang were provided with masks of Wednesday’s linesman, Suchart Fangmala, and miniature linesmen flags to wave just like their ‘favourite’ linesman had done at Chainat to rule out a couple of legitimate goals.

The performance of the officials in that game offered me the answer when I asked if Chonburi could win the FA Cup. One said that it depended on what the referee and the Thai FA had decided. In later years I would come to realise exactly what he meant.

Great Goal

The rain abated as we entered Chonburi Stadium just before the playing of the King’s Anthem. It was comforting to be with other fans who had also made the last-minute dash. Despite the athletic track around the pitch, it was an impressive sight from upstairs in the Main Stand. 

So was the amount of replica shirts on show. The home fans were certainly up for it, as was star man Tiago Cunha. He opened the scoring with an incredible overhead kick to send the vast majority of the near-capacity crowd into raptures. It really was a world-class goal.

Thai Honesty

We returned to find our bag of beers still waiting on the table by the security guys by the entrance at the halftime interval. Somehow, I couldn’t imagine that scenario being respected back in the UK. 

Hope sprang eternal amongst the ex-pat Sharks after the restart. The only downer was that Buriram had also gone in leading 1-0 at the break in their game.

The Rumour Mill

Before I left Bangkok, I had suggested to Steve that there would be some inaccurate score rumours going around the stadium at some point, having experienced such nerve-jangling final-day outcomes in the past.

Brian had the scores on his phone, but they sometimes took a minute or so to update. A massive roar went around the stadium like wildfire a few minutes after the interval to herald what everyone thought was a goal for the Police.

False Call

Within a minute or so, the place was going absolutely berserk. Hand signals in the crowd indicated Police were leading 2-1. However, Brian’s phone remained unchanged. I tried to ring Steve, but communication was impossible in the ensuing bedlam.

My friends must have really been going through it. It was difficult enough as a semi-neutral, albeit one who desperately wanted Buriram to blow their opportunity.

Loss in Concentration

Unfortunately, it got through and affected the home team as they lost concentration. In particular, Chonburi’s Suttinun Phuk-hom, who then headed the equaliser past his own keeper. There was a mixture of shock and anger, but still plenty of time left. 

A lifeline was thrown up north as Police pulled a goal back. The title was still up for grabs. Could we be about to witness something dramatic and a huge celebration?

Desperate Rearguard Action

TOT defended like lions, as well as being ultra professional in managing to fall down at convenient moments. The stretcher bearers were put on double time with their exertions, carting off the stricken visitors who reappeared Lazarus-style within seconds. 

I feared Dale was going to pop when Chonburi threw TOT the ball back after one such display of chicanery, rather than press forward. Thais are lovely people, but good manners should have been forgotten for twenty minutes.

Ideas Shortage

Half chances went begging. Tiago argued with everyone, including himself, while Fode Diakite contrived to miss a relatively simple header in front of the goal. If truth be told, the Sharks lacked ideas, and the ones that they had were running out quickly.

It turned into a game of attack against defence, as seen on training grounds around the world. It was extremely frustrating for my pals.

Full-Time Disappointment

The referee blew his whistle to end the agony. Buriram had held on to lift the TPL. TOT avoided relegation. The home side received a deserved great ovation.  I followed Dale and his wife, Nui, to the barrier near where the players sometimes came back out. 

Before long, TOT’s Bas Savage, who had enjoyed a good lower-division career in England, joined us for an enlightening chat about life as an overseas player in the TPL. He turned out to be a really top bloke.

Taxi to Minburi

Dale kindly dropped me off at Central Plaza, while Nui negotiated a taxi back to Minburi for me. I got back to see the other goals on the TV in an open street bar as a band played their own brand of rock music. 

They must have been good, as I bought them beers. Port had also avoided relegation in their vital clash. The away end seemed oddly packed and was celebrating when they scored. Some enterprising fans had ‘adopted’ Sisaket for the day!

Nearly the Perfect Day

It had been a nearly perfect last day of my holiday as was possible. Seeing my wonderfully hospitable hosts celebrating with the title would have been the icing on the cake. I passed on my thanks and eternal gratitude to all those at Chonburi for looking after me on what must have been a difficult day alongside a neutral. The ticket was definitely worth £4!

Weeks later, I was still trying to get my head around why so many football-loving expats didn’t go and watch their local Thai clubs. They really were missing out, even if the organisation could sometimes be erratic.

Thailand 2 Nepal 0 

Friendly - Thursday 24th March 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 3,386 🎟️ 100 THB (£2.40)

Having moved to Thailand, I took the opportunity for an overnight stay in Chonburi and to cheer on the national team, which is covered on my Chonburi Stadium page.