Dome FC

Dome FC

Ground: Thammasat Stadium

Capacity: 25,000

Club Founded: 2014

League: University Competition (current level)

Dome FC, a club representing Thammasat University, spent two spells in the Thai League before deciding to revert to university football, citing the costs of a professional set-up.

Club Background

The club name comes from the Dome, the symbolic building in Rangsit. It was also the original building on the Tha Phra Chan campus, by the Chao Phraya River, close to the Royal Palace in the centre of Bangkok.

The football club initially competed in the Khǒr Cup, from which they were promoted to the Regional League Division 2 Bangkok Region for the 2015 season. When the Thai league system was restructured, a fourth tier was added, with Dome being placed in Thai League 4 Bangkok, where Rachanon Srinok scored regularly under head coach Worraphan Tunton.

However, the 2018 campaign saw Dome finish eleventh, which ended in relegation to the Thailand Amateur League. Only two matches were completed before it was abandoned owing to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. The competition did not take place for two years. In 2022, Dome finished top of the Bangkok Perimeter Group B. 

They were eliminated in the first knockout stage on penalties by Samutsakhon City, who would in turn go on to win promotion to Thai League 3. Prateep Senala led the side to the Bangkok title of the Thai Semi-Pro League in 2024, heralding a return to national football 

Action in the Semi-Pro Final of 2024 at Bangkok University Stadium

The season campaign saw home games played at the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi Stadium and Bangkok University Stadium, which was chosen to host Thai League 3 football in 2024-25. After a return to Thammasat Stadium for the final few games, Dome narrowly avoided relegation.

However, the club decided to resign from the league owing to the financial costs involved and instead concentrate on playing in University competitions

My visits

At Thammasat Stadium

Dome 1 BCG 3

Thai League 4 Bangkok - Monday 18th June 2018

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 109 🎟️ 50 THB (£1.20)

Fun in the Sun

Sometimes my adventures while pursuing my hobby don’t work out as I expect. This day out definitely fell into this category.

I was entering the second half of a tremendous holiday in Bangkok and Isaan. Everything had more or less fallen into place, much to my surprise. Therefore, I could see no warning signs of the cockup that was approaching as I left Steve’s house in Minburi on another lovely morning.

Planning a Long Day

I had my backpack with me, as the plan was to head straight to Don Muang Airport after the match. The fact was that my intended match was Rangsit University against Port B in the Thai League 4 Bangkok Region.

The website said it was a 4pm kick-off when I had last checked. I took local transport down to Bangkapi to meet Steve for coffee in the Mall, where my mate asked if I’d checked that the match was definitely on?

Everything in Hand?

I laughed at him. “Of course it is”, I replied. We said our goodbyes until the following Saturday, when we’d be enjoying the final few hours of my trip, as I headed to take the Saen Saep Ferry downtown. I alighted from the packed service at Asok before heading to Phetchaburi underground station.

The plan was to make my way close to Rangsit University by public transport, without using taxis, unless absolutely necessary. I should have stuck to my plan of taking a bus from Chatuchak, but I thought I’d save time by jumping out at Phahon Yothin.

Land of Confusion

I’d been past this stop before when heading to watch an Air Force game by bus. What I hadn’t realised was that I was on a different road to the one I required for this present journey. I ended up walking and got lost several times around the Central Plaza Ladprao.

My spare iPhone gobbled up battery usage quicker than I could use it. I was in a bit of a quandary until I eventually ascertained I needed to cut through the Mall and out of the far side of the Centara Grand Hotel to the main Don Muang road.

Bus Stop

Eventually, I managed to find a bus stop where services were going north. The plan was to take it past the airport and then commandeer a taxi the rest of the way, as the bus service didn’t appear to service the university.

Everything worked fine. I got myself some much-needed refreshments at the 7/11 by Don Muang railway station and then hailed a cab. I thought that the hard work had been overcome. How little I knew!

Taxi Travails

My driver thought I knew exactly where to go, which I thought I did. He was expecting to drop me off at a condo. He didn’t understand my exact destination. For the next twenty minutes, we went up and down the main road as we missed turnings, and I called it wrong.

Finally, we were on track, and I expected the left turning down Thanon Ek Thaksin to be a simple enough ride to the university. The Skytrain was being developed along the route, and we saw Lak Hok station ahead nearing readiness for the new service. All seemed good.

Finally...

However, I had not realised that the road we needed to be on was a flyover above us, with no access. We tried further turn-offs without success before we took a U-turn and returned south of the station.

After what seemed like ages, as my driver still somehow found the strength to smile, we turned down a small soi, where we had to pay a man a toll to cross the khlong, before turning right onto Thanon Ek Thaksin.

Nearly There

My pilot was still unconvinced as we went down an interesting road with plenty of places that sold food, drink, and forms of relaxation. It had definitely been easier on my previous visit to the same venue.

Going past the entrance to Muang Ake Golf Club, we soon turned into the grounds of Rangsit University. I alighted close to the small stadium and paid up. I think the driver was glad to be shot of me, even if he had taken a good fare.

What, No Match?

Immediately, I became aware that my test of endurance was far from over. There was a distinct lack of footballers on the pitch that I could see through the trees. Perhaps they were in the tunnel, ready to come out for the match as it was nearing kick-off time?

The stand was virtually empty, with just three or four students in there with a drum. I knew that fourth-division games were sparsely attended, but surely the under-23 Port side would attract a few more than this?

24-Hours Late

Trying to believe I had the right location and time didn't work. There were no team coaches behind the stand, and no desk to take admission money. I went out to the front to see the scoreboard on the far side, which was displaying a 3-1 score.

The match had already taken place. I eventually discovered that it had been played twenty-four hours previously. This was virtually an exact repeat of my first two visits to Lamphun Warriors. What an idiot!

Plan B

I was now left with a decision to make. I knew that Dome FC was playing at home at Thammasat. However, I was close to Don Muang Airport. I had the option of food and drink at the airport. After all, I’d already seen a game in the past at Thammasat.

Within a few minutes, an obliging taxi driver was taking me further north. I thought that with a bit of luck, I’d only miss the first half hour. My man did a cracking job, even if it was a longer journey than I’d envisaged.

Game On!

We went what I thought was a long way, but I was in no position to ask questions after my calamitous efforts. I was worried when we hit the countryside, but my driver was bang on the button, and he deposited me right outside the entrance to the main stand.

Team buses were outside, so at least I knew the game was on. I thought it a bit unusual as I dashed through an open gate, up the steps, and into the stand. Usually, someone takes an admission fee. Maybe I was destined to get a freebie after arriving late?

From Late to Early

On the contrary, again, there were no players on the pitch, but lots of training cones and footballs. The scoreboard displayed the team names and crests. I managed to crank my local phone up to discover it was a 6pm kick-off. I was eighty minutes early!

At least I had the opportunity to charge my phones in the press area. I wandered around the deserted stadium and took photos. Dome were up against BGC, the under-23 outfit of neighbours Bangkok Glass, whose first team I’d seen at home the previous evening.

What are you Doing Here?

Some omitted players sat and smiled at me, wondering what a foreigner in a tight-fitting Port FC shirt was doing at a Division 4 game out of the city. I’d have loved to explain in Thai, but there again, it was nice to leave them in suspense.

The 6pm kick-off meant that I’d only have a chance to see the first half before heading to the airport for my flight to Udon Thani. Around thirty minutes before kick-off, I went back downstairs and bought a ticket.

Room to Spread

The official attendance figure quoted on the official league website was a little on the generous side. We certainly rattled around in a 25,000-capacity Thammasat Stadium.

The Glass youngsters had vocal backing from one fan down at the front, who was soon joined by a mate who bellowed out all the supporters’ songs and chants. Fair play to them.

The Match

BCG soon looked the better outfit of the two sides. Supazin Nhupichai made a fine save in the Dome goal before the visitors' Samroeng Hanchiaw saw a deflected shot go wide. Then his teammate Phattaraphon Jansuwan went on a fine driving run but was denied by a good block tackle.

BCG took the lead in seventeen minutes when a corner was half-cleared from where Park Young Jin scored with a spectacular overhead kick on the bounce. The jubilant Glass fans duo tried to get the non-playing squad members to join in, which some did half-heartedly.

BCG were by far the better team, but the Dome students gave it their best, putting together a lovely move on twenty-five minutes as Surachai Thongta put in Teachadol Chuvilart, who blazed wide. The hosts continued to try to draw level, but they struggled to find an end product. 

In the thirty-third minute, Apipat Saingthong missed a great opportunity after BCG keeper Fahas Bilanglod had miskicked. He placed his shot wide. A huge storm was heading from the south as the half neared its conclusion. That was all I needed, but it would have been typical of the day! 

Airport Confusion

As the whistle sounded, I headed out to the front and managed to hail a taxi after a few minutes as the rain began to fall. I would later discover that Phongsakorn Srevaurai had put BGC further ahead before Polpong Pongsuwan reduced the arrears. A goal from Panut Sakonsathian three minutes from full time resulted in a 3-1 away win.

To add to the drama, the driver was ready to head to Suvarnabhumi until I put him right. I grabbed some food at the airport and then fell asleep right through my flight. It wasn’t until we got out at Udon Thani that I realised just how much I’d sweated. I certainly received a few glances!

Monday Night in Udon

It had been a fantastic day despite all the things that I’d called wrong. It concluded once I’d checked into my room, then had a few beers in the brilliant nightlife area before finding a vibrant late-night establishment to watch England defeat Tunisia with a last-minute goal in the World Cup. I certainly didn’t need any rocking to sleep!

At Bangkok University Stadium

Dome FC 1 Roi-Et PB United 2

Thai Semi-Pro League Final Second Leg - agg: 2-6 (Sunday 9th June 2024)  (att: c750)

Matchday Travel

My mate, Marco and I had met up after a train ride at Yæk Kor Por Aor, one stop before the terminus on the light green line on the BTS Skytrain after I set off from Minburi. We then took a bus as far as Zeer Rangsit, where we alighted for lunch and some shopping.

From there, we took another smoke-belching, rickety old bus for 8 THB to the campus gates. It was a twenty-minute walk through the grounds to the venue. The campus, like most Thai educational establishments, was very impressive, with various cafes and convenience stores along the way.

Match Build-Up

With both sides already promoted to T3 for the next season, this was an occasion to see who would become the overall champion and lift the trophy. It obviously meant plenty to the visitors from six hours away as they had at least 80% of the support, though one suspects many were of the Bangkok diaspora.

Bangkok University Stadium once hosted top-flight football, as the university side of the time won the league title before morphing into Bangkok United. It has a decent raised stand and low covering, which would never satisfy the H&S requirements in the UK down the other side. A disused track surrounds the pitch.

The Match

The first leg a week earlier had resulted in Roi Et winning 4-1. This time, we saw a tight first thirty minutes, with Dome employing curious tactics. Perhaps they were concerned about getting picked off on the break by an excellent Roi-Et side. Just before the ref signalled for a drinks break, the hosts should have gone ahead as the visitors’ defence was caught napping. 

Peerapat Kantha, who had a fine first leg, blazed over from ten yards. This seemed to awaken Roi-Et from their slumbers as they took the initiative. A shot came back off the bar before they went ahead in first-half stoppage time. Keeper Atituch Chankar pushed an effort around the post.

However, from the resulting corner, Suphakrit Dongohan scored despite the best efforts of a defender on the line who could only head the ball into the roof of his own net. We wandered to the far side for the second half, along with the more vocal of the away support.

At half-time, it was interesting to note that only Roi-Et had set up a merchandise stall behind the stand and was selling plenty of shirts. The only refreshments available were out of a vending machine. Twelve minutes after the restart, the tie was firmly put to bed.

Halftime sub Saichon Magmesoog got lucky. His speculative effort was destined for the corner flag but smacked into the side of the head of a Dome defender and flew past the wrong-footed Atituch. It would have been easy for the home side to fall apart, but to their credit, they continued to battle.

They got what would be a mere consolation seven minutes later when Ratchanon Thisawet stabbed home from close range. They continued to huff and puff without troubling the visiting defence too much, with Roi-Et easily seeing the game out to take the spoils.

An additional feature was bumping into a Thai chap who supports Kasetsart and has a jacket full of Thai club badges, like the sort that a German fan might wear, only his was of lighter material than denim. Also, with a cap of pin badges.

I’m pretty sure he was unique in Thailand, having earlier spotted him at an Amateur League game at Airport Stadium in 2022. The match finished at 6pm, after which we caught a bus directly back to the station to enjoy the delights of Save One Go Market.

Open daily from 4pm until midnight, it offers a huge array of street foods and some more substantial offerings. They can be taken into the Chang beer garden, as we did to round off a top day before the train home.