Escobar United

Escobar United FC

Ground: Vichupa Football Field

Capacity: c300

Club Founded: 2016

Club Dissolved: 2024

Like many amateur clubs in Bangkok, Escobar United played in local competitions for several years before calling it a day.

Club Background

The clubs earliest origins can be traced back to the 2016-17 season when they competed as Studs FC in Group A of the Bangkok Premier League under coach Somsak Keawlaor. When the league was restructured, Studs were placed in Division 2 of the competition, continuing to play matches at Vichupa Football Field at the venue's second pitch at Nawamin 136 Alley.

The team remained at the same level, changing their title to SG FC in 2021. They used the same home ground, becoming Escobar United for the 2023-24 season, their last known action.

My visit

SG FC 0 FC Bangsaotong 0

Bangkok Premier League Division 2 - Sunday 6th March 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c15 🎟️ Free

Escape to Victory

One of the beauties of my recent move to Bangkok was learning about the Bangkok Premier League and its venues via the Facebook page and website. Fortunately, some clubs were located not too far away from me.

On this occasion, I became unexpectedly free and was offered a pointer as to what I’d rather be doing given the choice on a Sunday afternoon. I shared a cab halfway, escaping to freedom. Time was against me making kick off, so I hailed a second taxi.

Decent Facilities

My driver was good and knew the way, dropping me at 7/11 so I could grab some food and drink. From there, it was a short walk to the ground to see how former English and Scottish League player Jamie Clarke and his FCB boys were getting on.

Ideally, the game would have been on the adjoining pitch as I’d already seen a game on number 5, for a midweek Minburi City friendly, but never mind. All pitches in the group had basic covered stands for spectators and high netting all the way around the pitch.

Important Match

They also have floodlights. Nothing too grand but better than most amateur facilities in the UK. Like many others, there was a small catering hit selling food and drinks. It wasn’t open the last time, or else I would have waited and bought there rather than the chain up the road.

Three sides win promotion at the end of the season, with the visiting Qons starting in second place in the table against midtable SG. The visitors fielded a threadbare squad, with the reserve goalie at right back and just one sub. Clarke stuck to coaching on this occasion.

League Rules Explained

Rolling changes are permitted at this level, but no changes can be made unless it's for a legitimate injury in the final ten minutes. Inevitably enough, some take advantage of this condition.

I saw a decent game. Despite SG having plentiful subs, FCB were the fitter side and really deserved all three points. Forward, Leon Nelson led the line. They were turned down two very clear penalties, at least to my eyes. The former Hillingdon Borough man was shown a yellow card in frustration after being on the wrong end of plenty of dark arts.

Land of Frustration

Coach Clarke, whom I joined on the far side in the shade for the second half, showed far more restraint than I’d have managed. It was a very frustrating game for his charges. They had lots of possession but couldn’t carve out a clear chance on goal. The ball just wouldn’t run for them.

SG battled and did their job, even going close to a winner near the end as an effort flew across the face of the goal with the Qons keeper out of position. I said goodbye to my pals. Jamie was rushing to play the second half for feeder club TOA Dovechem in Sai Mai.

Relaxing at Home

I decided to take a good walk afterwards, going past Vichupa’s other three pitches and then grabbing a bus ride home for some live football on TV. Being seven hours ahead of the UK does have advantages on a weekend, if not for watching midweek football.