FC Bangsaotong

FC Bangsaotong

Ground: FC Bangsaotong Football Stadium

Capacity: c500

Club Founded: 2017

League: Academy Football (current level)

FC Bangsaotong were one game away from becoming a Thai League 3 club. Their senior side has been absent since 2025, while the club concentrates on its academy.

Based in the district of the same name in Samut Prakan, FCB, as they're commonly known, was formed as QonQuest FC by Crispin Francis, a Singaporean who relocated to Bangkok due to work in July 2017.

The club set its sights on promotion to the third tier of Thai football after initially competing in the Bangkok Premier League (BPL), playing home games at Vichupa Football Field near Ram Intra. They changed their name to FC Bangsaotong after moving into their new home.

FCB entered the Thailand Amateur League, while a fourth-place finish in the BPL saw the side gain promotion to Division Two for the 2021-22 campaign. The club opened an academy, as Jamie Clarke, a former player with a wealth of experience in English and Scottish professional football, was appointed as head coach.

Mikel Masabe, a professional in Uganda, Spain and Thailand, was his assistant. The team progressed through the Amateur League knockout stages in 2022 with wins against W&A Bangmot and then Ramkhamhaeng University.

Bangkapi FC were dispatched on penalties, setting up a final against Samutsakhon City. Bangsaotong went down 1-0 to a controversial goal at Thonburi Stadium, one win short of promotion to Thai League 3. The team won promotion to Division 1 of the Bangkok Premier League at the end of the 2021-22 season. 

Coach Clarke left with Masabe remaining, while the second-string side, TAO Dovechem, also achieved success, climbing to the second level of that competition. The team competed again in the Amateur League while continuing in the Bangkok Premier League before leaving the competition at the end of the 2024-25 season.

My visits

FCB Qons 2 Nonthaburi City 1

Chang Bangkok League - Tuesday 14th December 2021

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c20 🎟️ Free

Bangkok Education

I’d only arrived in Bangkok a couple of weeks earlier, but my knowledge of local football had expanded to include competitions I didn’t even know existed before I left Blighty.

It was sometimes a confusing business, but many people were extremely helpful on social media, answering my queries. I had found the Bangkok Premier League, so I was somewhat baffled when surfing the net, I came across the Chang Bangkok League.

Supporters Welcome

Research showed me that it was a separate midweek competition, with all games hosted by FC Bangsaotong. This was too good an opportunity to turn down, even if getting to the ground by public transport would severely test my resolve. A quick message on Facebook was met with a welcoming prompt reply that spectators were OK to attend.

I walked in the morning and early afternoon, acquainting myself with Minburi, where I was staying. A bus dropped me off for a wander round Nawamin Phirom Park by Bangkapi. A walk to the local saw me come across a sight from many years earlier.

Finding an Old Haunt

The National Housing Association or Khlong Chang Stadium was formerly home to the Thai top-tier side Osotspa when I took photographs there. The pitch looked to be ready for action, but I didn’t know who played there. Definitely something for further research.

After a meal, I set out for the game, some three hours before the 7pm kick-off. Thai buses had already shown me the perils of leaving things until the last minute. The 145 service arrived promptly. The conductress confirmed she knew where I wanted to go and took my 20 THB fare.

Helpful Clippie

I’d arranged to give a pal a call back in London, and I thought jumping out early at Seacon Square mall would be a good move. However, the lass in charge wasn’t having this farang getting lost. She was insistent that I get off where I’d asked for.

After a nice chat, I headed round to the main Chonburi to the Bang Na Expressway. Several buses passed. I was getting concerned that mine wouldn’t turn up, despite there being a choice of three. Relief was the overriding emotion when one turned up.

Santa Driver

I have to say, seeing the driver and conductor in Santa hats did give me a giggle. I sat back and listened to music while trying to chart my journey. It took getting on for an hour to reach the Banga 2 Hospital stop I required.

The good news was that this was the route I’d need to get to top-flight side Samut Prakan City FC. I knew for next time. The bad news was that this was as close as public transport would take me to my impending match.

A Daring Walk

I’ve done a few daft things over the years to reach matches, but what followed was right up there. I walked along the side of a busy road with no footpaths for around 300 metres, sometimes letting scooters by that were travelling in the wrong direction. It wasn’t only me then.

As soon as I got the opportunity, I was off and along a khlong side path. An interesting walk as dusk fell saw me walk past many modest dwellings, as locals must have been scratching their heads at a big westerner walking by with a daft grin, wearing an old England shirt.

Floodlights Provide Relief

I was not unhappy to see the floodlights of the ground. Nor to see Flags Bistro and Bar, where drinks and food were sold. A large can of Chang was just what the doctor ordered as I tried to take in my surroundings.

It was obviously quite a new ground, with the pitch still bedding in. A second pitch was behind one goal, also in use with floodlights. The only real spectator accommodation was down one side, along with changing rooms. It had a low cover with media and VIP facilities upstairs.

Jamie Clarke

I was trying to determine the best place to watch while passing the players when a north-eastern voice stopped me. “Are you the bloke from Scarborough?” It was player-coach and Sunderland lad Jamie Clarke who introduced himself and mentioned he nearly signed for the Seadogs.

His pal, Lee Hall, also joined in, while not being too impressed when I asked him if he was a Mackem. An easy mistake to make! Crispin welcomed me and told me I could go upstairs to watch the match for a better view. What wonderful folk.

A Decent Match

FCB Qons, one of the club sides, led the table going into this match against Nonthaburi City, who sat in second place. It was immediately apparent that this was a very different City line-up to the one I’d seen in a friendly against SPA Srongpol a few days earlier. The match was also of a far higher quality.

The intensity was as it should be for such a relatively important game. Jamie Clarke stood out at the back for Qons, while former Hillingdon Borough striker Leon Nelson was a real handful up front, although some of his finishing might have been more precise.

Post-Match Beers

The hosts had to come from behind to win the game to be crowned as league champions. An unusual feature was that the game was being screened live on Facebook. Nothing too strange in that, but the commentary was over a mic and also transmitted out onto the pitch. I’m not sure I’d have enjoyed that in my playing days.

The result was the right outcome. After the match, I grabbed another beer while waiting to have a chat with Jamie. We ended up drinking Chang on the pitch after the game, listening to the likes of Oasis, Blur and The Mock Turtles with English and friendly Thai players while talking to each other.

Connections

There were plenty of managers connected to Scarborough football spoken about! I would never have believed it before I set out. Unbelievably, there were some Chiang Mai connections too between us. Lovely to meet Jamie Clarke and the gang.

I still had the journey home to negotiate. Lee was taking Jamie back and he kindly gave me a lift to where the main road had pavements after they swerved off for more provisions at a 7/11. I hailed a cab for the rest of the way home. Bang Sao Tong is not an easy place to reach, but I’m glad I made the effort.

At Samut Prakan Stadium

FC Bangsaotong 0 Uthai Thani 4

Thai FA Cup Round of 64 - Wednesday 2nd November 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 135 🎟️ Free

A Big Day of FCB

The biggest day in the history of FC Bangsaotong, at least at that stage of their life, came following a crushing 6-1 win away to Teerachaipallet Samutprakhan in the first round of the FA Cup. Their reward was a tie against a high-flying Thai League 2 side, Uthai Thani.

In the lead-up to the game, I was in touch with coach Jamie Clarke, who said he wasn’t in charge, but he provided me with the details. Unfortunately, the home stadium didn’t offer the requirements for the tie, so it was moved to Samut Prakhan Stadium, where I'd visited a few times.

Easy Journey

The good news was that a 3pm kickoff allowed the opportunity to head straight to the PAT Stadium at full-time to see Port take on Sukhothai in another of the round’s matches. By now, I was an old hand at getting to the stadium and arrived in good time, via minivan from Minburi and then a bus from Kingkaew Market.

I was in good form when I alighted, as a couple of delightful old girls saw it their duty to make sure that I wasn’t lost, and I got off where I needed, and I played along despite knowing exactly where I was. After grabbing some provisions, I headed over the road and exchanged greetings with some of the Bangsaotong fraternity who recognised me.

Match Build-Up

Nobody bothered to staff the beer stall, which was a slight disappointment. Only the main stand side was open, with the FCB section taken up by players' relatives, friends, coaches doing scouting and a few neutral groundhoppers.

Marco, a Port fan who had become a matchday companion, joined me along with Jim, who runs the Port FC Sandpit Twitter feed for ex-pats, whom I met for the first time. We had a good chat about many subjects while enjoying a half-decent game in which FCB gave a good showing.

The Match

While having plenty of possession, they failed to create many scoring opportunities, appearing more rushed on the ball than their full-time opponents, which could only be expected, with Jiramet Dalunphan looking tricky for the “home” side.

The visitors took the lead in fourteen minutes when a low cross from Nontapat Naksawat was acrobatically volleyed in by Brazilian forward Carlos Damian. Adefolarin Durosinmi had a decent chance to double the lead, but his side-footed effort was saved by Thanakon Phlailahan in the FCB goal.

Professional Performance

The impressive Kuatrakul Kwankua saw his shot bend away from the target for the hosts, as the game was becoming stretched at an early stage. The teams went down the tunnel with just one goal separating them. We wanted a shock, but not one that required extra time!

It was 2-0 after sixty-six minutes as the FCB resistance was gradually worn down, putting in maximum effort to try to engineer an equaliser. Adefolarin set up Nawamin Chaiprasert, whose shot took a deflection on the way in.

Carlos Damian was very good for Uthai Thani, but also extremely stroppy, continually berating referee Wichate Tainthong and his colleagues. Head coach Narasak Boonkleng withdrew him with fifteen minutes remaining. Within sixty seconds, his decision was vilified when Piyaruck Kwangkaew saw his attempt come back off a post. 

The ball was recycled with the resulting cross put in by substitute Kento Nagasaki with his first touch. The lead was extended further. A fine passing team move was put in at the back post by Piyaruck with eight minutes left on the clock. Narakorn Noomchansakul had an effort saved as we hoped that the floodgates would not open.

Proud FCB

A final Bangsaotong foray saw an over-elaborate move end in Kitthipong Phanna shooting over the bar. We headed for the exit gate as the board indicated three minutes of additional time would be played, as the Grab taxi approached.

FCB had put in an excellent performance and had done themselves proud. If only they had won their playoff final a few months earlier to go up into the Thai League 3. Our driver also did himself proud, as we arrived at the PAT with time for a beer before the second game!