Friends FC
Ground: LP CK Stadium and Academy
Capacity: c100
Club Founded: 2016
Club Dissolved: 2023
Among the many amateur clubs that come and go around Bangkok is Friends FC, which lasted seven years before disappearing off the radar. This article reveals why I think they were named most inappropriately.
Club History
The first known playing activity of Friends FC was as a member of Group A in the Bangkok Premier League during the 2016-17 season. When the league was restructured a year later, Friends were placed in Division 2. In the 2018-19 campaign, the team narrowly missed out on promotion before changing their title to Friends Pathum.
The pandemic wreaked havoc with local football for some time. Friends once again came close to going up in 2020-21. Pathum was dropped from the club title, with the club moving in as tenants at LP CK Stadium and Academy on Soi 34 in the Sai Mai district of northern Bangkok.
The pandemic wreaked havoc with local football for some time. Friends once again came close to going up in 2020-21. Pathum was dropped from the club title, with the club moving in as tenants at LP CK Stadium and Academy on Soi 34 in the Sai Mai district of northern Bangkok.
Friends FC won promotion to the Bangkok Premier League Division 2. They continued until the end of the 2023-24 season as BP Friends FC.
My visit
Friends FC 1 FC Bangsaotong 4
Bangkok Premier League Division 2 - Sunday 26th June 2022
👨👨👧👧 c20 🎟️ Free
Easy Sunday
Easy Sunday
An easy Sunday of rest and relaxation was high on my agenda after a long walk and a very sociable Saturday evening. A chance to catch up with Jamie Clarke and the Bangsaotong boys was a perfect fixture.
It ended up being an easy journey, too, well after I changed from a static minivan to a bus outside Fashion Island. To be fair, the van driver did not charge me for the brief ride. The bus was just THB 8 to the Wat Phra Sri Mahathat BTS skytrain station.
Discovering Sai Mai
It ended up being an easy journey, too, well after I changed from a static minivan to a bus outside Fashion Island. To be fair, the van driver did not charge me for the brief ride. The bus was just THB 8 to the Wat Phra Sri Mahathat BTS skytrain station.
Discovering Sai Mai
The Green Line northern extension was still free of charge, so I got great value. Alighting at the terminus station of Khu Khot, I then wandered down the side of the local police station and over a footbridge across Khlong Hok Wa.
Google Maps was once again my friend as I quickly found Sai Mai 15 Alley, a long straight road with houses, occasional shops and eateries along both pavements. It was around a mile walk to Thanon Sai Mai.
A 7/11 was found to buy provisions and get some change for later. It was conveniently located by 34 Alley, which had a helpful signpost indicating that this was the lane required for LP CK Stadium and Academy, which was just over five minutes away, with goalposts visible in the distance.
The venue had two pitches, with the second one at right angles to the first. The spectator facilities were basic, but there was a food hatch, a covered area, a bar and excellent toilets. Both pitches had floodlights and high netting all the way round, which I found to be a regular feature of Thai grassroots football.
Sitting on the Bench
Google Maps was once again my friend as I quickly found Sai Mai 15 Alley, a long straight road with houses, occasional shops and eateries along both pavements. It was around a mile walk to Thanon Sai Mai.
Finding the Ground
The venue had two pitches, with the second one at right angles to the first. The spectator facilities were basic, but there was a food hatch, a covered area, a bar and excellent toilets. Both pitches had floodlights and high netting all the way round, which I found to be a regular feature of Thai grassroots football.
Sitting on the Bench
I found Jamie and the boys who were about to warm up for the 6pm kick-off on the first of the two pitches. The 4pm game finished, leaving just a short time for the two sides to stretch out on the pitch.
I was taking photos from the pitch side of the net and grabbed a plastic chair from the covered area as I ended up sitting near the FCB subs and Jasmine, the girlfriend of striker Simon Murgatroyd.
Match Action
I was taking photos from the pitch side of the net and grabbed a plastic chair from the covered area as I ended up sitting near the FCB subs and Jasmine, the girlfriend of striker Simon Murgatroyd.
Match Action
‘Host’ club, Friends came into the game in third place, a spot behind Bangsaotong on goal difference. I was expecting a good match, and I wasn’t to be disappointed. It was a stop-start affair at high pace in the early stages as the referee quickly showed he was not shy when it came to seeking attention.
The visitors were missing defender Lee Hall but had Adam Mather marshalling the troops, allowing Clarke to play in the middle of midfield. I quipped online that Friends were without Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and the slightly mad blonde.
The low sun on the far side was making sight awkward, not that I should complain. I had taken my poncho as I thought that we were in for a storm. The game began to take shape just when FCB took the lead with a superbly worked goal.
Mather supplied the young number 20 down the line. He hurdled a lunging challenge before delivering a pinpoint cross, which Kuatrakul Kwankua smashed home on the volley while in full flight. A goal that merited far higher standing than the second tier of the BPL.
Friends should have equalised almost instantly. A move saw plenty of room down the left with a low cross finding the number 16 at the back post. The chance was denied by a fine stop by the Qons keeper Chaisit Petchrangsee.
The lead came close to being doubled when a cross-field pass found top scorer Murgatroyd, who wasted no time firing in a dipping half volley, which the home goalie Watcharaphon Lohlek did brilliantly to tip onto the crossbar.
Cowards Challenge
The visitors were missing defender Lee Hall but had Adam Mather marshalling the troops, allowing Clarke to play in the middle of midfield. I quipped online that Friends were without Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and the slightly mad blonde.
The low sun on the far side was making sight awkward, not that I should complain. I had taken my poncho as I thought that we were in for a storm. The game began to take shape just when FCB took the lead with a superbly worked goal.
Mather supplied the young number 20 down the line. He hurdled a lunging challenge before delivering a pinpoint cross, which Kuatrakul Kwankua smashed home on the volley while in full flight. A goal that merited far higher standing than the second tier of the BPL.
Friends should have equalised almost instantly. A move saw plenty of room down the left with a low cross finding the number 16 at the back post. The chance was denied by a fine stop by the Qons keeper Chaisit Petchrangsee.
The lead came close to being doubled when a cross-field pass found top scorer Murgatroyd, who wasted no time firing in a dipping half volley, which the home goalie Watcharaphon Lohlek did brilliantly to tip onto the crossbar.
Cowards Challenge
The big visiting forward was causing no end of problems with his power backed up by speedy colleagues down the flanks. He was on the receiving end of a cowardly, disgusting late lunge from Santisuk Phromsri.
The Qons players were naturally incensed. Somehow, the ref thought the incident merited a yellow card to both the offender and the offended. It became increasingly apparent that FCB would not be receiving any benefit of the doubt from him.
The match was fast, with decent quality on display. Bangsaotong’s quick, short-passing football was good to watch. However, they made it 2-0 with a direct free kick from Crispin Francis, who was having a very steady game at left back.
It was nearly 3-0 when Friends’ Nithichon Thapwan misjudged a bouncing ball to allow Wanlop Suwannarat in, but he was denied by another fine Lohlek save. It remained 2-0 until halftime as the teams took stock of an astonishing number of mosquitoes tucked into the resting flesh. I’m not sure I've ever been anywhere with so many.
Both teams stuck to their guns after the break. FCB constructed a move including plenty of individual skill, which would have been a contender for goal of the season had it not broken down just as the final shot was about to be released.
Friends came close to halving the deficit when Aphidej Sang-am saw a curling effort just clear the far top corner. Mather and his defence were generally looking safe, but the shot was a reminder that the game was still in the balance.
Convincing Display
The Qons players were naturally incensed. Somehow, the ref thought the incident merited a yellow card to both the offender and the offended. It became increasingly apparent that FCB would not be receiving any benefit of the doubt from him.
The match was fast, with decent quality on display. Bangsaotong’s quick, short-passing football was good to watch. However, they made it 2-0 with a direct free kick from Crispin Francis, who was having a very steady game at left back.
It was nearly 3-0 when Friends’ Nithichon Thapwan misjudged a bouncing ball to allow Wanlop Suwannarat in, but he was denied by another fine Lohlek save. It remained 2-0 until halftime as the teams took stock of an astonishing number of mosquitoes tucked into the resting flesh. I’m not sure I've ever been anywhere with so many.
Both teams stuck to their guns after the break. FCB constructed a move including plenty of individual skill, which would have been a contender for goal of the season had it not broken down just as the final shot was about to be released.
Friends came close to halving the deficit when Aphidej Sang-am saw a curling effort just clear the far top corner. Mather and his defence were generally looking safe, but the shot was a reminder that the game was still in the balance.
Convincing Display
But any doubts were put to bed when yet another great move released Kwankua, who closed low and hard for Murgatroyd to finish at the back post. It was another goal of the highest quality.
Apichai Kopimpa was also having a fantastic game down the right, linking up with Kwankua. The diminutive number 14, who was linked with a move to a Thai League 3 club, was brought down in the box from behind by another awful foul.
Unbelievably, the referee looked as though he was going to award a free kick outside the area. No card was shown to the offender. Murgatroyd showed no mercy and put away the penalty to make it 4-0.
FCB were close to making it five when a fine diagonal ball put in Suwannarat, but he saw his lob over the advancing keeper go wide. Despite employing some very basic, strong-arm tactics, Friends were a decent team who continued trying to attack until the very end.
Dating the Fourth Official
Apichai Kopimpa was also having a fantastic game down the right, linking up with Kwankua. The diminutive number 14, who was linked with a move to a Thai League 3 club, was brought down in the box from behind by another awful foul.
Unbelievably, the referee looked as though he was going to award a free kick outside the area. No card was shown to the offender. Murgatroyd showed no mercy and put away the penalty to make it 4-0.
FCB were close to making it five when a fine diagonal ball put in Suwannarat, but he saw his lob over the advancing keeper go wide. Despite employing some very basic, strong-arm tactics, Friends were a decent team who continued trying to attack until the very end.
Dating the Fourth Official
They grabbed a consolation when Phapiti Wangchai, who had been impressive all evening, bent a free kick over the wall into the bottom corner past the Qons sub keeper Pathomporn Uttama.
Friends continued to press as sub Joseph Amenyo headed against the bar, with the follow-up blocked by a defender in the last action of the game. Amenyo, obviously feeling confident, exchanged Line details with the female fourth official at full-time.
No Friends of Us
Friends continued to press as sub Joseph Amenyo headed against the bar, with the follow-up blocked by a defender in the last action of the game. Amenyo, obviously feeling confident, exchanged Line details with the female fourth official at full-time.
No Friends of Us
It was time for a beer, and the venue was very fair in selling large bottles for THB 75. While relaxing, it transpired that an FCB player had worn a different set of numbered shorts to his shirt and that the home club would be complaining to the league, leaving a sour taste in the mouth.
Crispin kindly asked their team driver to drop me on the main road so I could head back to Minburi by taxi in time for food, drinks and camaraderie.
Crispin kindly asked their team driver to drop me on the main road so I could head back to Minburi by taxi in time for food, drinks and camaraderie.
Result Annulled
Remarkably, the Bangkok Premier League committee decided that the accidental error by FCB skipper Adam Mather was so horrendous and match-changing. They awarded a 2-0 win to Friends FC, and gave them the three points. It is best that I make no further comment.
Remarkably, the Bangkok Premier League committee decided that the accidental error by FCB skipper Adam Mather was so horrendous and match-changing. They awarded a 2-0 win to Friends FC, and gave them the three points. It is best that I make no further comment.
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