Futera United FC
Ground: Bangkok University Stadium
Capacity: 5,000
Club Founded: 2019
League: Thai League 3 Central (current level)
The story of Futera United is unique to Thai football. It is owned by NFT holders, who make decisions about the club's direction on and off the pitch by voting online.
Club Background
While the current club was founded in 2019, the name Futera first made an impact in Thai football seven years before that. It is a fascinating story and concept, with the previous incarnation, Futera Seeker FC, being a member of the Thai League.
They played in the third-tier Central-West, playing their home games at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi Stadium. Futera, a leading name in trading cards, is synonymous with collectors and traders. Many football clubs around the world are connected with them. They teamed up with Seeker FC to form the club.
A Different Type of Football Club
Meanwhile, after a few years out of football, Futera owner Mark Watson formed Futera United FC. It had carried over similar concepts to the old club, only without holders being able to make tactical decisions during a game.
United became members of the Bangkok Premier League, playing in its lower divisions while joining ranks with PSW Academy. The side played in the FA Cup in 2022-23 and went out 2-0 away to Sisaket United with coach Pisal Rumrai in charge of the team. The club was placed in Division Two of the BPL for 2023-24, where they ended in second place.
Innovation
After the match, I managed to requisition a Bolt taxi to take me to an Isan restaurant, where an interesting evening ensued with my good lady and Thai friends.
They played in the third-tier Central-West, playing their home games at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi Stadium. Futera, a leading name in trading cards, is synonymous with collectors and traders. Many football clubs around the world are connected with them. They teamed up with Seeker FC to form the club.
A Different Type of Football Club
It was a football club with a difference, to say the least. Members, or holders, could obtain shares in the club and then be involved in decision-making, including team tactics, selection, and even substitutions, as described when I watched them in action. The Futera arm of the operation then left the club, which became Seeker FC.
They moved to the National Housing Authority Stadium in Bangkapi. The club went on to become Pathumthani University FC, gradually morphing into PTU Pathum Thani Seeker, and PTU Pathumthani along the way. That club continues playing in Thai League 3 West as of the 2024-25 season.
Futera Restart
United became members of the Bangkok Premier League, playing in its lower divisions while joining ranks with PSW Academy. The side played in the FA Cup in 2022-23 and went out 2-0 away to Sisaket United with coach Pisal Rumrai in charge of the team. The club was placed in Division Two of the BPL for 2023-24, where they ended in second place.
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| KMITL Stadium, Lat Krabang. A former home of Futera |
Semi-Pro League Progression
Futera became one of the clubs that passed the requirements to enter the Thailand Semi-Pro League for 2023-24. The club secured the use of the Stadium of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang (KMITL) for their home matches, with Pissanu Suwannaprom in charge of the team.
United continued to lead the way where others in Thailand often flounder, with superb live match coverage on YouTube and quality merchandise, sold globally. It is a club with huge potential that continues to attract new NFT holders and has lively online discussions.
Promotion to the Thai League
United continued to lead the way where others in Thailand often flounder, with superb live match coverage on YouTube and quality merchandise, sold globally. It is a club with huge potential that continues to attract new NFT holders and has lively online discussions.
Promotion to the Thai League
In 2024-25, Futera finished third in the Semi-Pro League Central, playing their home games at the Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University Stadium. Owing to an extension of the pro divisions, this was enough to secure promotion. Bangkok University Stadium was chosen as the home venue for matches in the Thai League 3 Central.
The side consolidated after a challenging first half to its debut league season.
My visits
My visits
At KMITL Stadium
Futera United 1 Dome FC 4
Futera United 1 Dome FC 4
Thailand Semi-Pro League Bangkok - Saturday 16th March 2024
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Match Build-Up
Match Build-Up
I was keen to tick off a Futera game and catch up with Mark Watson ten years after I had met him and been given a lowdown on Futera Seeker at an away game when they were members of the Thai League.
I was down in Bangkok sorting out some administration and staying with my wife, Taew, at our Minburi condo, so this fixture worked out perfectly. I headed to the game by songthaew and then walked the fifteen minutes or so from Lat Krabang Road to the KMITL Stadium.
Friends Reunited
I was down in Bangkok sorting out some administration and staying with my wife, Taew, at our Minburi condo, so this fixture worked out perfectly. I headed to the game by songthaew and then walked the fifteen minutes or so from Lat Krabang Road to the KMITL Stadium.
Friends Reunited
Admission, as usual, was free to a match in the competition. I had stocked up, buying snacks and drinks on the way to the stadium, as catering is generally missing at the ground. Each attendee was given a free packet of trading cards, which contained three Futera players, a nice touch.
In this encounter, in which I sat again with Mark and his mate Sean, while it was also great to meet groundhopper and Bangkok United fan Svein for the first time, who was of great assistance with information on all things Thai football.
Innovation
Some observers shake their heads in disbelief at the way Futera operates, similarly to when Hashtag United joined the English non-league ranks. It is proof that the beautiful game is for more than middle-aged blokes. If something different works and it entices a younger audience, then it's worth trying.
United took the ascendancy after a quiet opening ten minutes. They had players of great individual skill; one moved to centre-back after playing up front, on the suggestion of those who studied the performance online. Itthiphon Yotphrom had a fine game.
The Match
United took the ascendancy after a quiet opening ten minutes. They had players of great individual skill; one moved to centre-back after playing up front, on the suggestion of those who studied the performance online. Itthiphon Yotphrom had a fine game.
The Match
They went ahead after Dome goalie Atituch Chankar made a fine save to thwart an excellent move. The resulting corner was headed home by Nattawut Jandit after sixteen minutes. The following half hour is as stretched and exciting as I have seen so early in a match, with Dome missing a sitter.
Futera had what I thought was a stone wall penalty turned down by the otherwise impressive referee Pichit Thongjanmoon, who was keen to employ advantage as often as possible and let the game flow. Then the visitors hit the bar and gradually wrestled control. The Futera contingent were happy to hear the whistle for the interval.
Dome levelled up a minute after the break. Home keeper Padchaya Panya had sustained a knock in the first half and was slow off his line, bringing down a forward. The ball ran loose with Mr Pichit allowing play to continue, leading to Peerapat Kantha scoring into an empty net.
Itthiphon had to be replaced after a wonderful old-school crunching tackle damaged his knee. The respect his opponents and supporters showed him as he hobbled off said everything about his performance.
A fine away-side move was thwarted just past the hour mark. However, the corner saw a good save from Padchaya, but Teeraporn Atawongsa was on hand to smash home. Futera were reduced to counterattacking and came close on one occasion. However, it was becoming one-way traffic.
Dome hit the bar for a second time, and one felt the hosts' best hope was to stay in the game as long as possible and somehow get a late equaliser. It was not to be. Peerapat Chunhacha and Karintron Phakum added late goals as the energy levels sapped out of the Futera players.
Futera had what I thought was a stone wall penalty turned down by the otherwise impressive referee Pichit Thongjanmoon, who was keen to employ advantage as often as possible and let the game flow. Then the visitors hit the bar and gradually wrestled control. The Futera contingent were happy to hear the whistle for the interval.
Dome levelled up a minute after the break. Home keeper Padchaya Panya had sustained a knock in the first half and was slow off his line, bringing down a forward. The ball ran loose with Mr Pichit allowing play to continue, leading to Peerapat Kantha scoring into an empty net.
Itthiphon had to be replaced after a wonderful old-school crunching tackle damaged his knee. The respect his opponents and supporters showed him as he hobbled off said everything about his performance.
A fine away-side move was thwarted just past the hour mark. However, the corner saw a good save from Padchaya, but Teeraporn Atawongsa was on hand to smash home. Futera were reduced to counterattacking and came close on one occasion. However, it was becoming one-way traffic.
Dome hit the bar for a second time, and one felt the hosts' best hope was to stay in the game as long as possible and somehow get a late equaliser. It was not to be. Peerapat Chunhacha and Karintron Phakum added late goals as the energy levels sapped out of the Futera players.
My Roving Report Video for A Thai Football Podcast
Dome, the team of Thammasat University, thoroughly deserved their win and played the game in the right way. They would have taken some stopping, judging by this performance. Both teams got a fine reception from the enthusiastic crowd, who gave the home side fantastic support.
After the match, I managed to requisition a Bolt taxi to take me to an Isan restaurant, where an interesting evening ensued with my good lady and Thai friends.
At Bangkok University Stadium
Futera United 5 Saraburi United 2
Futera United 5 Saraburi United 2
Thai League 3 Central - Sunday 16th November 2025
👨👨👧👧 c300 🎟️ Free
Futera's first win as a Thai League club is covered in a dedicated article, as I introduced a mate from the UK to his first game. It contains images and a general write-up about all that's good about the club.
Futera's first win as a Thai League club is covered in a dedicated article, as I introduced a mate from the UK to his first game. It contains images and a general write-up about all that's good about the club.
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