Harmornious United

Harmornious United FC

Ground: Assanee Stadium

Capacity: 1,000

Club Founded: 2019

League: N/A (current level)

Little is known of the current status of Harmornious United FC, an amateur football club from Bangkok with a connection to the Thailand 1st Signal Battalion, in the Sathon district of the city.

Background

United joined the Bangkok Premier League, winning promotion from Division 2 in 2019-20, and then finishing sixth in Division 1 in the 2021-22 season. They also competed in the Thailand Amateur League, where they ended third in the East Region Southern Zone Group D.

Their last known action was in the Bangkok Premier League Division 1 in 2022-23.

My visit

Harmornious United 2 Phoenix FC 1 

Bangkok Premier League Division 1 - Sunday 30th January 2022

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Bangkok Day Out

In the mood to visit a new stadium while dipping my toes into Bangkok Premier League amateur football, I took a songthaew and then an Airport Link train into the city. The Skytrain to Chong Nonsi left me with a pleasant walk on a beautiful afternoon.

When I called into a Mini Big C supermarket on Nanglinchee Road, I knew I was in the right place as a couple of the away team players were also buying provisions in their kit. I followed them over the road and into the grounds of the HQ of the 1st Signal Battalion regiment.

Enjoying the Surroundings

Assanee Stadium was a pleasant and tidy arena, though “stadium” was stretching it a bit. There was a dilapidated bleacher stand that I risked for the first half. The pleasant location, a mile or so south of Patpong, offered the Bangkok skyline as a backdrop.

The hosts went ahead in six minutes when a clumsy challenge by a Phoenix defender saw the referee point to the spot, from where Phachanon Khamthong made no mistake despite the best efforts of keeper Chanapong Sricharoenmongkol.

Visiting skipper Thiraphong Suwanwaipatana looked like a class act up front, seeing a dinked effort cleared off the line on a hard and bumpy pitch. The match was very open and end-to-end from an early stage.

A Harmornious player took a free kick which missed the target by so far that the home players on the bench roared with laughter. Phoenix should have equalised just before the break, but a free header at the back post was somehow put wide.

The game tightened after the restart with the away side on top, going on to have a goal chalked off for offside from a set piece. They continued to create pressure, mainly from winning free kicks, but were distinctly average around the goal.

Another effort, this time a long shot, went wide for Phoenix before the hosts doubled their advantage with twenty minutes remaining, as I had taken up a position lying on the grass in the shade of an outbuilding.

Komin Phatthanakit was the scorer before his goalkeeper Puritat Patpeng was pressed into action, making three easy saves. Komin turned well and shot powerfully wide as his side looked to wrap things up.

Patpeng did well to tip an effort over the bar, but then flapped from the resulting corner, leading to the ball being reprocessed and Thiraphong heading home with five minutes left on the clock.

Return Journey Fun

Phoenix had a late appeal for a penalty turned down by the excellent referee before he brought proceedings to an end. I’d enjoyed a decent encounter, where admission was free. I stood as flags were lowered and the national anthem was played at 6pm.

I headed off to catch buses all the way home. The first, the 22, which I caught across the road from the venue, took me to Bangkapi. I was assisted along the way by incredibly helpful locals.

I tried to explain to the conductor that I didn’t know it went as far as it did, and asked if I could stay on if I paid extra. I got full backing from the other passengers. Such lovely people, and I wasn’t charged anymore. A nice end to a good day.