Ground: Khon Kaen PAO Stadium
Capacity: 6,500
Club Founded: 2005
League: Thai League 3 Northeast (current level)
The senior club in the province, Khon Kaen FC have been overtaken by noisy neighbours, Khon Kaen United. Read all about the team known as the T-Rexs and decide whether they have the power to fight back.
Khon Kaen FC - The Early Years
Khon Kaen FC started life playing in the Provincial League, a competition not recognised by the FA of Thailand. They moved into the city's PAO Stadium to play in the second-tier Thailand League Division 1. In 2010, Surachat Singnhon's goals helped the team to promotion.
The team was coached by Pichet Supomuang, and despite the goals of Laos international Khampheng Sayavutthi, under the captaincy of Rermrat Ngam-Chareon, the team was relegated from the Thai Premier League (TPL) twelve months later.
Relegation Era
Tanapol Srithong banged in the goals before Thai league football was reorganised to a four-tier format for the 2017 season. Khonkaen were placed in the Thai League 3 Upper Region, from where they would prove too strong. The goals of Thotsaphon Yotchan, Macedonian, Darko Tasevski and Australian Richard Cardozo were too much for opposition defences.
Crowds Plummet
Marc Landry Babo and Yotchan then starred under head coach and former Thai international player Pattanapong Sripramote in the second tier before Seiya Sugishita top-scored under Japanese head coach Miura Masayuki.
Sirisak Yodyatthai took over before being replaced by Pichet Suphomuang. Crowds plummeted while those of Khon Kaen United prospered. Coach Masayuki returned before the team was relegated to Thai League 3 Northeast under Pichet in his second spell in charge.
Recent Times
Recent Times
Hiroki Ono was put in charge of the team for the commencement of the 2022-23 campaign, which ended with Judivan as the leading scorer. Suttinun Boonmee and Somchai Makmool were employed to oversee team affairs before Apisak Asayut was appointed in the role. The team finished in the 2024-25 playoffs, with progression a step too far.
The side under new coach Pahnom Homthing finished just outside the playoffs a year later.
Stadium Visit - Wednesday 20th June 2018
Lost Weekend
Sisaket were without their best player, Mateus Panigazzi. My mate John, meanwhile, was chatting with him the same afternoon at the Rasisalai match. The Argentinian confirmed that he picked up a deliberate yellow card for kicking the ball away in the previous match. His suspension meant that he would be available for more important games.
A draw suited Sisaket, with table toppers Mahasarakham grabbing a late equaliser against second-bottom Surin KCM the previous evening. The result meant that they were a point behind going into the next week’s final game, when they hosted the leaders. Both sides had already qualified for the playoffs, but the top spot gained an extra home game in them.
Dale, a lifelong Oldham fan, was made up when a fella around our age walked along the front just before halftime in a Latics top. Andy, on his first visit to the stadium, was welcomed and joined us for the rest of the evening, and I knew a lot more about the mob from Boundary Park by the time we eventually got home.
Five of us went on to the Rimrang Station complex. It is a bar and food area built on the old railway tracks, with the line now going overhead through the city. It was very good, as was the sky bar above a street bar, which only our new friend knew about, to round off the evening.
Monday morning was interesting and a struggle, as we were on the 8.40am flight to Bangkok. We didn't get back to our room until after 1am. Khon Kaen was on our list of places we certainly want to return to. It is highly recommended.
Next time, though, we would choose a different hotel, the Glacier Hotel, which had certainly gone downhill since my previous visit, no doubt like many Thai businesses, owing to the lack of customers during COVID-19.
My visits
Stadium Visit - Wednesday 20th June 2018
Isan Tour
My two-week tour of Bangkok and Isaan was regrettably nearing the end. I’d had the time of my life. My second visit to Udon Thani saw heavy rain, an England World Cup win, and heavy activity in the bar area of town.
My two-week tour of Bangkok and Isaan was regrettably nearing the end. I’d had the time of my life. My second visit to Udon Thani saw heavy rain, an England World Cup win, and heavy activity in the bar area of town.
I’d certainly packed plenty in, so after a hearty Thai breakfast, I headed to the bus station. The train didn’t depart for several hours, and I needed to see somewhere different and get on the road again, as much for my sanity and the protection of my wallet!
Udon to Khon Kaen Bus
Udon to Khon Kaen Bus
Fortunately, the people at the bus station were most helpful, and within a few minutes, I was on board the service heading to Khon Kaen. There was plenty of space as I settled down to enjoy the ride and grab a rest.
The weather was warm, and the sun was shining, so the curtains were down to protect us from the glare on the air-conditioned vehicle. I settled back and listened to music, trying to vaguely follow the journey via the Google Maps App on my battery-guzzling spare iPhone.
Opportunity Knocks
The weather was warm, and the sun was shining, so the curtains were down to protect us from the glare on the air-conditioned vehicle. I settled back and listened to music, trying to vaguely follow the journey via the Google Maps App on my battery-guzzling spare iPhone.
Opportunity Knocks
As we approached the city from the north, I began to panic a little. We’d stopped to let a couple off and then took a turning right on the ring road away from the centre. I frantically went to the front of the bus to enquire. All was well. I’m not sure how we communicated with little language in common, but it was all smiles as I headed back up the aisle.
We had gone around the 230 road, which circled the city, to drop off at Khon Kaen Main Bus Station No. 3. This was definitely not as planned. However, it gave me a great opportunity to visit the Khon Kaen PAO Stadium, located on the way to my hotel. I managed to show the taxi driver where I wanted to go on my phone map.
Khon Kaen PAO Stadium
Khon Kaen PAO Stadium
He dropped me right outside the venue. As luck would have it, the perimeter fencing was not too high, and I could have got access regardless, as a school sports day was taking place on the track surrounding the pitch.
Although the arena was like many in Thai football, a multi-purpose venue catering for several sports, Khonkaen had at least used liberal amounts of black and yellow paint so it looked like home. The raised spectator deck was horseshoe-shaped around the track and open aside from the main side, where a roof covered the centre section.
Time for Exercise
Although the arena was like many in Thai football, a multi-purpose venue catering for several sports, Khonkaen had at least used liberal amounts of black and yellow paint so it looked like home. The raised spectator deck was horseshoe-shaped around the track and open aside from the main side, where a roof covered the centre section.
Time for Exercise
Swimming pools and an indoor arena flanked the main stadium. As I left, I saw an advert for League 4 side Khonkaen United, who shared the stadium. Little did I know then that both clubs would travel in opposite directions, with United taking over the mantle of the higher-ranking club.
Feeling energised, I decided to walk to Hotel Glacier, my accommodation for the evening. It was a mile and a half, which wouldn’t normally concern me, but it was a good workout in the heat with a rucksack. A stop was needed for water and Gatorade as I took note of the area for that evening.
Discovering Khon Kaen
Feeling energised, I decided to walk to Hotel Glacier, my accommodation for the evening. It was a mile and a half, which wouldn’t normally concern me, but it was a good workout in the heat with a rucksack. A stop was needed for water and Gatorade as I took note of the area for that evening.
Discovering Khon Kaen
As ever, I would be looking to see as much as possible. My walk took me past 24 Taps, a bar selling draft beers and a shopping mall that would provide me with food and shelter from a heavy downpour.
Khon Kaen certainly offered me a decent evening and a nice hotel. The bar areas were good, and the people were friendly. I even discovered that the city was having an elevated section of the railway built. It was definitely earmarked for a return visit.
Khon Kaen 0 Sisaket United 0
Khon Kaen certainly offered me a decent evening and a nice hotel. The bar areas were good, and the people were friendly. I even discovered that the city was having an elevated section of the railway built. It was definitely earmarked for a return visit.
Khon Kaen 0 Sisaket United 0
Thai League 3 Northeast - Sunday 18th February 2024
👨👨👧👧 636 🎟️ 50 THB (£1.20)
Lost Weekend
As ever, there was so much more than just the football to fit in as my wife Taew and I had a marvellous weekend away. We were meeting my co-host, Dale from A Thai Football Podcast, along with his wife, Nui. We were due to rendezvous a few hours before the match.
By then, we had travelled up on Saturday morning by bus for 296 THB each from Sisaket, enjoying a magnificent evening in Ton Tann Night Market, entertained by Thai singing superstar Gavin D after we inadvertently sat in the seats of the car sponsor.
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| Happy Wife - Happy Life |
There was great food and drink, loads of retail, and giant screens showing football. The cheer when Liverpool scored in their match around the market was huge. The whole venue was better than anywhere I'd previously visited of that sort in Thailand.
Sunday morning consisted of a walk and shopping in a mall that puts those in the UK to shame, ensuring my good lady enjoyed her visit. We then enjoyed a lazy lunch in the expat zone at Yokotai Restaurant, where the food was excellent, if on the expensive side, after catching up with our friends.
We then headed off to the 6pm kick-off. I’d arranged through a Facebook group to meet an elder Welshman, Michael and his wife, who live in Khon Kaen and who go groundhopping around Thailand. They offered great company as the three ladies went inside and got the seats while we nattered about back home and Thai football.
The other home fans smoothed it over with security so that I could sit with them in my Sisaket shirt, not that there was any danger of any animosity. The locals couldn’t have been friendlier, which included the couples who sold beer for 75 THB. It was obvious, though, that they had little time for their rivals, Khon Kaen United.
Admission was free in the open side and away end, which drew Khon Kaen’s biggest home gate of the season. We went under the roof of the main stand and paid for a better view, after we heard thunder as we got out of our taxi on arrival.
It turned out that we watched a game in which I’m not sure if either side would have scored if they had been there until midnight. Not that endeavour was missing, but no real chances were created, aside from the hosts seeing an effort come back off the bar in the first half.
Sisaket were without their best player, Mateus Panigazzi. My mate John, meanwhile, was chatting with him the same afternoon at the Rasisalai match. The Argentinian confirmed that he picked up a deliberate yellow card for kicking the ball away in the previous match. His suspension meant that he would be available for more important games.
A draw suited Sisaket, with table toppers Mahasarakham grabbing a late equaliser against second-bottom Surin KCM the previous evening. The result meant that they were a point behind going into the next week’s final game, when they hosted the leaders. Both sides had already qualified for the playoffs, but the top spot gained an extra home game in them.
Dale, a lifelong Oldham fan, was made up when a fella around our age walked along the front just before halftime in a Latics top. Andy, on his first visit to the stadium, was welcomed and joined us for the rest of the evening, and I knew a lot more about the mob from Boundary Park by the time we eventually got home.
Five of us went on to the Rimrang Station complex. It is a bar and food area built on the old railway tracks, with the line now going overhead through the city. It was very good, as was the sky bar above a street bar, which only our new friend knew about, to round off the evening.
My Roving Report for a Thai Football Podcast
Next time, though, we would choose a different hotel, the Glacier Hotel, which had certainly gone downhill since my previous visit, no doubt like many Thai businesses, owing to the lack of customers during COVID-19.
Further Viewing
If you have enjoyed reading this article, you might wish to visit my YouTube Channel, where there are numerous homemade Thai football videos, as well as a wide range of content covering all aspects of life in the Land of Smiles. It includes the one above in which I visited Khon Kaen for the first time in 2018.
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