Krabi

 

Krabi FC was formed in 2009 in the beautiful tourist town of the same name in the south of Thailand. On formation ‘The Andaman Eagles’ were admitted into the third-tier Regional League South Division, with Nattiwat Raksakij named as head coach.

Krabi’s opening season ended in a fifth-place finish as home games were played at the town’s Provincial Stadium. In 2011 the club won the league and were promoted to Division One through the playoffs.

Two seasons of consolidation followed in Krabi’s new surroundings. Thongsuk Sampahungsith led the side in the 2013 season. Pol Chomchuen led the side to a fourteenth-place finish in the 2015 season. The Argentinian Daniel Blanco arrived as team boss in 2017 as the team finished in a midtable position.

Wirat Keayiwa took over as coach for three months from April 2018, before being replaced by Radoslav Batak. Despite the goals of Supot Jodjam, Krabi were relegated to Thai League 3 Lower for the 2019 season where the goals of Nicolás Abot helped them finish in seventh place.

The season had seen Thaweepong Jaroenrup and then Ittiphol Pimvong taking charge of the team before the appointment of a new head coach, Amorn Piwdee in January 2020. The 2020-21 season saw Thai football revert to a European calendar with the team finishing second in Thai League 3 South.

George Kelbel put away the goals in the regular season before Krabi fell short in the Champions League playoffs. Nattapong Kongsuk was given the job of head coach before he was replaced by Prajak Weangsong in September 2021. His side won their divisional title in 2021-22 aided by the goals of Phuchakhen Chandaeng.

This time, the team won their playoff group to be rewarded with promotion to Thai League 2. Somchai Makmool became the latest incumbent of the coach's position in November 2022 as the goals of Badar Ali helped the side consolidate. However, 2023-24 was to end in relegation back down to the third tier.

Financial worries blighted the club, which already had to cope with poor attendance levels. Alongkorn Thongaum, Arnon Bandasak, and then Ittiphol Pimvong all failed to arrest the slide during their tenures as head coach. Sarawut Treephan took on the job before the start of the 2024-25 season.

Krabi FC will play in the Thai League 3 South in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Krabi 1 Nakhon Ratchasima 0 (Saturday 19^th October 2013) Thai Division One League (att: approximately 2,500)

I was in Thailand for a couple of weeks break, which revolved around relaxation, sightseeing, football and a cricket sixes tournament in Bangkok. As I had heard wonderful things about Krabi, I decided to visit and get to a new ground at the same time.

After a few days of fun in Hua Hin I left my pal Steve Walker in Bangkok to fly south. I had spent the previous day taking a ferry to stunning Phi Phi island and then gone to the boring but pretty resort of Ao Nang in the evening. 

It reminded me of a Spanish resort, with its long road by the waterfront with masses of shops and restaurants. I found Krabi Town far more interesting, if quieter. After breakfast I planned the day ahead, deciding to visit Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Temple) as it was near to the stadium for the evening game. 

A fine massaman curry for lunch gave me some fuel before I set off on my way, with words of warning from the locals about the heat at the summit of the mountain. I made sure I took plenty of drinks. My friends were not wrong. The caves were impressive as were the stairways up the incredible incline. It really was lung and leg-busting stuff. 

I had several stops on the way up the 1,272 steps, which led to the summit of 600 metres. A gent was in real trouble, so it was good that I had enough liquid to give him a bottle of Gatorade. I was delighted when he arrived ten minutes after me at the top. The views were incredible for thirty miles or so all around. We virtually looked down on the Provincial Stadium.

However, we were about to meet a new challenge as a huge storm headed towards us. I had never seen such torrential rain and I was drenched despite sheltering as well as I could. As there were no signs of abatement I carried on. 

The steps became like a river. It took some firm negotiation to get a driver to take me to the Big C Supermarket along the dual carriageway for a fair price who obviously recognised a desperate and soaked farang when he saw one.

After purchasing a new T-shirt and having some food and a hot drink, I felt a little more human. While still drenched, the rain had stopped and it started to get warm again. I had been panicking that the match would be called off for a couple of hours, but I remained upbeat.

After flagging down a sangtheaw I jumped out opposite the stadium. It was a relief to see the advertising boards were out and the floodlights on. I purchased a ticket for 140 Baht (around £2.60) and got a free newspaper, which seemed to be produced for Yamaha League One games.

Initially, I took up a seat in the Main Stand to take in the surroundings. The structure had plastic seats for VIPs in the centre sections, with the wings just steep steps. It was typical of so many in Thailand. A running track surrounded the pitch. 

One end had no spectator accommodation, while the far end had open terracing for away fans around the curve. The far side was an open stand with a torch at the rear in the centre, no doubt from some regional athletic games, and then two sections on either side built on scaffolding. The Krabi Ultras were in the block next to the visiting fans.

The pitch was in a hell of a state, with water standing on large parts. There is no way the game would have gone ahead in any western located leagues. However, the referee seemed happy enough, even though it was obvious in the warm-ups that mistakes would be made and the ball wouldn't run. 

Young ladies paraded through the stand displaying adverts for the club sponsor, Air Asia obviously trying to increase their take up on flights elsewhere. It was certainly different to ads for pubs back home.

After the customary playing of the King's Anthem, the game kicked off, with Krabi missing a guilt-edged chance in the first minute through the woeful Cameroonian John Mary. The visiting Swat Cat were cheered on by a decent following for such a huge distance but were starved of any goalmouth action from their favourites.

Krabi had a tough little midfielder wearing the number 9 shirt Soukaphone Vongchiengkham, who could play, but was prone to over-excitement when challenged. It came as no surprise when he went on a run at the heart of the Ratchasima defence, but lost control of the ball in the area and then made a stupid tackle. 

All hell broke loose, with the army going to break things up and the PA man pleading for calm, leaving the ref with little option but to send off the perpetrator as well as a visiting defender who took offence to his behaviour. Both players were immediately full of remorse and left the pitch like best pals, even going to opposing benches to apologise.

At half time I made my way around to the far side, where the more vocal fans were located. There were several goodies on offer from ice buckets and being cooked on griddles, but I resisted. I bought a Krabi team shirt, which cost 430 Baht (£8), before taking my seat next to the enthusiastic locals.

They loved seeing me videoing bits of the game, as they sought my attention by shouting “You” at me. They took great delight when I turned the camera towards them. 

To be frank it brightened up what was a poor game, although the pitch definitely didn’t help. A vendor walked through the stand selling smoked squid on sticks and bags of candy floss, which was certainly different to pies and Bovril!

I was pretty certain that the game was going to end scoreless, but Krabi proved me wrong when the Nigerian, Anayo Cosmas Onuora headed home in stoppage time. A couple of minutes later the ref blew for full time.

I thought he had a good game, especially when considering the very difficult conditions, apart from allowing Krabi to wear bright yellow, Swatcat play in orange, while he and his officials wore lime green leading to confusion at first glance.

Both sets of players went to their supporters to thank them for their support. The visitors lit their flares and all in all, it was a great experience. My new friends were jubilant!

My video of the occasion

After putting on my Krabi shirt I crossed the busy road in the attempt to flag down a bus heading back into town. Within a minute two home fans stopped in their tourist tuk-tuk. They told me to pay what I wanted and even stopped after a hundred yards to pull up the covers so I wasn’t too hot. 

You don’t get that kind of hospitality in many places! They also explained that Krabi were hoping to develop a new stadium at the other sports ground close to the town centre, to chase their ambition of Premier League football.

They had a Liverpool sticker on their window and they kept me up to date with their latest score against Newcastle. I was dropped right outside my hotel and after giving them enough for beers I headed to an open restaurant/bar which was showing live football. 

I ordered a meal and a beer and was halfway through it when several of the home team entered in their club tracksuits, including the lad who’d been sent off. They saw my shirt and gave me a smile and a wave.

My evening continued in a bar showing live football from back home as well as offering Wi-Fi so I could keep up with progress from back home. Scarborough Athletic’s FA Trophy win at Stocksbridge rounded off a cracking day. I headed back to my room to finish my programme notes for the following Tuesday.

My connection with the game wasn't quite over yet, as it continued the following morning. As I was short on clean clothes so once again I donned my Krabi shirt. 

The staff at the hotel certainly approved of my attire. My flight back to Bangkok was delayed because of bad weather, but we were soon on board. I thought the seats next to me were to be unoccupied when two Thai gents sat down.

The elder of the two nudged his pal and then pointed to my shirt. He spoke reasonable English and asked if I’d been to watch the match. It turned out that he’d been the match official, while the bloke next to him was the referee. 

One of the linesmen was across the aisle. We had a chat about the standard of the game and how it had improved over the past few seasons. They were impressed to hear I was on my way to Samut Songkhram for a game that evening.

We said our goodbyes at Don Muang Airport. I’d had a great time in Krabi. I was now ready for my next challenge!