Krabi

Krabi FC

Ground: Ao Nang Stadium

Capacity: 4,000

Club Founded: 2009

League: Pending (current level)

The sad decline of Krabi FC led to the club's relegation from the Thai League after a disastrous 2025-26 season. Followers in the province await news of the club's intentions.

Krabi FC - A Brief Insight

The 'Andaman Eagles’ were admitted into the third-tier Regional League South Division, with Nattiwat Raksakij named as head coach. Home games were played at the town’s Provincial Stadium, from where the league title and promotion were won in 2011 through the playoffs.

Thongsuk Sampahungsith and Pol Chomchuen had spells leading the side before the Argentinian Daniel Blanco arrived as team boss in 2017. Wirat Keayiwa and Radoslav Batak were the next arrivals as the head coach. Despite the goals of Supot Jodjam, Krabi were relegated to the Thai League 3 Lower Region.

Promotion

Nicolás Abot helped the side stabilise up front, in a season that saw Thaweepong Jaroenrup and then Ittiphol Pimvong taking charge of the team before the appointment of a new head coach, Amorn Piwdee. 

George Kelbel put away the goals 2020-21 before Krabi fell short in the playoffs. Nattapong Kongsuk was appointed head coach before being replaced by Prajak Weangsong. His side won their divisional title, aided by the goals of Phuchakhen Chandaeng.

Financial Woes

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

Financial worries blighted the club, which was already struggling with poor attendance levels. Alongkorn Thongaum, Arnon Bandasak, and Ittiphol Pimvong all failed to arrest the slide during their tenures as the head coach. Sarawut Treephan took on the head coach's job. 

Relegation from the Thai League

He took the side to ninth place before he was replaced by Pongtorn Boonsing before the start of the following campaign. Remarkably, the owner kept faith after the team moved into the Ao Nang Stadium, despite the side collecting just one point all season. Krabi FC were relegated from the Thai League.

My visit

Krabi 1 Nakhon Ratchasima 0

Thai Division One League - Saturday 19th October 2013 (att: c2,500)

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c2,000 🎟️ 140 THB (£3.20)

Holiday in the Sun

In Thailand for a couple of weeks' break, revolving around relaxation, sightseeing, football and a cricket sixes tournament in Bangkok, I headed south. I had heard wonderful things about Krabi, so 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 in Bangkok ahead of my flight. 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. 

Discovering Krabi Town

However, I found Krabi Town far more interesting, if quieter. After breakfast, I planned the day, deciding to visit Wat Tham Sua, known in English as Tiger Temple. It made sense, with it being near the stadium for the evening game.

A fine massaman curry for lunch gave me some fuel before I set off, with the locals warning me about the heat at the summit of the mountain being securely locked away. 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.

Shout to the Top

I had several stops on the way up the 1,272 steps, leading 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 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, while the steps became like a river. 

Wet Wet Wet

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 songtaew, I jumped out over the road from the stadium. 

Krabi Provincial Stadium

It was a relief to see the advertising boards were out and the floodlights on. I purchased a ticket and picked up a free newspaper that seemed to be produced for the 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. 

A running track surrounded the pitch. The far side was an open stand with a torch at the rear in the centre, with additional spaces around the curve for the away supporters. The Krabi Ultras were in the block next to them.

Game On!

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 league. 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.

The Match

After the customary playing of the King's Anthem, the game kicked off, with Krabi missing a gilt-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, 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 as hell broke loose.

The army officers on duty intervened to break things up, while the PA man pleaded for calm. It left 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.

Change of View

At halftime, 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 THB, 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. 

Home Win

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 Onuora, headed home in stoppage time. A couple of minutes later, the ref blew the whistle 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.

Lucky Man

The visitors lit their flares, and all in all, it was a great experience. After putting on my Krabi shirt, I crossed the busy road in an 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.

Saturday Night in Krabi

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. 

Sunday Surprise

Scarborough Athletic’s FA Trophy win at Stocksbridge rounded off a cracking day. I headed back to my room to finish editing my programme notes for the following Tuesday. My connection with the game in Krabi wasn't quite over yet, as it continued the following morning. As I was short on clean clothes, I once again donned my replica 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. 

Meet the Ref

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 his assistants 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!