Minburi City FC is an amateur football club representing the district of Minburi in Bangkok, Thailand that was formed in 2021 by football enthusiasts with a background in mainstream media and sports media studies, including club manager Neti.
Its aim was to establish a good standard first team as well as offering development opportunities for local youths. To that end, an academy was quickly set up. Narinsak Norin was appointed as City's head coach.
City played in the 2022 Thailand Amateur League, finishing second in Bangkok Group E. After that they entered the 2022-23 FA Cup, going out to Prime Bangkok who provided a harsh lesson in the difference in abilities in a game played at Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University.
They went on to play in the Semipro League in the same season using the KMITL Stadium in Lad Krabang as their home venue, with the team finishing in fifth place. From then on the club appeared to concentrate on their academy structure.Stadium
At Vichupa Field 5
Minburi City 3 Pivo V Revolution 0 (Wednesday 19th January) Friendly (att: c25)
I thought my luck at seeing a midweek game was out when BG Pathum United v Port was postponed owing to Covid in the FA Cup. However, Facebook came up trumps with a late arranged friendly.
The newly formed club of my home district were due to commence in the fourth tier Thai Amateur League a couple of months later and were keen to get a match in. Off I set by bus, gradually getting more confident of my orientation around the capital.
I finally found the venue after going to the wrong one with the same name; Vichupa Field. My first attempt was not far off Ram Inthra, where the youth team of Bangkok United were getting changed after their training or game.
Off I set on foot for around twenty-five minutes, wary of barking soi dogs and following directions on the Minburi City Facebook page. I eventually found the right place. Both grounds had multiple pitches which all had netting around them and small stands covered in canopy for spectators.
Admission was free into Vichupa Field 5. I immediately recognised the City players from their kit. I took up a place under the canopy. The Minburi media machine was in full mode as a cameraman filmed the coach’s team talk.
I knew that they were a well-organised club from their social media output. I would have been to see their inaugural game the previous Boxing Day, but a social invite had put pay to that. They were offering exclusive access and information to any early fans.
Their opponents for this encounter wore a mismatched kit. From research, I struggled to find out if they played in a competition or were just a recreational side. Pivo started alright with a couple of breakaway attacks, but Minburi were clearly the better side.
They gradually took control firing in a couple of wide shots, one of which forced a save from the Pivo keeper. I recognised the referee and at least one of the linesmen from their officiating at games of SPA Srongpol.
Neti, City’s club manager joined me for a chat. He was a pleasant chap who spoke good English from his time studying at the University of Liverpool. He also had connections with the Cricket Authority of Thailand and had visited my favourite Gymkhana Club in Chiang Mai to assist with cricket tournament administration.
The friendly boss explained that his side was depleted owing to positive C19 tests throughout the squad. The match was played with rolling subs to give everyone a fair go, which I heartily approve of in amateur Thai friendlies as well as the Bangkok Premier League.
The ground was a decent set up to watch football, even if I had to apply plentiful anti-mosquito spray to my legs. The spectator accommodation was built down one side into a natural bank with Vichupa 4 pitch behind it.
City went ahead when the pace of number 24 saw him progress down the left wing with his low centre reaching number 9 who slotted home. A cross-shot from the “hosts” then came back off the crossbar.
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| Me being interviewed at half-time |
The lead should have been doubled when number 28 dribbled and then laid square to Minburi's 28 who fired over open goal. However, the score was soon 2-0 when a defensive error was pounced upon by number 24 who smashed home.
At the half-time break, I was delighted to take part in an interview with Neti on the pitch asking about my interest in local football and support for Minburi City and how I’d heard about them. All good for club PR.
The scoring was rounded off to complete a comprehensive win when number 8 saw his shot saved by the legs of the Pivo keeper. The Reds number 14 was on hand to put away the rebound.
Despite City missing several players, they had been far too good for their opponents. I found nice people running the club. They were still not sure of a permanent ground for their club, though the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi was mentioned.
I had an interesting walk back to the bus, trying not to disturb any more erratic dogs as I headed to Nawamin Road, walking a fair distance along it before the arrival of the number 96 service to take me home.
At Kanjanapat Arena
Minburi City 2 Bangkapi FC 2 (Saturday 19th February 2022) Friendly (att: c40)
City kindly sent me a message about this friendly, which had a relatively rare 3pm kick-off. Their social media was top-class. It was easy enough to get to the Kanjanapat Arena with a ten-minute walk from Ram Inthra once I’d left the number 26 bus.
I found a tidy enough little local league venue where I opted for the shade on the near touchline with City’s club manager Neti and the goalkeeping coach, who also doubled up looking after Bangkok United’s under-19 stoppers.
I was treated to a decent local derby. Bangkapi took the lead when a shot from number 16 proved too hot to handle for the City keeper after he had earlier made a save when faced with a forward through on goal.
However, a shocking error from the stopper led to Bangkapi doubling their lead after a shocking first touch and attempted pass. Bangkapi’s number 47 slotted into an empty net. It could have been much worse for Minburi as their opponents had a goal ruled out for offside.
Bangkapi deservedly went in 2-0 up before the interval. I popped outside the ground to visit the shop and clubroom of Chibuna FC where I purchased an excellent pizza and bottle of pop to enjoy while watching the restart.
Some of Chibuna’s academy side were training on the ground's second pitch at what that club called the Shibuna Arena Football Stadium. I retook my position with my new friends. I don’t think they had been massively impressed by City’s first-half showing.
After the restart, Minburi showed more intent and purpose as a decent-sized crowd consisting of several families looked on. They reduced the arrears when number 14 smashed home an absolute beauty.
City equalised in controversial circumstances. The linesman flagged so everyone stopped, even though the referee waved his arms to play on, apart from a Minburi player who collected the ball out wide and ran unchallenged towards goal to score.
The ref went over to speak with his colleague before awarding the goal. Surely a lesson in the old age adage of always playing until you hear the ref’s whistle. A few tempers were raised in the searing temperatures as Bangkapi went in search of a winner.
Just how a local derby should be! I thought it an excellent game and experience all around. I enjoyed the actual match, had some nice food and had an enlightening chat about the attitude of foreign imports with the goalie coach. I caught the bus back from a stop near Siam Park.
At Insee Chantarasatit Stadium
Kasetsart University 5 Minburi City 0 (Friday 18th March 2022) Friendly (att: c40)
An entertaining enough Friday night out in which the better more organised side had deservedly won.
Please click here and scroll down for a full description and images from this game.
At Rangsit University Stadium
Minburi City 3 Krungthep FC 1 (Friday 29th April 2022) Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Group E (att: c100)
My adventures and report of this wonderful afternoon can be read about here.
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