United built relationships with both Arsenal and Lierse to assist with their development. In 2008 they lifted the Thai Division One title at their first attempt to win promotion to the Thai Premier League as the combination of Yaya Soumahoro and Jacques Tioye rattled in the goals.
Players were recruited as significant sums of money were pumped into the club. In their first seasons in the TPL United were crowned as champions as Attaphol Buspakom took over as coach from Surasak Tansurat. The feat was repeated in 2010 as Dagno Siaka ended as top scorer for a second consecutive season.
Winfried Schäfer took over as team boss following the success, only to be replaced by the returning Desaeyere whose side ended as runners-up. Scott Cooper lasted for a short while in the 2014 campaign with Dragan Talajić appointed in his place as United finished fifth in the TPL as Mario Gjurovski top scored.
The final placing was not helped by a nnine-pointdeduction to both Muangthong and Singhtarua following crowd violence between the two set of fans after the derby at the SCG Stadium which saw away fans banned from the fixture for the near future.
Led by skipper Datsakorn Thonglao, the team finished as runners up to runaway champions Buriram United in 2015. They lost 3-1 to the same opponents in the FA Cup final at Supachalasai Stadium on Boxing Day with Cleiton Silva the latest goalscoring hero.
Talajić was replaced by Totchtawan Sripan, as Muangthong, spurred on by the goals once again of Silva, went on to become league champions in 2016, backing up the triumph by also sharing the League Cup with Buriram United after the final was postponed following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The team qualified out of the group stages in the 2017 AFC Champions League before going out in the Round of 16 to Kawasaki Frontale of Japan. Meanwhile, Teerasil Dangda was coming to the fore on the pitch, inspiring his teammates as he captained the side.
United ended as runners-up in the league in 2017 with Brazilian star Leandro Assumpção leading the scoring after being signed from Sisaket. The League Cup was won with a 2-0 victory over Chiangrai United with goals from Peerapat Notchaiya and Dangda.
My visits
SCG Muangthong United 2 Bangkok Glass 2 (Wednesday 28th March 2012) Thai Premier League (att: 15,000)
I had been keen to take in more matches while holidaying in Thailand for some time. I had visited the country often enough, but I always found myself busy when football took place with my cricket commitments.
Steve had been to the stadium with his brother-in-law Mark and nephew Perry a couple of years previously, but the match was abandoned as the pitch became waterlogged after a few minutes with only the offer of returning to the re-arranged game as compensation.
We walked down Sukhumvit Road to what we thought would be the easiest place to grab a taxi to the stadium. About ten drivers all turned the fare down, and I was starting to get concerned when I pointed to Steve that a car had an MTU scarf in it.
Steve managed to get the young driver to wind his window down and ask if he was going to the game? He was, and even better he didn't mind us getting a lift, or at least we think that's what he meant! The fan was called Fiat and he lived in Bangkok but had a season ticket for MTU. His English team was Manchester United.
Fiat was a true gentleman. I think he enjoyed his chat with us about football in particular the English Premier League. He explained the reasons why we were being turned down by the taxis. The SCG Stadium was across the road from the Impact Arena, Bangkok's biggest exhibition centre and indoor concert arena.
A young lady took our ticket stubs and stamped our wrists, so we could go back out if we required to use any of the facilities. Our tickets, which I later discovered had 'complimentary' stamped on them!, didn't have a designated row or seat. We somehow spotted two seats together and were greeted with warm smiles by the locals.
A couple of westerners were in the row in front. Increased numbers of fans were coming in and were sitting in the aisles. It was soon apparent that they were selling more tickets than they officially had space for! As for my assumption about the older folk. Well, we must have been pushing on for being the eldest there.
Thai clubs are supported by the new generation who love the way clubs and the leagues try to emulate the European setups. There were some real youngsters, but most fans were aged between fourteen- and thirty-year-old of both sexes. They loved making a noise.
Our seats were level with the halfway line and cost 150 baht (around £1.80). The stand we were in had a tier of seats with boxes at the rear. On top of those was another deck of seating. Further up the touchline was the away fans section, where we reckoned around 2,500 Bangkok Glass fans were rammed in.
To our right was the South End, which was where the main Ultras stood and made a real noise. The North End was also for standing fans. They were matched by the fans at the other end.
Opposite us was the final stand, which joined up in the corners to the end stands and contained the player's facilities, press box, TV tower and seating. Every space was packed. The stewards and security let people sit and stand where they could without interfering. God, it was refreshing.
We were expecting a convincing home win and I predicted 4-1, as MTU had hammered Thai Port 5-1 at home in their weekend fixture. However, Glass had not read the script and they played the better of the football. MTU missed an absolute sitter after some great approach play and a layback, but Glass also created plenty.
United spurned another opportunity before the visitors took the lead after a good ball sent the wide man through. He laid it square for Thai international striker Teeratep Winothai to slot home to send 'The Glass Rabbit' fans wild with delight.
At half time I went in search of refreshments. It was still very warm despite it being around 9pm. I went behind the away section to get a feel of the atmosphere. There was the occasional 'farang' (westerner) around, but the demographics were much the same as in our section.
I found my way back for the second half, in which Glass continued to play the better football. Too many players, particularly the Africans on show were falling over far too frequently for our liking. The visitors regained the lead after a clever short corner routine left Wonothai with a free header, which he didn't waste.
At full time we headed to the club shop. There was plenty of merchandise to tempt the customers, all at very reasonable prices at least to my income. I settled for a couple of excellently produced match programmes at just 10 baht (20p) each.
MTU was a bit too like Man Utd for my personal taste. They were slick and professional, but I always did prefer the underdogs. Their style of play hadn't endeared me to them either, although I'd be back to the SCG Stadium like a shot if I was given half a chance.
Within forty minutes we were walking up our favourite little avenue and sitting outside The Moonshine Joint drinking and chatting with pals over for the cricket as well as the excellent Bangkok Post sports reporter Roger Crutchley and bars owner from Newcastle NSW, Steve Hatherall.
We sat there watching the world go by drinking multiple bottles of San Miguel Lite with the likes of Gavin Shaw, Lemon, Speed, Woodsy and Matt Luton. I was in a wonderful place that evening!
The match and experience had been pretty amazing and wonderful value for money. I would definitely do it again if I received the opportunity. To see a video I took during the match, click here.
Muangthong United 2 Bangkok Glass 1 (Sunday 6th April 2014) Thai Premier League (att: 15,000)
This was the most alarming news. At the same time, a girl tried to return an unwanted ticket. I helped her out immediately. She was happy taking 100 Baht (around £2) for a 120 Baht ticket behind the goal. I had noted that a VIP ticket was 500 Baht, which I maybe should have considered.
As the teams entered the pitch, I realised that ex-Cardiff City and QPR, amongst many other clubs, striker Jay Bothroyd was playing up front for Muangthong, who I must admit to not being their biggest fan before kickoff.
I also had to chuckle at the strap line by the museum that read that their history never ends, and a banner at the far end reading ‘Welcome to Hell’ to try and intimidate visitors. They had obviously never been to Goole.
Gradually the visitors started playing some good stuff of their own as they spread the play and frustrated both the United team and their supporters. The Frenchman Flavien Michelini was excellent wide on the right. Bothroyd had started brightly but then disappeared for prolonged periods
He looked like a fine player, as someone with 51 international caps should. He was booked and then sent off in injury time in the first half. Neither were particularly bad offences.
They gradually turned the screw, which led to Bothroyd finishing delightfully on sixty-three minutes. The bloke had oozed class when he appeared bothered in a microcosm of his career. I didn’t reckon he deserved the fawning the westerners were giving him from the stands.
He was an off-duty taxi driver who was delighted a westerner had gone to watch his team. We managed a basic chat about the game and the TPL. He showed me a picture of his young son who he was obviously enormously proud of before dropping me off exactly where I needed to be to pick up some supper.
I had been enjoying every minute of Bangkok since moving permanently to the Land of Smiles a couple of months earlier. The football adventures were living up to expectations as I got around to new venues, but on this occasion, I opted for the biggest game in Thailand all weekend.
Setting out with the best of intentions from Minburi to go all the way by public transport, my plans hit the buffers when I stood on Ram Intra for a good thirty minutes without any sign of the bus that my App said I required. I would learn easier ways in the future.
A taxi was hailed with the intention of dropping me outside the Thunder Dome Stadium. However, on the way along Chaeng Wattana-Pak Kret 33, which trendily becomes Bond Street near the new retail developments I saw Nap Bar, so I asked my driver to let me out.
Yes, it was trendy, and just opening for business. The staff seemed a little perplexed but extremely courteous with decent music being played. After just one large bottle of Leo, I continued the ten-minute walk towards the stadium.
Under the Ubon Ratthaya Expressway, I came across a fan zone with numerous pop-up bars and got talking to a United and Sunderland fan called Ian, who was a teacher in Bangkok. We had a good chat and took in the fan display from the Curva Sud ultras which can be seen here.
I said my goodbyes after being propositioned by a Thai who wanted me to be his English teacher and chatting an MTU fan originally from Dresden I headed to find my gate behind the near south goal.
It was a sign of the times that the capacity was still restricted, and a girl steward stood at the steps with a board reminding everyone to wear a mask. Covid really was lingering in the air, although it was quite relaxed inside the stadium.
Buriram with an excellent away following really did look a good side. They were well disciplined and reminded me of Liverpool in the 1980s with their solid defence and fine rapid counterattacking play.
After eating up what early pressure Muangthong put together, for whom I thought Willian Popp led the line well, Buriram went ahead on eight minutes when midfielder Rattanakorn Maikam got on the end of a free kick to score.
After that, the visitors always looked the more likely to score, as MTU huffed and puffed around the last third without ever really making away goalie Siwarak Tedsungnoen do anything of note.
At full-time, a former MTU player now with Buriram came to the Curva Sud and was given a tremendous ovation. I really liked that. A decent atmosphere in an excellent stadium, with 150 Baht a little on the steep side for a place behind the goal, but worth it.
Previous experience had told me that taxis weren’t easy to come by after a game, so I walked past the car park and the IMPACT Speed Park and flagged one down within a couple of minutes.
The exercise must have made me thirsty as my notes suggest I left my local bar at 4am where the girls tried their absolute best to give me lessons in Thai. At least I knew how to say "shut your mouth" in Isaan by the time I got to bed. It’s a tough old life.
Muangthong United 2 Port FC 1 (Saturday 5th February 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 4,985)
I will always be a football fan before one of the individual clubs in Thailand, particularly as I wanted to get around Bangkok to see matches and meet people as possible. That said, it will always be Port who I cheer for most.
With fans still banned owing to crowd trouble between the two clubs at the Thunderdome eight years earlier I decided I could trust myself to sit in the main stand among home supporters. I paid 180 Baht for the privilege.
Arriving this time via a van that dropped me off at Don Muang station, a pleasant walk and then taxi I again headed for the area under the motorway. Again, Ian was there, introducing me to an American who was also a secret Port fan.
Unbelievably he had heard of Scarborough and when he saw the shirt that I was wearing wanted to chat about the infamous Wolverhampton Wanderers match back in 1987 as he had seen a documentary about it with all the crowd trouble. He was astonished when I told him I was at the game, which led to a chat.
My seat was in the corner near to the North Stand and offered an excellent view. Port were on a poor run of form, which coincidentally started after I attended the first game after the holiday break. I was wondering if I would ever see them win again.
Once again, they put in a powder puff performance which had me trying to silently moan. I really liked defender David Rochela, but he was well past his best as he lacked any pace. Popp was leading him a merry dance.
It was the Brazilian who opened the scoring on twelve minutes. Port stayed in the game without offering any real threat up to the interval when I went out the back for a stretch, to find a most welcome feature.
The N Zone fans had their own tub selling ice cold small cans for 40 Baht and played music under the shelter of the indoor arena next door. Someone came around and offered me free grilled pork straight off the barbecue. What lovely people.
Returning with my optimism restored, I was soon brought back down to earth when Teeraphol Yoryoei doubled the lead. The Lions pulled one back through substitute Seulki Ko with twenty minutes to go.
Hope sprang eternal, but I should have known better. Port were lacking in firepower with Nelson Bonilla shot shy and Sergio Saurez looking ever more frustrated by the appearance. United held on to win with ease.
After the game, I decided for some reason that the IMPACT Arena and nearby hotels would be a good bet for a taxi. I was wrong but had an interesting walk before finally finding one on Popular Road to take me back to reflect on a decent night but poor Port performance, but it’s only a game!
Muangthong United 0 Port FC 0 (Sunday 9th October 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 5,311)
The away fan ban continued for another year and was starting to get a bit silly. Nevertheless, it wasn’t going to stop me, so I bought the same online ticket as from the previous season.
I had seen a cracker of a game earlier in the afternoon ending 3-3 after 90 minutes, between DX Academy and Hippo FC, who remarkably were drawn away to Muangthong in the FA Cup when the draw was made a couple of days later.
A taxi dropped me near the fan zone as the rain started to pour down. Fortunately, the cover of the flyover kept me dry while enjoying a beer. I couldn’t see Ian, so I decided to take a punt on the N Zone regulars selling beers after purchasing a programme from the shop behind the stand, the first I had seen post Covid in Thailand.
They were in the same position and could not have been friendlier, while admittedly not knowing I wanted a Port victory. Again, the free pork was offered, and the beer remained cold. A lady tried to sell me a fan t-shirt but there are limits!
I went in as the teams came out. I wanted to be there in time for the silence to commemorate the children murdered in an attack in Nong Bua Province a few days earlier, which had devastated the country. Curva Sud held up a banner saying, “Rest in peace angels”. I couldn’t have said it better.
It was fortunate that I had seen some proper excitement on a pitch earlier in the day before this excuse for a game. It was as poor a game as I had seen in my eleven months in Thailand. Both sides lacked confidence and the wherewithal to finish the few chances on offer.
United looked the more likely of the two to score and looked like they had gone ahead on twenty-seven minutes when an unmarked Sardor Mirzaev sneaked in at the near post to put away a cross from Phumin Kaewta.
Fortunately for the visitors, referee Mongkolchai Pechsri was advised to check his VAR monitor where he saw a handball earlier in the move and disallowed the goal. Frans Putros saw a shot saved by home goalie Somporn Yos shortly after.
Those were the highlights of the first half. I was heading towards the exit for the break when two local gents shouted at told me to meet them for a beer. Muangthong members, Thumtiti and Mai met me out the back and had a drink with me. Both lovely gents.
Port made a decent opportunity for William Weidersjö who managed to fluff his lines. A decent shot by Teerasak Poeiphimai was pushed around the post by Yos before he denied Hamilton from the resulting corner. The keeper then thwarted Ben Davis as Port enjoyed a good spell.
The lads had popped down and brought me a beer back, which I didn’t know was permitted, but I wasn’t in the mood to discuss it with friendly hosts. Muangthong forward Poramet Arjvirai was denied by a combination of Negueba and keeper Worawut Srisupha. Anier then volleyed across goal for the home side.
At full time I said goodbye to the lads and ended up under the flyover chatting to expat United fans including a nice catch-up with Ian. We had a laugh at the official gate which was nearer 3,000 and agreed neither side deserved the victory.
It had been a long day, and the exercise, beer and a poor previous night's sleep saw me nod off in my taxi home. Fortunately, the driver had the common sense to wake me as we approached Minburi!
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo v Kawasaki Frontale (Tuesday 15th November 2022) J League Asian Challenge
I went to enquire but nobody was about. I went online to find that the game had been moved earlier in the day to Leo Stadium in Pathum Thani, with little chance of me getting there in time. I trudged away and walked back down to the main road before getting a van back to Minburi.
At least I had a decent and interesting walk, and a few weeks later Thai Ticket Major reimbursed my ticket fee which I hadn't been expecting.
Muangthong United 4 Bangkok United 1 (Saturday 29th July 2023) Charity Match (att: c2,000)
A comprehensive win for the hosts on their home turf against what I was told was a youthful away side. The match was arranged to raise money for Thai athletes with disabilities. The teams wore numbers in Thai meaning identification was nigh on impossible to me.
Into a strong breeze, MTU played lots of incredibly tight passing football in their own area but kept their opponents at bay who went close when a header went narrowly wide. On the break Muangthong looked dangerous, with away goalie and skipper Warut Makmusik receiving a yellow card for handling outside the box.
It seemed a charitable decision from the ref, fitting of the occasion, but Makmusik was to face real punishment when he dallied on the ball outside the area and was dispossessed as Sarayuth Yusujujae fired into the empty net when the ball fell to him on nineteen minutes.
Chances were exchanged at either end, as the keepers made saves before the interval. With the wind at their backs after the restart, MTU dominated. Poramat Artwilai doubled the lead eleven minutes after the break before Charoensak Wongkorn made it 3-0 a minute later.
Anon Amornlertsak grabbed one back for BU on seventy-six minutes, with a shot from Stefan Shepovich proving too strong for Makmusik in the closing stages to complete the scoring. A well-deserved victory, before my headaches began.
I love living in Thailand and the people, but just sometimes you could scream. I arrived a couple of hours before the game to find huge crowds outside the stadium. Next door to it, literally, ten yards away, is an indoor arena. It was staging a gig from the Korean girl band Aespa at the same time as the match.
Maybe 30 years ago I would have been in my element with the demographics of the thousands forming the audience who were being marshalled into the correct queues. It was quite orderly. However, it also meant that regular places for drinking had to be changed.
I met my mate Ian at Flann O'Brien's Irish Pub, part of the Impact exhibition centre nearby in what is still a huge growing development on former paddy fields in the north of the capital. It was chaos in the most un Irish pub ever, with long waiting times for a beer to arrive. I had fancied a Guinness or two until I saw it was the equivalent of £10.45 a pint.
A good natter with gents who enrolled me into the MTU Foreign Legion Facebook group despite me cheering for bitter rivals Port, and then drinks under the motorway bridge, normally the domain of S Zone Ultras but on this occasion selling snacks and tacky souvenirs of the performing girls came before the game.
The last time at the Thunder Dome I made friends with two locals who could see I was sitting on my hands at the Port match where away fans are officially banned and looked after me. I met one again behind the stand for more drinks with the N Zone gang who were as friendly as ever.
My seat was officially 100 Baht (£2.27) with an extra 30 Baht going to charity. The seat over the railing was 180 for the same view, while the small cans outside were 40 Baht. I’m sure the accountants among you can see where I will sit from now on. That is if I did venture back up that way for a while.
I loved going to the stadium, the ambience, the way the hosts played, and meeting some great people. But getting away without owning transport is a nightmare. Every time it’s an issue finding a taxi or one that will put its metre on. This time they took full advantage knowing full well an affluent crowd of young women at a concert would pay whatever to get home. Not this Yorkshireman though.
In the end, I walked to the bus depot and caught a service a couple of miles before flagging down a willing taxi. I got home over two hours after full-time. We live sixteen miles away. Hopefully, the sky train will be up and running in a couple of years.
Muangthong United 1 Port FC 3 (Monday 28th August 2023) Thai League 1 (att: 5,123)
The Viabus app proved to provide excellent information for this Monday night visit following some under sixteens football at Supachalasi Stadium in the Thailand Prime Ministers Cup, ensuring I would reach Muang Thong Thani well ahead of my estimated time of arrival.
I knew that I could catch the number 166 bus, but it took around two hours, even longer in the rush hour traffic. Therefore, I was delighted to discover the number 86 minivan went to Impact Arena via the expressway and only cost 35 baht. It took just over half an hour before being deposited on the first floor of the Cosmo Bazaar.
With over two hours before kickoff after obtaining my ticket and a programme, I was approached by a couple of fellas in MTU polo’s and recording equipment. They wanted a farang’s view of the game for their channel. Now, usually, there would be no problem with this. I’ve done it before at amateur games. However, the MTU v Port game is vastly different.
I about got away with saying I hoped football would be the winner in a 3-3 draw. I turned the tables by interviewing the two guys for A Thai Football Podcast, which I co-hosted. Pre-match beers with the ex-pats were enjoyed under the tollway with a great atmosphere building.
The hosts with just one point from their first two games were being orchestrated by head coach Mario Gjurovski who has some incredible dress sense. For this encounter, he was in a bright orange suit with white trainers. By full-time he looked like a deflated space hopper.
Port took the lead when Hamilton, labelled “The Brazilian Andy Carroll” flicked on a header from a long free kick from keeper Somporn Yos. Fellow samba star Barros Tardeli flicked it past onrushing inexperienced goalie Soponwit Rakyart before putting the ball into the gaping net. Real route one stuff as I did well to remember to sit on my hands.
Home striker Stefan Šćepović tried to chip Somporn when in a decent position to the dismay of the crowd and teammate Willian Popp who had his head in his hands. Early days, but the Serbian looked a dud. MTU continued to look good going forward but vulnerable at the back as the pressure increased with Popp seeing a good effort turned around the post.
Just before the break, I think referee Sivakorn Pu-Udom got a call very wrong, or at least the man on the VAR desk didn’t help him. Tardeli was first to a ball a few yards outside the box with keeper Soponwit wiping him out midair when not even looking at the ball.
The ref gave a free kick to MTU when the custodian could well have seen red for the challenge. Astonishingly, the VAR team were not interested. It baffled me as you will notice in the video report below which I compiled as the action commenced for A Thai Football Podcast.
At the break, I mentioned that there would be more goals and Port would catch them on the break. However, nobody was quite ready for the VAR team to call back play ten minutes after the restart. They asked the ref to check a challenge from Suphanan Bureerat into the back of Kannarin Thawornsak which saw him go down.
Hardly anyone had appealed, and the play had continued for a minute, but the official changed his decision and pointed to the spot. Coach Mario played Popp, for those of you old enough, as the Brazilian talisman scored easily from the resultant penalty.
The home fans didn’t get nasty and appreciated that their team were being undone, with purring and oo’s replacing any boos that are sometimes forthcoming in such situations.
It was most enjoyable. A perfect day, rounded off by managing to get a taxi on an app straight away and head home for a lovely can of Thai-brewed hoppy ale before bed.
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