Nongbua Pitchaya

 

Nongbua Pitchaya FC is professional football club based in the small town of Nong Bua Lam Phu in Isan, Thailand’s northeast region. The club’s story since their formation in 2010 is one of building gradually to achieve success.

They started out life after being formed by the by Sports Association of Nong Bua Lamphu Province playing at Nong Bua Lamphu Province Stadium. They were called EGAT Nongbua Lamphu United following a sponsorship deal and placed in the third tier Regional League Division 2 North Eastern Region.

Suthin Srithong took charge of the team in their debut season before being replaced by Prasith Seelachai and then Vilas Thipparos. Coaches continued to come and go including, Ong-ard Prawong, Supete Srisuwan, Kiattisak Kamnerdboon, Natthasak Phusordngern and Saneh Lungkaew.

There was nothing to suggest of future progression when Theerawekin Seehawong into the role in January 2015, but the opening of the club academy to bring through their own players proved a pivotal moment a year later. The club’s name was changed to their present title as an increased transfer budget was released. 

Thawatchai Aocharod, one of the early graduates would spend a future season at Leicester City. In 2016 the club was placed in the Northern Region, going on to win their regional title. Wins against Ayutthaya and Udon Thani in the Champions League round saw promotion being achieved to the second tier Thai League 2.

Jardel Capistrano was among the goals in 2017 as the ‘Gamecocks’ settled into their new status, with Goran Jerković top scoring in 2018. Fifth place was achieved with the Spaniard David Pons Carbonero having a short spell in charge of the side before he was replaced by Sugao Kambe for the first six months of 2019. 

Matthew Holland oversaw the second half of the campaign, in which Nongbua finished ninth with Christer Youssef topping the goals chart. That mantle was taken by Valdo in 2020-21 as Thai football reverted to the European calendar. Somchai Chuayboonchum was in charge as the side won the Thai League 2 title.

The success had heralded the moving into the purpose built Pitchaya Stadium at the start of the season, prior to Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul taking over as head coach. An impressive sixth place saw Hamilton put away the goals. 

Emerson Pereira da Silva came in as team boss in December 2022, and despite the goals of fellow Brazilian, Barros Tardeli, Nonbua were relegated. However, the club failed to panic, regrouped, and appointed Sukrit Yothee as head coach. Helped by the goals of Jardel, the Gamecocks won promotion back to T1 in 2023-24.

Nongbua Pitchaya FC will play in Thai League 1 in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Nongbua Pitchaya 3 Uthai Thani 2 (Saturday 21^st September 2024) Thai League 1 (att: 2,015) 

The chance to tick off another new Thai venue raised its head following what had been an extremely wet and long night in Khon Kaen the previous evening as part of a weekend visit to the area.

We had been to Khon Kaen United v Nakhonpathom United and then enjoyed a very convivial evening in a local bar. My wife Taew had driven us from Sisaket where we met up with my friend Dale and his good lady Nui before meeting other friends at the match. Saturday saw us gather for lunch in a not too pristine condition.

 

We headed to the countryside to our friend’s beautiful home in Ubolratana District to get a flavour of the local area before heading on towards Nong Bua Lam Phu. Dale kindly volunteered to drive, taking us through the stunning Phu Kao - Phu Phan Kham National Park along the way, which offered some great views.

The plan was to eat at a restaurant on arrival, but with everyone happy to grab some snacks we parked up at the stadium in good time. And an impressive venue it was with a superb main stand slightly reminiscent of the one in Chiang Rai the standout feature. Open sided stands stood opposite with no spectator accommodation behind either goal but with plenty of room if required in the future. 

Something that was quite surprising was seeing a few other westerners there, all supporting the home side. The town and province are extremely small. However, it was obvious that the club put a great deal of importance on attracting youngsters to games and developing their own players with many from academies in attendance.

The girls at the ticket desk were most helpful and courteous. We chose seats for 120 Baht which was the next block to the VIP centre section. The security, however, was a little bit over the top by gents dressed like they were at a far more intense event. All umbrellas for instance had to be left at a desk outside while bags were searched. 

The view of the pitch was superb, with fans being able to choose their favoured position once inside. Everything about the venue was in good condition with little extras like a net preventing birds nestling in the stand roof being noticeable along with the modern floodlights and electric scoreboard.

Looking beyond the stadium reminded me of being in East Lancashire with steep rolling hills and even an old tall brick chimney forming part of the picture. The temperatures of course being very different, although the clouds and rumble of thunder and lightning offering some similarities. 

Once the game got underway, we were treated to an absolute cracker. With my Port FC hat on it was nice to see Ben Davis and William Weidersjö in the Uthai Thani line up who were being coached by the gargantuan Serb Miloš Joksić. Dale had interest in Marcus Haber, on loan from his team Chonburi to Nongbua.

It was the visitors who took the initial ascendancy creating some fine moves. Both sides were in outfits more akin to being found in a box of Dolly Mixtures, as pink met mauve. The officials in bright yellow adding to the effect. 

Uthai Thani went ahead after twenty minutes when a fine diagonal ball from Terry Antonis was headed home by Jonathan Agudelo. The assistant with the flag adjudged that he was offside initially, until the VAR team rightly overruled him and awarded the goal.

Nongbua equalised within a couple of minutes as Haber fired across keeper Boonyakait Wongsajaem into the top corner before having a header saved by the feet of the stopper. The game was already very open as both sides looked to attack. It would be the away side that went down the tunnel at halftime in the lead, with again VAR playing its part. 

The excellent referee Wiwat Jumpaoon went to look at the screen and awarded a penalty for a pull on Davis as he jinked his way through. Lucas Dias calmly slotted the kick away sending keeper Kittikun Jamsuwan the wrong way to the delight of the impressive away following.

It was an indication of our beer consumption the previous day that we didn’t require one at the interval. Instead, just using the pristine toilets. My one slight criticism of the excellent stand was that room could have been utilised in the upstairs concourse with concession stands rather than patrons having to go downstairs and outside to obtain their refreshments. 

The home coach Suphachat Manakit introduced Sudanese striker Abo Eisa into the fray for the second half, with him making an initial impression with a shot that fizzed narrowly wide. He was to have a massive impact throughout and change the course of the game.

Just short of the hour mark he collected a clever return ball from Jakkrit Songma before laying a square pass to Haber who scored from a yard or so out. Two minutes later the comeback was completed. Eisa did terrifically well to engineer the space to pull the ball back to Haber for the Canadian to collect his hattrick. 

Kwanchai Suklom played a great ball to Agudelo, but the Colombian couldn’t get his shot away as his side searched for an equaliser with fifteen minutes remaining. Despite further pressure, the hosts hung on to take all three points.

Post match we headed back in what were some very difficult driving conditions in the rain and on barely lit wet surfaces. Dale was a star and ready for the beer collected before home. It had been an excellent night out. Everyone slept very well. 

The following day after working out how to convert some old VCDs containing Thai football from a couple of decades ago and breakfast, Taew and I headed back to Sisaket in what would be further terrible weather conditions.