Nonthaburi United FC
Ground: Nonthaburi Province Stadium
Capacity: 10,000
Club Founded: 2016
League: Thai Semi-Pro League (current level)
Many clubs disappear completely following relegation from the Thai League 3. However, following their demotion, Nonthaburi United have issued a statement of intent to return.
The Early Years
S.Boonmeerit Sport Club Co.Ltd took over the ownership of the club and moved it to Bangkokthonburi University Stadium, playing in the third-tier Division 2 West. For the 2017 campaign, BTU were placed in Thai League 4 West, where the goals of Diego Oliveira Silva helped his side win promotion to Thai League 3 Lower.
Name Changes
The 2019 season saw BTU United, as the club was then known, finish ninth with Natthawut Namthip topping the scoring charts. Nonthaburi United S.Boonmeerit, as the club was renamed, were placed in Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter for 2020-21 as the Thai FA reverted to the European fixture calendar.
Woraphot Somsrang put away the goals before United were defeated in the playoffs by Bangkok FC. Nonthaburi, under head coach Abdoul Coulibaly, fell short of the promotion play-offs despite the goals of Brazilian star Dudu Lima a year later.
Recent Years
Woraphot Somsrang put away the goals before United were defeated in the playoffs by Bangkok FC. Nonthaburi, under head coach Abdoul Coulibaly, fell short of the promotion play-offs despite the goals of Brazilian star Dudu Lima a year later.
Recent Years
Payong Khunnan was appointed head coach at the start of the following season before the return of Coulibaly, who was then replaced by Apichat Borisut. The changes continued as Chalermchai Uttamarat took charge of the side.
Bangkok’s star for me was the classy number 10 Caique Ribeiro, yet another from Brazil! Agents from that part of the world must have been doing well. However, his side was finding it difficult to find a way past Nonthaburi’s commanding centre back Zady Moise.
The visitors took the ascendancy from around the half-hour mark and probably deserved to go down the tunnel level at the interval. The break gave me a chance to do a lap of the stadium and grab some extra snaps. My hope of a pop-up snack bar was forlorn.
The quality of referee Hokla came to the fore nine minutes after the restart when he played an excellent advantage after Bangkok’s Thananat Rungrampan clattered Abakar, who managed to stay on his feet to tee up Padungsak Phothinak to slot home past keeper Ratchaphon Namthong and double Nonthaburi’s advantage.
The deficit was immediately reduced when Moacir tried to square a ball across the six-yard line. Satja Saengsuwan put out a boot to try and stop it, but only managed to deflect the ball past keeper Nattapon Meesaeng at the near post.
It was a hot day. I was tired in the stand, so it was inevitable that the game would become stretched. I added to my entertainment by way of Ashes commentary on SEN radio, while out on the pitch, it became a bit of an arm wrestle with neither side taking command.
Lima dropped back to help his team, but it negated some of their attacking force. Bangkok pushed forward into the fifth minute of stoppage time and got the equaliser their play deserved when Ribeiro’s guile enabled Moacir to score. The away support was delirious.
Their team continued to push forward for a winner. A minute later, Nonthaburi’s sub Dolvich Thanomnoom, who’d only been on the pitch for eight minutes, received a straight red for an over-the-top challenge.
It was a good game, which was easy on the eye, containing a bit of everything. Bangkok’s French coach, Sebastien Neumann, would have probably been happier than his counterpart, Abdoul Coulibaly.
Home Time
The 2023-24 campaign saw United under new ownership, having dropped S Boonmert from their title, come extremely close to being relegated, securing their safety with a final-day victory away to AUU Inter Bangkok. Pisanu Masuk, Pakorn Chootsungchoen, and then Yossagorn Silaket all had spells as head coach as the great escape was achieved.
Relegation from the Thai League
A new club crest was introduced for the 2024-25 season, in which Achira Thongjerm, who was replaced by Tanawit Chawasin, tried to offer stability as head coach. The following season
Maka Hoprasartsuk was given the head coach's job for the second leg.
He was unable to turn things around as United were relegated. The club vowed to return to its status via the Semi-Pro League. Meanwhile, their 'B' side continued to play in Group B of the Thonburi League in 2026.
My visit
Nonthaburi United 2 Bangkok FC 2
Nonthaburi United 2 Bangkok FC 2
Thai League 3 Bangkok - Sunday 19th December 2021
👨👨👧👧 120 🎟️ 80 THB (£1.80)
Weekend Double
Weekend Double
I was on the first football weekend away since relocating to Minburi, in Bangkok’s eastern suburbs and had woken up in Chachoengsao after seeing them defeat Marines Eureka. As is the norm, it was a beautiful morning.
After a last bit of sightseeing, I headed to the station for the 10.30am train back towards the capital, grabbing some delicious pork snacks to keep me going. I alighted at Asoke on my return before transferring to the MRT underground service next door at Phetchaburi.
My destination was Bang Sue as I wanted to have a look at the new Grand Station, from which I left a little underwhelmed, if truth be known. It was new and clean but lacked any of the beautiful character that Hua Lamphong possessed.
Onwards I walked towards Tao Poon, stopping to grab a khao man ghai, chicken and rice at Lotus's Pracha Chuen food court. It was a short walk to the terminus of the MRT Purple Line on the top floor of the station opened a couple of years earlier.
Time for Exercise
After a last bit of sightseeing, I headed to the station for the 10.30am train back towards the capital, grabbing some delicious pork snacks to keep me going. I alighted at Asoke on my return before transferring to the MRT underground service next door at Phetchaburi.
Destination Nonthaburi
Onwards I walked towards Tao Poon, stopping to grab a khao man ghai, chicken and rice at Lotus's Pracha Chuen food court. It was a short walk to the terminus of the MRT Purple Line on the top floor of the station opened a couple of years earlier.
Time for Exercise
It was around a thirty-minute ride above ground, offering some excellent views as we progressed through Nonthaburi and across the Chao Phraya River. The huge modern floodlights of Nonthaburi Stadium could be seen from quite a distance.
A forty-five-minute casual stroll was taken from alighting at Bang Phlu Junction down the main Bang Kruai-Sai Noi Road, which lacked a proper footpath in parts. It was good to turn down the less busy but still vibrant DPT Nonthaburi 2025 road.
Local Ambience
A forty-five-minute casual stroll was taken from alighting at Bang Phlu Junction down the main Bang Kruai-Sai Noi Road, which lacked a proper footpath in parts. It was good to turn down the less busy but still vibrant DPT Nonthaburi 2025 road.
Local Ambience
It took me past many street food and drink establishments and a very smart condo block before I finally arrived at Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium, a smaller arena being used by locals for exercise and recreation, well in time for the 3.30 kick off.
A walk to the far side and the covered area was required to gain access to the only stand open. Stewards were most rigorous in checking bags and COVID certificates to gain entry.
Stadium and the Match
A walk to the far side and the covered area was required to gain access to the only stand open. Stewards were most rigorous in checking bags and COVID certificates to gain entry.
Stadium and the Match
The stadium was like many in the region. A large bowl with a running track, with raised, steep steps and some seating. Unusually, this one had both covered sides with a roof. It was easily up to scratch to stage top-flight Thai football.
Nonthaburi looked like a good side after Bangkok had seen an effort ruled out for offside. It was no shock when the hosts took the lead in fourteen minutes through Moussa Anakar after he was set up by Brazilian forward Carlos Lima.
The visitors put together a good spell, with their forward Moacir, another Brazilian, dispossessing the last United defender before blasting his effort over the bar. I was sitting among the Bangkok FC supporters, not through any intention, but I enjoyed their enthusiasm. I also liked their away kit.
I was also enjoying the way referee Dassakhon Hokla wasn’t being swayed by players falling over far too easily. He let plenty go. Meanwhile, Lima looked the star man for the hosts with his strength and dribbling skills.
Nonthaburi looked like a good side after Bangkok had seen an effort ruled out for offside. It was no shock when the hosts took the lead in fourteen minutes through Moussa Anakar after he was set up by Brazilian forward Carlos Lima.
The visitors put together a good spell, with their forward Moacir, another Brazilian, dispossessing the last United defender before blasting his effort over the bar. I was sitting among the Bangkok FC supporters, not through any intention, but I enjoyed their enthusiasm. I also liked their away kit.
I was also enjoying the way referee Dassakhon Hokla wasn’t being swayed by players falling over far too easily. He let plenty go. Meanwhile, Lima looked the star man for the hosts with his strength and dribbling skills.
Bangkok’s star for me was the classy number 10 Caique Ribeiro, yet another from Brazil! Agents from that part of the world must have been doing well. However, his side was finding it difficult to find a way past Nonthaburi’s commanding centre back Zady Moise.
The visitors took the ascendancy from around the half-hour mark and probably deserved to go down the tunnel level at the interval. The break gave me a chance to do a lap of the stadium and grab some extra snaps. My hope of a pop-up snack bar was forlorn.
The quality of referee Hokla came to the fore nine minutes after the restart when he played an excellent advantage after Bangkok’s Thananat Rungrampan clattered Abakar, who managed to stay on his feet to tee up Padungsak Phothinak to slot home past keeper Ratchaphon Namthong and double Nonthaburi’s advantage.
The deficit was immediately reduced when Moacir tried to square a ball across the six-yard line. Satja Saengsuwan put out a boot to try and stop it, but only managed to deflect the ball past keeper Nattapon Meesaeng at the near post.
It was a hot day. I was tired in the stand, so it was inevitable that the game would become stretched. I added to my entertainment by way of Ashes commentary on SEN radio, while out on the pitch, it became a bit of an arm wrestle with neither side taking command.
Lima dropped back to help his team, but it negated some of their attacking force. Bangkok pushed forward into the fifth minute of stoppage time and got the equaliser their play deserved when Ribeiro’s guile enabled Moacir to score. The away support was delirious.
Their team continued to push forward for a winner. A minute later, Nonthaburi’s sub Dolvich Thanomnoom, who’d only been on the pitch for eight minutes, received a straight red for an over-the-top challenge.
It was a good game, which was easy on the eye, containing a bit of everything. Bangkok’s French coach, Sebastien Neumann, would have probably been happier than his counterpart, Abdoul Coulibaly.
Home Time
No way was I walking back to the station. I let a taxi take the strain before returning via the Purple and then Blue line to Lat Phrao, where the number 96 bus took me on a longer-than-intended route home. At least I was getting the hang of public transport.
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