North Bangkok University FC
Ground: North Bangkok University Stadium
Capacity: 3,000
Club Founded: 2006
League: Thai League 3 Central (current level)
Among the several university teams with clubs in the Thai Leagues, none have such a consistent record as North Bangkok University, which regularly reaches the playoffs without ever progressing to the next level.
Home matches were split between playing at the Infantry Department 11 Royal Guard ground, Thanarom Village Football Field, Bangkok University Stadium and the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi. Having moved into the North Bangkok University Stadium, the following season, the team was involved in its first playoff disappointment.
Several mis-table finishes ensued. In 2016, Robert Ghansah topped the club scoring chart. Thai league football was restructured for the 2017 season, with the club being placed in the new fourth-tier Thai League 4 (T4) Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Sirichai Lamphuttha and Poomipat Kantanet scored the goals as North Bangkok raced to the league title.
In the playoffs, Marines Eureka ended promotion aspirations. The club bounced back to secure their second consecutive title, as Joao Francisco scored the goals. Muang Loei United were defeated in the playoffs, as North Bangkok went up to the third tier, where Piyapong Homkhajohn put away the goals.
The 2020-21 campaign saw Thai football realign its fixture calendar to correspond with the European season, with the competition reverting to three tiers. NBU didn't allow the pandemic restrictions to affect their form as they finished top of the Thai League 3 Bangkok Region thanks to the goals of Chanotaj Pipatmongkonchai.
The playoffs proved a step too far, before the University regathered under their boss Damrongsak Boonmuang to end the top again in the regular season. Thitiwa Thitinartaen ended as the top scorer before a dramatic last round of playoff games saw North Bangkok pipped for promotion in the last few seconds.
Célio and Veeraphong Aon-pean then shared the goals, which again saw NBU progress no further than the playoffs after a third consecutive divisional title was won. The 2023-24 campaign saw Phitchanon Chanlung and Pheemphapob Viriyachanchai also get in on the goalscoring act as the side went no further than the playoffs in their attempts to be promoted.
Twelve months later, the Horsemen reached the playoffs, this time coming mightily close, losing on aggregate in the 3rd/4th place decider against Pattani, in a season which had seen Ellas Souza portray his skills.
The following season, the trio of Jaden Meyer, Sakari Tukiainen and David Darbellay helped NBU into the playoffs once again, without going any further.
My visits
North Bangkok 1 Chamchuri United 2
Regional League Bangkok Region - Sunday 6th April 2014
👨👨👧👧 c200 🎟️ 60 THB (£1.40)
My annual Sunday double header on the way back from the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes saw me get an early sighter of the stadium as we flew over it heading to land at Don Muang.
My annual Sunday double header on the way back from the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes saw me get an early sighter of the stadium as we flew over it heading to land at Don Muang.
Once I had checked into the Asia Airport Hotel, I went downstairs into the Zeer shopping mall for some desperately needed food after feeling rather under the weather for the previous thirty-six hours. I wasn't short of options.
I crossed the pedestrian bridge that straddled the expressway and thankfully found a cab driver who understood my instructions. This was somewhat of a relief as my driver from the airport had seemed determined to take me on a tour of the city before he realised that I wasn’t a first-time traveller.
The pleasant drive along the Rangsit Nakhon-Nayak Road took me past the many eateries and markets along the side of the khlong. The route was the same as I’d taken a hundred or so metres further on the previous year to take photos at the Bangkok Glass Leo Stadium.
The pleasant drive along the Rangsit Nakhon-Nayak Road took me past the many eateries and markets along the side of the khlong. The route was the same as I’d taken a hundred or so metres further on the previous year to take photos at the Bangkok Glass Leo Stadium.
My driver took me right through the campus and dropped me at the entrance to the Bangkok University Stadium. I bought my ticket after taking a few photos, looking into the stadium from outside. I found myself in the away section. Ironically, I had a Chamchuri United shirt from an earlier visit, but I didn't have it handy.
The stadium was basic, with low stands down one side with bench seating, linked in the centre by an area for press, cameras, and match officials. The players got changed in separate blocks at either end of the stands.
The rest of the arena had no spectator facilities but was surrounded by wire fencing. The far side had a scoreboard on the halfway line. It had once been home to Bangkok United before they moved to the Thai-Japanese Stadium nearer the city centre.
The weather was in the high thirties for a 4pm kick off, so I didn’t expect a fast-paced encounter. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the tempo and action on a perfect pitch with Leo Stadium in the background. Amazingly, the match kicked off bang on time, which I found to be a bit of a rarity in Thailand.
The joy didn’t last too long as North Bangkok restored parity in stoppage time. They had a free kick charged down by a visiting hand before number 16 fired home the second attempt. At the interval, I took a walk to the shop underneath the halls of residence behind the far goal as there was no catering at the ground.
I purchased a key ring from the club shop before taking a seat in the home section for the second half while enjoying a gratefully received bottle of water and an ice cream. The home side continued to press, but Chamchuri looked mightily effective on the break.
The game appeared destined to end at level until the visitors broke once more in stoppage time with number 10 finishing another counterattack. It was very nearly 3-1 as the ball once more entered the Bangkok net, but the goal was chalked off for offside.
It had been a decent encounter in general. I headed back on foot past the buildings in mid-construction, where a student was working on an old aeroplane fuselage. I walked over the footbridge over the busy road as the sun set over Pathum Thani to take a taxi to Muang Thong United for the north Bangkok derby against Bangkok Glass.
North Bangkok University 0 Nakhonsi United 0
Thai League 3 Playoffs Lower Region - Saturday 19th March 2022
👨👨👧👧 520 🎟️ 100 THB (£2.40)
It was time for a long-overdue revisit to the North Bangkok University Stadium, and with the team qualifying for the end-of-season group stage playoffs for promotion to the second tier, I figured there was no better time.
While I dreamed of my new location back in England, the venue was one of those that I thought would be awkward to get to. However, local knowledge was doing me well, along with a couple of apps offering solutions.
I took a bus to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat from Minburi, where I crossed the road to take a 39 service to Future Rangsit mall for food and a look around. A musical band played middle-of-the-road Thai stuff as shoppers milled in increasing numbers.
When it came to finding my bus along the main road in the direction of Nakhon Nayok, I came unstuck. I couldn’t find my way to the bus stop, which didn’t seem to correspond with Google Maps. In the end, I jumped in a taxi with time getting on towards the 3.30pm start.
It was immediately apparent that the visitors had travelled in great numbers for what was a long distance from the south in minivans. They had a stall set up selling souvenirs outside, and some had set up an impromptu bar.
The security on the gate was a bit heavy, but that might have to do with an incident in the previous home game where Bangkok FC player Aitsaret Noichaiboon attacked NBU man Supasan Ruangsuphanimit with a Muay Thai-style elbow, and all hell had broken loose.
Both sides cancelled each other out in this competitive clash. I viewed from among the superb away supporters. The German coach of the visitors, Jorg Steinebrunner, was animated at times, but he seemed to get his message across
The host's main tactic consisted of long throws into the box in the general direction of decent striker Sergey Tumasyan, and then falling over quite a lot. Fortunately, referee Thapakorn Thongkon was having none of it.
While I couldn’t condone any attack on a player, I quickly understood how opponents could lose their rag against the mob representing the university. They were a piece of work and knew plenty of dark arts.
Both sides had won their first game 3-0 and were determined not to give anything away in this encounter on a poor playing surface. The heat wasn’t helping either, with drinks breaks being called midway through each half.
At the break, I walked to the shop at the far end for refreshments and an ice cream before settling back down. Ten minutes into the restart, an excellent Nakhonsi move ended with a header going just wide, and that was about all to report on.
Both defences were the winners in an absolute stalemate. The courtesy campus bus gave us a ride on foot back to the main road, and on crossing the bridge, a bus was soon with us to take me back to Zeer Rangsit, from where another couple of services delivered me back to Minburi.
North Bangkok University 0 Saruburi United 0
It was time for a long-overdue revisit to the North Bangkok University Stadium, and with the team qualifying for the end-of-season group stage playoffs for promotion to the second tier, I figured there was no better time.
While I dreamed of my new location back in England, the venue was one of those that I thought would be awkward to get to. However, local knowledge was doing me well, along with a couple of apps offering solutions.
I took a bus to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat from Minburi, where I crossed the road to take a 39 service to Future Rangsit mall for food and a look around. A musical band played middle-of-the-road Thai stuff as shoppers milled in increasing numbers.
When it came to finding my bus along the main road in the direction of Nakhon Nayok, I came unstuck. I couldn’t find my way to the bus stop, which didn’t seem to correspond with Google Maps. In the end, I jumped in a taxi with time getting on towards the 3.30pm start.
It was immediately apparent that the visitors had travelled in great numbers for what was a long distance from the south in minivans. They had a stall set up selling souvenirs outside, and some had set up an impromptu bar.
The security on the gate was a bit heavy, but that might have to do with an incident in the previous home game where Bangkok FC player Aitsaret Noichaiboon attacked NBU man Supasan Ruangsuphanimit with a Muay Thai-style elbow, and all hell had broken loose.
Both sides cancelled each other out in this competitive clash. I viewed from among the superb away supporters. The German coach of the visitors, Jorg Steinebrunner, was animated at times, but he seemed to get his message across
The host's main tactic consisted of long throws into the box in the general direction of decent striker Sergey Tumasyan, and then falling over quite a lot. Fortunately, referee Thapakorn Thongkon was having none of it.
While I couldn’t condone any attack on a player, I quickly understood how opponents could lose their rag against the mob representing the university. They were a piece of work and knew plenty of dark arts.
Both sides had won their first game 3-0 and were determined not to give anything away in this encounter on a poor playing surface. The heat wasn’t helping either, with drinks breaks being called midway through each half.
At the break, I walked to the shop at the far end for refreshments and an ice cream before settling back down. Ten minutes into the restart, an excellent Nakhonsi move ended with a header going just wide, and that was about all to report on.
Both defences were the winners in an absolute stalemate. The courtesy campus bus gave us a ride on foot back to the main road, and on crossing the bridge, a bus was soon with us to take me back to Zeer Rangsit, from where another couple of services delivered me back to Minburi.
North Bangkok University 0 Saruburi United 0
Thai League 3 Playoffs Lower Region - Saturday 2nd April 2022
👨👨👧👧 200 🎟️ 100 THB (£2.40)
If I thought I would see a better game on my return a couple of weeks later, I was to be disappointed. This one really stank the place out. Again, I went in with the away fans and enjoyed the same over-the-top security measures.
Tumasyan was missing from the Uni lineup and were consequently even more lacking in forward invention with the strong wind at their backs in the first half. Saraburi opted for a shorter passing game that was more pleasing on the eye.
Both sides fired off speculative efforts in the early exchanges as those from Saraburi made me most welcome as they cheered on their heroes, while one of their defenders put in a last gasp challenge to avert the danger of a North Bangkok attempt.
Aboubacar Kone looked like a class act for the visitors in midfield, dealing with the bumpy pitch. United took the ascendancy as the half progressed. It said plenty that I enjoyed the performance of ref Kristin Saisombat as much as any player in what was a real contrast of styles.
Saraburi continued to be the better side after the interval, but we still awaited an effort on goal from either side. The visitors' skipper went down with what appeared to be a nasty injury, but play continued. Fans were hysterical in their screaming before there was a long delay in play.
It fired up both teams with the home side's Piyaphong Homkhajohn taking some real abuse, which he wasn’t slow in returning. While NBU were not high on my list of most watchable sides, their skipper, Weerayut Jitkuntod, was solid and excellent in general.
The closest either side came to goal arrived late on when Saraburi keeper Ritthikiat Yodsamut nearly palmed a long-range shot into his own net, but the score remained blank until full time.
At which point I again jumped aboard the free shuttle bus and began my walk along the main road towards the BG Pathum United v Port game, when I was intercepted by a fan who turned out to be the father of an away team player, who kindly gave me a lift.
If I thought I would see a better game on my return a couple of weeks later, I was to be disappointed. This one really stank the place out. Again, I went in with the away fans and enjoyed the same over-the-top security measures.
Tumasyan was missing from the Uni lineup and were consequently even more lacking in forward invention with the strong wind at their backs in the first half. Saraburi opted for a shorter passing game that was more pleasing on the eye.
Both sides fired off speculative efforts in the early exchanges as those from Saraburi made me most welcome as they cheered on their heroes, while one of their defenders put in a last gasp challenge to avert the danger of a North Bangkok attempt.
Aboubacar Kone looked like a class act for the visitors in midfield, dealing with the bumpy pitch. United took the ascendancy as the half progressed. It said plenty that I enjoyed the performance of ref Kristin Saisombat as much as any player in what was a real contrast of styles.
Saraburi continued to be the better side after the interval, but we still awaited an effort on goal from either side. The visitors' skipper went down with what appeared to be a nasty injury, but play continued. Fans were hysterical in their screaming before there was a long delay in play.
It fired up both teams with the home side's Piyaphong Homkhajohn taking some real abuse, which he wasn’t slow in returning. While NBU were not high on my list of most watchable sides, their skipper, Weerayut Jitkuntod, was solid and excellent in general.
The closest either side came to goal arrived late on when Saraburi keeper Ritthikiat Yodsamut nearly palmed a long-range shot into his own net, but the score remained blank until full time.
At which point I again jumped aboard the free shuttle bus and began my walk along the main road towards the BG Pathum United v Port game, when I was intercepted by a fan who turned out to be the father of an away team player, who kindly gave me a lift.
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