Ground: Sam Ao Stadium
Capacity: 5,000
Club Founded: 2009
League: Thai League 1 (current level)
Prachuap FC has shown that using sponsorship cash wisely can maintain a top-flight club for many seasons, playing good football and reaching occasional cup finals.
Early Years of the Killer Wasps
The seaside city of Prachuap Khiri Khan provides a stunning backdrop for the club known as the Killer Wasps. Initially called Prachuap Khiri Khan FC, the side competed in the third-tier Regional League Division 2 Central & Eastern Region, playing at Sam Ao Stadium.
The club was moved to play in the Southern Region, but pulled out before a ball was kicked on the grounds of safety. Allocated their previous place, the now Prachuap FC returned in 2011. The following year would see a vast improvement in team performance.
Promotion to the Top Flight
Promotion to the Top Flight
They reached the playoffs under the leadership of ambitious and innovative chairman Mr Songkiat Lim-aroonrak. The 2014 season saw Prachuap win the third-level Division 2 South, going on to be promoted through the playoffs.
The team consolidated as Osvaldo Neto provided the goals before Macedonian Hristijan Kirovski led the charts in the following campaign. Willen Mota would then become the crowd's hero in 2017 as Prachuap won promotion to the top-flight Thai League 1.
Major Honour
The team consolidated as Osvaldo Neto provided the goals before Macedonian Hristijan Kirovski led the charts in the following campaign. Willen Mota would then become the crowd's hero in 2017 as Prachuap won promotion to the top-flight Thai League 1.
Major Honour
A sponsorship deal with a major fuel company to become PT Prachuap was signed, while head coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul saw his outfit end in an impressive sixth position. It was another Brazilian, Jonatan Reis, who put away the goals before fellow countryman Caion took over the mantle.
2019 was a groundbreaking season for the club, lifting its first major honour. In a dramatic League Cup final at Muang Thong, Prachupa defeated Buriram United 8-7 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 after extra time. Maurinho had earlier put his side ahead in normal time.
Recent Years
Recent Years
Prachuap ended in mid-table for a couple of seasons once the Thai League had adopted the European fixture calendar, as Willen Mota continued to enjoy his time on the coast. He scored the goal that took his team, under head coach Issara Sritaro, to another League Cup final. Buriram United gained revenge with a 4-0 win at BG Stadium.
Teerasak Po-on was given the head coach's role before being replaced by Dusit Chalermsan a few months later. Samuel Rosa became the latest Brazilian to thrill the crowds while the team put in a couple of mid-table finishes.
Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, Božidar Bandović and then the returning Dusit had spells as head coach before Sasom Pobprasert was given the job at the start of the 2024-25 season. The goals of Chrigor led to another creditable finish. It was repeated the following season, which saw an FA Cup final appearance. Buriram United came out on top after extra time.
My visit
PT Prachuap 1 Port FC 1
Thai League 1 - Saturday 28th January 2023
👨👨👧👧 2,023 🎟️ 200 THB (£5)
Weekend Escape
This was a trip that I was really looking forward to, in the company of my lovely girlfriend Taew. We set off nice and early on Saturday morning from our condo in the Bangkok suburbs, with me doing my best to give the correct directions to my partner.
As we were making good time, she suggested we stop off at Don Hoi Lot for food. Well, I’m game for any new place, and what a place she had found. It was a small tourist village south of Samut Songkhra,m right on the coast.
Discovering Prachuap Khiri Khan
As we were making good time, she suggested we stop off at Don Hoi Lot for food. Well, I’m game for any new place, and what a place she had found. It was a small tourist village south of Samut Songkhra,m right on the coast.
Discovering Prachuap Khiri Khan
After a stretch and some photo opportunities, we sat down to a lavish seafood lunch. Both very full, our journey continued past signs for Petchaburi and Hua Hin before we finally turned off near 4pm to head into the small city of Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Now, I’m a good walker, but my other half is not so much so. Therefore, it was a shock when we spotted a temple on a mountain, which she said we would park up and walk to the top. It was extremely steep and tiring, but what a view.
The coastline with its features had immediately won me over, and so did the immediately obvious friendliness of the locals. We found our hotel, Prachuap Beach, which had a fantastic room for the 750 Baht that I shelled out. After a shower, we went for a wander.
I enjoyed sitting at the open-fronted Timber Hut Café with a cold beer, watching the waves crash against the sea wall across the road, even if it was turning a bit chilly, or at least it felt that way. It sounds silly talking about cold Thai weather when games were being called off back in England.
Unusual Matchday Transport
Now, I’m a good walker, but my other half is not so much so. Therefore, it was a shock when we spotted a temple on a mountain, which she said we would park up and walk to the top. It was extremely steep and tiring, but what a view.
The coastline with its features had immediately won me over, and so did the immediately obvious friendliness of the locals. We found our hotel, Prachuap Beach, which had a fantastic room for the 750 Baht that I shelled out. After a shower, we went for a wander.
I enjoyed sitting at the open-fronted Timber Hut Café with a cold beer, watching the waves crash against the sea wall across the road, even if it was turning a bit chilly, or at least it felt that way. It sounds silly talking about cold Thai weather when games were being called off back in England.
Unusual Matchday Transport
It was soon time for me to try to work out how to get to the game. The helpful receptionist arranged a taxi for me, which was not what I expected. A happy old chap turned up on his motorcycle with a box attached to it with two planks on it. A sidecar, but not as I knew it.
Taew waved me off before she decided to use the room to its max. It was just 50 Baht to the Sam Ao Stadium. Some very friendly expats told me where I could buy my ticket for the away fans section, where a table had been set up outside, giving away free food to those cheering for Port. Unbelievable.
Limited Away End
Taew waved me off before she decided to use the room to its max. It was just 50 Baht to the Sam Ao Stadium. Some very friendly expats told me where I could buy my ticket for the away fans section, where a table had been set up outside, giving away free food to those cheering for Port. Unbelievable.
Limited Away End
The beer stalls were around the far side, and again, all I saw were happy and nice people. I grabbed one to take upstairs to our seats, which didn’t offer much in the way of a view or legroom, way back behind the curve and goal.
Not long into the game, I got chatting to another Port expat. Jamie and his wife, Mam, live in Cha Am just up the coast. They had travelled down by train for their first game in three years, and it turned out that they were staying in accommodation near us.
There were several others from the expat Port support, in a turnout of around 150. Most of the home fans, and particularly the more vocal element, were down the far side, with the main stand a long way from the pitch being sparsely populated.
The game was extremely open and quick in the early encounters, and I thought we could be in for a high-scoring encounter. As bookies around the UK will be quick to tell you, once again, I called it wrong.
The Match
Not long into the game, I got chatting to another Port expat. Jamie and his wife, Mam, live in Cha Am just up the coast. They had travelled down by train for their first game in three years, and it turned out that they were staying in accommodation near us.
There were several others from the expat Port support, in a turnout of around 150. Most of the home fans, and particularly the more vocal element, were down the far side, with the main stand a long way from the pitch being sparsely populated.
The game was extremely open and quick in the early encounters, and I thought we could be in for a high-scoring encounter. As bookies around the UK will be quick to tell you, once again, I called it wrong.
The Match
In the first couple of minutes, a shot from well outside the box from Port’s Sergio Suárez brought keeper Chatchai Bootprom into action with a flying save. Visiting skipper Tanaboon Kesarat looked lively alongside William Weidersjö in midfield as their side made a good start.
The home side were not slow in putting in challenges which fired up away coach Matt Holland and tested referee Mongkolchai Pechsri. The nearest Prachuap came in the first half was when Port tried to be too cute, playing their way out of defence. Chakkit Laptrakul pounced but dragged his shot wide.
Visitors Ahead
The home side were not slow in putting in challenges which fired up away coach Matt Holland and tested referee Mongkolchai Pechsri. The nearest Prachuap came in the first half was when Port tried to be too cute, playing their way out of defence. Chakkit Laptrakul pounced but dragged his shot wide.
Visitors Ahead
At the break, I wandered back around and grabbed another Leo for the second half. Plenty of tailgate parties were in evidence among home and away fans throughout my procession. Not all the stadiums are top-class in Thailand, but the experience of a matchday is fantastic.
Not all the Port fans were back in position and missed the highlight of the game, at least as away fans. A cross to the far side of the box found Bordin Phala, who teed up Kevin Deeromram, whose delicious bending cross was headed down into the net by Suphanan Bureerat in front of our section.
Under Pressure
Not all the Port fans were back in position and missed the highlight of the game, at least as away fans. A cross to the far side of the box found Bordin Phala, who teed up Kevin Deeromram, whose delicious bending cross was headed down into the net by Suphanan Bureerat in front of our section.
Under Pressure
I was most happy, as I honestly could not see Prachuap scoring. Port were playing very well. Inevitably enough, the hosts decided to do something about the goal, and it was not long before the away keeper, Somporn Yos, was forced to pull off a superb point-blank save from a header from Brazilian forward Samuel Rosa.
He was then called into action to push away a shot through a crowded area from Laptrakul. The same two players again saw action, with the goalie stopping an effort on target as the visitors were forced further back by the minute when they could have offered more offensively.
Here Comes the Equaliser
He was then called into action to push away a shot through a crowded area from Laptrakul. The same two players again saw action, with the goalie stopping an effort on target as the visitors were forced further back by the minute when they could have offered more offensively.
Here Comes the Equaliser
A clever one-two inside the Port box saw Yos smother a cross with his legs that was destined to be tapped in behind him, with Thanaset Sujarit, the frustrated player, seeing his hard work being denied.
Port were using one or two naughty tactics of their own, which saw them pick up four yellow cards after the interval. The board indicated that there would be five minutes of additional time, but we still felt confident.
Port were using one or two naughty tactics of their own, which saw them pick up four yellow cards after the interval. The board indicated that there would be five minutes of additional time, but we still felt confident.
Kesarat made a couple of poor efforts to clear, which saw the ball land at the feet of sub, Nattawut Suksum, who screwed wide. With a minute left, a deep corner found the head of Samuel, who headed down through a crowd to grab a last-gasp equaliser.
Back into Town
No, I was not amused. Still, it’s only a game, as the saying goes. We hung around to say thanks to the players who had put in a shift. 1-1 was the right score in the end, but Port should have won it if the right tactics had been employed. In my opinion, anyway.
On the final whistle, Mam had phoned the same guy who had taken them in his sidecar to the game, and he arranged for a friend to pick us up from outside the main gate. I telephoned Taew, who was waiting by our hotel when we returned, ready to go for food and drinks.
Saturday Night in Prachuap
Back into Town
No, I was not amused. Still, it’s only a game, as the saying goes. We hung around to say thanks to the players who had put in a shift. 1-1 was the right score in the end, but Port should have won it if the right tactics had been employed. In my opinion, anyway.
On the final whistle, Mam had phoned the same guy who had taken them in his sidecar to the game, and he arranged for a friend to pick us up from outside the main gate. I telephoned Taew, who was waiting by our hotel when we returned, ready to go for food and drinks.
Saturday Night in Prachuap
Several fans had used the Blue Monkey bar adjacent to where we stayed before the match and were gradually returning. The pair of us headed to the night market set up in front of the Muang Prachuap Khiri Khan District Office.
I was ready for some food, having tried just a couple if sticks of tasty small meatballs in sauce at the stadium since lunchtime. My trusted partner chose the food, which was tasty and cheap, before we returned to the bar for a couple of drinks and a chat.
In no time at all, the chill and a long day decreed that we were ready to crash out. However, that meant that we were up at 7am the following morning to be greeted with the dramatic view up the coast as we enjoyed coffee and pastries in our room.
Stop Off in Sakhon Nakhon
I was ready for some food, having tried just a couple if sticks of tasty small meatballs in sauce at the stadium since lunchtime. My trusted partner chose the food, which was tasty and cheap, before we returned to the bar for a couple of drinks and a chat.
In no time at all, the chill and a long day decreed that we were ready to crash out. However, that meant that we were up at 7am the following morning to be greeted with the dramatic view up the coast as we enjoyed coffee and pastries in our room.
Stop Off in Sakhon Nakhon
Taew certainly isn’t one to hang around, perfectly suiting my nature, so we were soon heading north, ready for a stop at Sakhon Nakhon, where we bought a ton of seafood to take home to enjoy on Sunday evening.
The market is partly built right alongside the railway tracks around Maha Chai station. It is a smaller version of the experience I thoroughly enjoyed a few miles away at Mae Klong in Samut Songkhram on my visit some years previously.
A New Phone
The market is partly built right alongside the railway tracks around Maha Chai station. It is a smaller version of the experience I thoroughly enjoyed a few miles away at Mae Klong in Samut Songkhram on my visit some years previously.
A New Phone
The excitement was far from over, as we headed to Fashion Island, not too far from base, after we somehow managed the quickest route. I was in top form, despite doubts from my pilot. We met my lady’s son, who was advising me on a new phone.
Back at home, I then spent what seemed like an eternity transferring data before he arrived to share the lovely food and then carried out a full transfer in just over half an hour. Well, he does work in IT, and I'd got my wires crossed, not realising he was on his way.
Back at home, I then spent what seemed like an eternity transferring data before he arrived to share the lovely food and then carried out a full transfer in just over half an hour. Well, he does work in IT, and I'd got my wires crossed, not realising he was on his way.
Summing Up
So, overall, a great weekend. A fair result, even if a late dropping of a couple of points wasn’t ideal. Beautiful places and company, new friends, an excellent hotel, stunning food, a few drinks, and a 57-year-old got to play with a new phone. Perfect!
If you have enjoyed reading this article, you might wish to visit my YouTube Channel, where there are numerous homemade Thai football videos, as well as a wide range of content covering all aspects of life in the Land of Smiles. It includes the one below covering our weekend escapades.
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