PTT Rayong FC
Ground: PTT Stadium
Capacity: 12,000
Club Founded: 1998
Club Dissolved: 2019
When the owners decided the PTT group lacked expertise to run a professional football club, along with the low number of supporters in 2019, it was a shame for Thai football. Not least, the loss of the superb PTT Stadium in Rayong province.
Founded as PTT FC, under the wing of the state-owned oil and gas company, in Map Tu Phut, the club followed the company's ethos that sport can strengthen its community. PTT initially set up a football team in 1983 to play in domestic and foreign competitions.
In 2007, the club joined the third-tier Division 2 and played home games at Prachaniwet Sport Centre in Bangkok. The team won promotion in their debut season. Some games were staged at Jarun Burapharat Stadium near Makkasan Airport Link station in the capital.
David Bayiha scored the goals as PTT consolidated in the higher tier. A couple of mid-table finishes followed, initially at IPE Chonburi Stadium, before the club moved to its headquarters and changed its title. Initially a basic ground, the team gradually improved its league standing.
Adisak Srikampang led the scoring charts for a couple of seasons. Pipat Thonkanya scored regularly in 2013 as Rayong won promotion to the Thailand Premier League and reached the last eight of the FA Cup under head coach Nopporn Eksrattra.
PTT Rayong's spell lasted just one season despite Amadou Ouattara's efforts up front. Former Thai national team boss Peter Withe led the ill-fated campaign before being replaced by Chaiyong Khumpiam. Brazilian coach Zague arrived in 2015, as Haitian forward Yves Desmarets became the fans' favourite before Leandro top-scored.
Teerasak Po-on took charge in 2017. Apipoo Suntornpanavej led the side on the pitch, while Dennis Murillo became the leading marksman. They reached the FA Cup quarter-final. They were promoted to Thai League 1 the following year.
Ariel Rodríguez's goals helped PTT, coached by Teerasak Po-onto, to stabilise their status, with Peerapong Ruenin impressive in goal. However, the PTT PLC decided to fold the professional club and resign from the competition
In its place, the PTT Youth Academy continued to support local talent and hopefully fulfil potential with the support of locally based residents.
My visit
Thailand 2 Cambodia 0
AFF Under-23 Championships Group A - Monday 21st August 2023
👨👨👧👧 c2,300 🎟️ 200 THB (£4.80)
I wanted to attend a game at PTT after seeing how impressive it looked on TV when Port played there some years ago. The opportunity finally knocked on the way back from Koh Chang, where I went with my wife for the annual Beach Cricket Tournament.
It was a tremendous six-a-side event with twelve teams from across Thailand plus a Malaysian side, with plenty of action on and off the pitch. After a beautiful early lunch at a highly recommended seafood restaurant on the island, my wife, Taew, kindly drove us to the outskirts of Rayong for some evening entertainment.
It was called Mabka Stadium in a tournament which didn’t permit sponsorship titles. PTT Stadium was home to a slightly less wealthy oil-funded club than Manchester City, but was still in excellent shape. We could buy food and drink from a pop-up fan zone, though none were allowed inside the arena.
A shame, really, as it is a perfect arena for football. The surrounding area was not unlike Teesside in the 70s, though much safer than a day in Middlesbrough as an away fan. The car was in one piece when we returned after the match.
The hosts needed a point to win the group to progress to the semis a few days later. They displayed curious tactics in the first half as they seemed unsure whether to stick or twist. Cambodia showed more early attacking intent as they needed a win.
Thakdanai Jaihan came close to putting Thailand ahead in the twenty-sixth minute when he latched onto a through ball and rounded onrushing keeper Rethy Lyheng. A brilliant sliding block stopped his effort from the edge of the box.
Home coach Intsara Sritaro rang the changes at the break, making three substitutions, which immediately injected more urgency into his side’s efforts. The deadlock was broken in a comedic fashion.
A defender headed a cross at his goal, with the keeper and another stopper making a proper mess as the ball trickled over the line. Some sources credit Lyheng with the OG, others Sam Ol Tina.
That was five minutes after the restart, and it looked like it would be enough. Thai skipper Songchai Tongcham looked commanding at the back, though he looked like he might have possessed an error Harry Maguire might have in his locker.
Heavy rain started to fall in the back end of the first half and continued, with the tricky conditions exemplified when the Thai physio slipped and fell on his back when rushing out to administer treatment.
The Thai defence managed to snub a Cambodian effort that was bound for the net between themselves before the lead was doubled ten minutes from time. A shot from sub Nethithorn Kaewcharoen from the edge of the box took a huge deflection off Vanneth Houth, leaving Lyheng leaden-footed.
Another replacement, Varintorn Watcharapringam, held off the attention of three defenders with his first action before his low shot was deflected wide off the boot of the busy goalie, as the hosts celebrated their place in the last four.
Thankfully, the rain had stopped for the ten-minute walk back to the car, and we were in the hotel not long after 10pm. A decent enough new ground off my tick list, which my good lady seemed to enjoy. Well, she didn’t complain anyway and bought a small flag as a souvenir.
The following morning, we drove back to Minburi. The area near the hotel and the oil works portrayed their finery.
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