PTU Pathumthani

PTU Pathumthani FC

Ground: Ratchakram Stadium

Capacity: 1,000

Club Founded: 2012

League: Thai League 3 Central (current level)

Representing Pathum Thani University, while based over the border in Ayutthaya province, PTU will always struggle for support, despite putting in some decent performances on the pitch.

Club Beginnings

Originally formed as Seeker FC, the 'Iron Horse' played their home games in Pathum Thani before an amazing development took place before the beginning of the 2013 season.

The trading card manufacturer Futera took over the club, renaming it Futera Seeker, putting in place an incredible experiment. After dummy runs in London, it initiated a system where fans anywhere in the world could subscribe and become virtual managers of the club.

A Unique Set-Up

They watched the game live online, voted on tactics, substitutions and playing style. The data was compiled by analysts in the stands who then transferred the results to the bench, who then followed the instructions.

However, after just one season, Futera withdrew their sponsorship as the club moved grounds to use the Khlong Chan National Housing Sports Stadium, which had previously been home to Osotspa and then Raj-Vithi.

On the Move

They were on the move again shortly after, as they relocated across town to share Police's Boonyachinda Stadium before changing their title to PTU Pathum Thani Seeker for the 2015 campaign.

The club was placed in the Central Region, as 'Seeker' was dropped from their title, with the side playing home games at Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University Stadium. Thai league football was restructured for the 2017 season, with PTU Pathumthani placed in the fourth-tier Thai League 4 (T4) Bangkok Metropolitan Region.

Klong Chan Stadium

A brief return to Boonyachinda Stadium was followed by a move to Ratchakram Stadium for 2018. Nuttapol Promthongwan topped the scoring chart in the remote location.

Diego Barrera led the scoring a year later, before PTU was placed in Thai League 3 West, following a restructuring of the Thai Leagues. The head coach of the time was Vorapan Toontone.

Brazilian signing Giuberty starred in 2021-22 as the side reached the playoffs. Yossagorn Silaket was appointed as coach at the start of the following season. Kantawat Suwanphayakoon took the side under his control to the West region title in 2023-24 thanks to Eric Kumi's goals. 

Playoff success once again eluded PTU. They fell just short of them in 2025-26 with Célio topping their scoring charts after Watcharin Wongsaklom had been appointed as head coach in the second half of the season.

My visit

PTU Pathumthani 0 North Bangkok University 0

Thai League 3 Central - Saturday 21st March 2026

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 600 🎟️ Free

Fixture Dilemma

I had a choice of a few fixtures that I fancied, primarily because they were being played at grounds I'd yet to visit. Despite having reservations, I chose PTU, not least as I was feeling adventurous and had no time restraints.

I had enjoyed an hour or so at the tennis in the morning at the Thailand Championship, which was interesting and of a decent quality, albeit played out in front of a very low audience, which made up for the lack of action I was about to receive.

Those of you with any interest in tennis and want to take a look at the HQ for the sport in Thailand may wish to take a look at the video above on my YouTube Channel.

A Challenging Journey

Ratchakram Stadium is a real sod of a venue to get to. I managed by Skytrain, bus and then by ordering a Grab taxi from Rangsit. When I set off, I was aware that I was taking a gamble on the chances of a driver heading 30km to pick up a fare for my return journey.

To add to that, they might not even know where Ratchakram Stadium was. At Rangsit, I asked around to see if any minibus services went that way. I was being advised and pointed to get into vans wanting to take me to BG Pathum United or Rajamangala Stadium, neither of which was of use. 

Located around thirty km northwest of Rangsit, it was quite soulless, although a gaggle of away fans on drums and megaphones attempted to whip up an atmosphere. The attendance was undoubtedly inflated for some reason. It's turned out to be an experience I would be likely to repeat.

This, despite a chance meeting with a new friend. Thais simply don’t get why Westerners would want to head to a third-tier local game. In the taxi, I spotted a car in front that had Sisaket and Rasisalai stickers on it. They are my local teams. I found the driver coming out of the 7/11 next to the ground and got chatting, and then watched the game with him. 

New Friend Alert

He was called Ning, turning out to be an absolute gent, and a real football fan. I ascertained his main team was Sisaket United, and indeed, he would also be going to the same game as me the following evening at Police Tero to cheer for them. His home village was remarkably a couple of km from my friend John up in Isan.

The Thais who may have been baffled by why I chose the PTU game would have had a valid point. Those suffering in the stands were treated to ninety minutes of niggly gamesmanship with the away ever-dull away side grabbing the draw they required to reach the playoffs. A win for the hosts would have seen them leapfrog North Bangkok.

A Dull Encounter

The stadium was hardly going to start the pulses racing either. It has one large, raised stand showing its age down one side, with no other spectator accommodation. A table behind it sold drinks. The pitch was excellent. The floodlights were magnificent. I’ve never seen rustier pylons, despite Ratchakram Stadium being surrounded by steel and construction works. 

It proved very difficult to pick out the highlights as I recorded my reports for A Thai Football Podcast on a warm afternoon out in the countryside, with steelworks planted around in the near distance. A venue that is unlikely to attract too many fans apart from loyalists and desperados looking to tick it off when groundhopping.

Pathumthani’s Arnont Pumsiri hit the post and then the bar with a fantastic dipping shot in the closing stages that left goalie Pisan Dokmaikeaw grasping thin air. Célio had a header ruled out for some reason. The ref, who got in on the act with an average performance, thought it was a shove. I remain unconvinced.

NBU had a couple of big lumps on the pitch. Brazilian defender Emerson Almeida never stopped whining and looking to get opponents into trouble. I had seen Finnish forward Sakari Tukiainen in action for Udon United earlier in the season, when he didn’t do much to impress me. My opinion didn’t change after a second look.

Kindness Personified

Ning was kindness personified. He agreed to take me back to the Future Park minivan station. I suggested Central Mall in Nonthaburi near his home, so he didn't go out of his way. In the end, he dropped me off in Muangthong Thani at a station on the Skytrain so I could get home. A real hero.

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, in which I attended three matches over the weekend.