Rasisalai United FC
Ground: Sisaket SAT Stadium
Capacity: 10,000
Club Founded: 2019
League: Thai League 1 (current level)
The story of the rise of Rasisalai United, based in Sisaket province in Thailand's northeast, is remarkable, and quite possibly unprecedented, from youth football right through to the country's top level of football.
This page covers the club's history and my first Rasisalai home game. Feel free to read about the matches I attended from September 2023 until June 2025, or alternatively, the victorious 2025-26 season.
Rasisalai United Early Years
The team's 2019 inaugural season was spent in the Thailand Amateur League. ‘The Monkey King’ lost all three of their matches before the competition took an enforced sabbatical. In 2022, Rasisalai stormed to the top of Northeast Southern Group F to progress to the knockout stages.
Jfam United and Amnatcharoen City were dispatched at Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University Stadium, before Roi-Et PB United and Roi-Et 2018 were both seen off. The run continued as Konkrillas United and Warship United were defeated.
The team's 2019 inaugural season was spent in the Thailand Amateur League. ‘The Monkey King’ lost all three of their matches before the competition took an enforced sabbatical. In 2022, Rasisalai stormed to the top of Northeast Southern Group F to progress to the knockout stages.
Jfam United and Amnatcharoen City were dispatched at Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University Stadium, before Roi-Et PB United and Roi-Et 2018 were both seen off. The run continued as Konkrillas United and Warship United were defeated.
Muang Trang United were overcome 4-1 over two legs to claim the championship and seal promotion to Thai League 3. Promotion meant finding a suitable venue, with a deal being struck with SAT Sisaket and the Sisaket Provincial Sports Association to use their venue in the city, sometimes known as Central Island Stadium.
The club, under chairman 'Nuch' Nuchanart Jaruwongsatian, consolidated with head coach Tossapon Kanplook leading the side. He was succeeded by Preeda Chankra, who was replaced by Chonlathit Janthakham before returning to the position in November 2023.
The appointment to the role of Arnon Bandasak in the summer of 2024 was a masterstroke. The Northeast title and the subsequent playoffs were won to seal promotion after beating Pattani, before Songkhla were defeated as Rasi were crowned as national Thai League 3 champions.
To celebrate the run, I produced this video for my YouTube Channel. It also contains numerous other Rasi, Sisaket and Thai football videos, as well as a wide range of content covering all aspects of life in the Land of Smiles.
Rasi continued their astonishing run, winning the Thai League 2 title at a canter the following season. The stars included twins Natchanon and Nattapon Yongsakool, who enjoyed their thirs promotion with the club.
Veteran goalkeeper Sakkongpop Sukprasert played a huge part in the success. However, the signing of three quality Brazilians when coach Arnon arrived was undoubtedly the catalyst for the success. Gilberto Macena, Alberto Gouvea, and Ramon Mesquita were outstanding.
My First Match
Rasisalai United 2 Yasothon 2
My First Match
Rasisalai United 2 Yasothon 2
Thai League 3 Northeast - Sunday 15th January 2023
👨👨👧👧 411 🎟️ 60 THB (£1.40)
Background
Background
My move to Thailand in November 2021 saw my circumstances continually evolving. Initially living in Minburi, in Bangkok, I met a wonderful lady called Taew who originated from Sisaket. We were to move to her countryside village after getting married. Before this, I wanted a couple of additional visits to feel settled and see how the house extension was progressing.
Plus, of course, I fancied going to the football to see how I enjoyed it. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. I'd already had a walk as the sun came up over our village of Suan Kluai, as I listened to an archived edition of TalkSport’s My Sporting Life featuring an old Hull City favourite of mine, Steve McClaren.
Getting to the Match
After a traditional Isan-style breakfast, Taew kindly drove me to Kanthararom, our nearest town. She wanted to buy food to cook from the market. She left me to my own devices as I had a walk around, having a nice chat with a young monk at the temple. Taew and I bumped into each other at the market, before I headed off towards the bus terminus.
After a traditional Isan-style breakfast, Taew kindly drove me to Kanthararom, our nearest town. She wanted to buy food to cook from the market. She left me to my own devices as I had a walk around, having a nice chat with a young monk at the temple. Taew and I bumped into each other at the market, before I headed off towards the bus terminus.
It was a bit of a surprise that the lady who oversaw the desk and toilets had to telephone a driver to tell him that he had a pickup. I had no idea what vehicle to expect or what time it was due. I had never learned quite how to phrase that question correctly in Google Translate.
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| Stunning Views Behind the Stadium |
It wasn’t long past midday when the minibus arrived, which I presume had set out from Ubon Ratchathani. It cost me 53 Baht for the 18 km journey, depositing me at Sisaket Bus Terminus. Feeling adventurous, I thought I would ask about transport back to my village.
There were plenty of blank looks and shakes of the head. The lady on the information desk hadn’t even heard of it. That would be a no, then! Unperturbed, I set off for a walk, visiting the ageing Sun Haeng Plaza shopping mall for some provisions for home.
There were plenty of blank looks and shakes of the head. The lady on the information desk hadn’t even heard of it. That would be a no, then! Unperturbed, I set off for a walk, visiting the ageing Sun Haeng Plaza shopping mall for some provisions for home.
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| Some of the album collection at Hong Kong Garden |
Another temple in a state of being refurbished was visited, and I went past the old site of Leo’s, previously a craft beer establishment, which was closed, apparently to move to new premises shortly. However, I had been given a tip off about somewhere else, and it didn’t let me down.
Hong Kong Garden fitted the bill perfectly. Nice hosts in Peter and Amy, and a superb 12-inch pepperoni pizza for 190 Baht, with a large Leo for only 75 Baht. Before long, it was time to go, which was a shame as I could have sat there for some time, especially if Peter had played some of the albums, whose covers adorned the wall.
Hong Kong Garden fitted the bill perfectly. Nice hosts in Peter and Amy, and a superb 12-inch pepperoni pizza for 190 Baht, with a large Leo for only 75 Baht. Before long, it was time to go, which was a shame as I could have sat there for some time, especially if Peter had played some of the albums, whose covers adorned the wall.
Walk to the Stadium
The walk to the game, following Google Maps, ended at a dead end among the houses of the new village by the bar. Eventually, with the help of friendly locals, I was at the bottom of the road when a large gap led through to the large area surrounding the stadium.
It certainly looked an impressive venue from the outside, that we’d passed previously in the car when we were out in the car. Friendly youngsters sold the tickets and staffed the gates. Inside the main stand was very grand with decent, clean toilets.
The Match
The view from the back of the seats also semi-negated the running track around the pitch. There were also some home fans of the far side braving the scorching sun. I had missed the first couple of minutes, but soon settled with a Coke to enjoy a decent game.
In the early exchanges, the home forward partnership of Supab Muengchan and Hamzeh Sari looked lively. A free kick from a Yasothon player was easily dealt with by home custodian Banhan Thubthong.
In the early exchanges, the home forward partnership of Supab Muengchan and Hamzeh Sari looked lively. A free kick from a Yasothon player was easily dealt with by home custodian Banhan Thubthong.
Rasisalai were playing the better of the two sides as the ref called for a break for drinks at the midway point of the half. Soon after, Nattapon Yongsakool went on a mazy run for the home team, but he couldn’t get his shot away. Seconds later, his side took the lead.
A fine cut back from Jaruphong Wongphithak was put away by Somyot Pongsuwan with three minutes of the first period left on the clock. The goal was greeted by a brief instrumental version of Seven Nation Army. I’m sure the White Stripes would have been chuffed.
Yasothon hadn’t just come for the ride, and played very well after the break. They equalised when a curling shot from Panawat Jantasila might have taken a slight nick on the way through, but I thought that home goalie Banhan should have at least got a hand on it.
Rasisalai retook the lead, in a game that flowed from end to end, when a fine pass allowed Supab to beat the offside trap and finish coolly past Ronnachart Phuchum. It looked to me like that goal would be decisive, but the visitors weren’t having any of it.
They levelled once again, eleven minutes from time, when a free kick from Jantasila flew in straight above the hands of Banhan. It was a good strike, but the host's keeper showed all the reflexes of Peter Shilton in the 1990 penalty shootout against West Germany.
Grab Taxi Trouble
By now, I had other concerns, as Grab taxis were not responding to my request for a cab. I was desperate not to ask Taew as I needed to retain some independence for future occasions. I had considered walking to the bus terminal, where I had seen taxis earlier in the day.
However, I used a solution that has worked for nigh on forty years, as I returned to the bar for a beer. I had remembered Amy asking if I wanted a taxi before I had left, so I decided to take her up on her offer.
By now, I had other concerns, as Grab taxis were not responding to my request for a cab. I was desperate not to ask Taew as I needed to retain some independence for future occasions. I had considered walking to the bus terminal, where I had seen taxis earlier in the day.
However, I used a solution that has worked for nigh on forty years, as I returned to the bar for a beer. I had remembered Amy asking if I wanted a taxi before I had left, so I decided to take her up on her offer.
She was unsure of exactly where I wanted to go, and my Thai wasn’t the best to be able to describe such things. I put her on the phone to my good lady, who explained all, and before long, a car had arrived for me.
Toy turned out to be a terrific man, driving me home. He spoke a bit of English and knew the quickest route offering a comfortable ride, rather than back alleys and bumpy lanes. It was well worth the tip I gave him, as we exchanged numbers for future occasions.
I returned near the end of a mini party, featuring female members of Taew’s family who were delighted to see me, especially the more inebriated of the fraternity. Food and beers were waiting, before we went to a local gathering where villagers prayed for happiness. Amen to that!
What a wonderful day out. One of those you don’t want to end, apart from your body telling you it’s time for bed. I couldn’t have fitted much more in, and I had enjoyed a proper adventure mixing both Thai and Western, with a decent football match to boot!
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