Royal Thai Air Force

Royal Thai Air Force FC is a professional football club representing the Air Force, as the name implies. Previously, Air Force United FC were the team of the service. However, they were relocated to Uthai Thani in 2020, which can be read about here and here.

Breakdown in sponsorship and a change in government direction under the new Thai monarchy led to a withdrawal of state backing of the services’ professional sides. The new club had to start life in Thai League 3 in the 2020-21 season.

When the season was aborted early owing to the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, Air Force sat in eleventh position in the Bangkok Metropolitan region, which consisted of fourteen teams.

The team showed a slight improvement twelve months later when they ended the 2021-22 campaign in tenth place under head coach Narong Parachat. Jakkapong Polmart led the scoring twelve months later as Air Force narrowly avoided relegation by which point Montree Praepun had taken over as head coach.

 

The goals of Karam Idris and Peerawat Rarang led to a marked improvement in 2023-24, which saw Thanat Juntaya being given the position of head coach for the second half. The club was placed in the Thai League 3 Central for the 2024-25 campaign as coach Montree returned to the hotseat. 

Royal Thai Air Force FC will play in Thai League 3 Central in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

My other visits to Thupatemi Stadium can be read about here, which includes the previous incarnation of the Air Force club.

Royal Thai Air Force 0 STK Muangnont 1 (Saturday 8th January 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter (att: 265) 

The bottom tier of the Thai League had restarted over Christmas before taking a break for New Year while the national divisions were enjoying their winter sabatical. This was good for a groundhopper such as myself as I had choices three times a week.

On this occasion I had an evening overnight appointment in the city after the game. I headed downtown on the 113 bus but got badly snarled up in traffic on Ramkhamhaeng Road as I had forgotten to equate for it being a public holiday.

A taxi proved my salvation as my driver took me down Thong Lor to drop off my bag at my hotel before I headed up the steps of Phrom Phong station to catch the BTS skytrain on the extended section for the first time to Yæk Kor Por Aor.

Downstairs I soon located the park and ride bus stop and within minutes a bus was taking my further up 21 Phahon Yothin Road before I jumped out near by the nearest footbridge to the venue. 

After buying some provisions at a 7/11 I was soon at the stadium, now minus its livery on the stand wall from the old Air Force Central days. Admission was free, which was both pleasant and a surprise. I headed up the steps into the home section, with the game a couple of minutes old.

It turned out not to be a great spectacle with Air Force not the best side I had ever seen, to put it politely. They give lots of effort but were missing a cohesive plan and often resorted to strongarm tactics. A bit like when I played against the police team in my Sunday League back home.

Muangnot had some skill and tactics about them. A fellow watcher of this division had given me the heads up about them a few weeks earlier when we were at Grakcu Sai Mai. It was no surprise when they took the lead on ten minutes.

A low shot from outside the box was badly spilled by home keeper Wichanon Chomchuen as STK’s Gustavo Rebeiro pounced on the loose ball to head home. It is fair to say that gloveman Chomchuen was not inspiring me with confidence. 

A bad collision but unintentional collision between a couple of opposition players led to some over reactions and unnecessary badgering of referee Aidsara Gaedthai. Eiman Kaabi then saw an effort hot the top of the Air Force bar and go over.

While the action was taking place on the pitch a rather officious security guard was scrutinizing spectators if they removed their face covering or sat too close together for his liking. I thought him a little over the top.

Out of nowhere the home midfielder Rapeepat Nakphet went on a tremendous run before playing a one-two but then scuffing his shot badly when in on goal. Muangnont responded, going close on a couple of occasions.

Seenthong Vichean of Air Force stung the hands of visiting goalie Supazin Hnupichai who parried the rasping effort from outside the box. Back at the other end, desperate defensive blocking from the hosts denied STK.

Kaabi, along with partner Rebeiro were big units. It was the former who went very close with the last kick of the half. As spectators, we were entertained by some local indie rock music over the PA during halftime while the players refuelled downstairs.

The second half saw plenty of changes of personnel as the pace dropped on a hot afternoon while Muangmont still looked the more likely to score. Kaabi seemed especially keen to get into the ear of the referee throughout and his pace never relented in that department. 

We had a short melee and handbags with around fifteen minutes remaining as Air Force became frustrated. Panupong Wongpila could count himself unlucky as he went close with a fine lob for the visitors from out wide.

It was STK who continued creating half chances before over elaborating and either messing up or allowing the Air Force defenders to do their jobs. I dashed off at full time in search of a taxi as time was of the essence, not having any time to have a look inside the neat new club shop.

I hadn’t accounted for being on a dual carriageway, so I had a bit of a wait. Finally, a cab pulled over and took me back to the MRT. The drivers’ who’s first words on discovering I was English were "David Beckham"!

I retraced my journey on the train and had the added bonus of my meeting being put back by an hour so I had time to relax back at my room.