Siam FC

Siam FC

Ground: 72nd Anniversary Stadium, Minburi

Capacity: 10,000

Club Founded: 2011

Dissolved: 2024

Multiple name changes, an academy, many different home grounds, and a spell in the Thai League are all part of the Siam FC story until they seem to have disbanded, having previously been quite prominent on social media.

Siam FC History

Early Years as Rangsit FC and Thonburi BG United

Rangsit FC was accepted into the third-tier Regional League Division 2 Bangkok Metropolitan Region as an expansion club in 2012, playing at Leo Stadium, the home of Bangkok Glass. They were then renamed Thonburi BG United as a reserve side for Glass, with home games played at Thonburi University Stadium.

The side struggled in the Central & Western Region before being moved back to the Bangkok section, reverting to the previous Rangsit name. They moved home grounds once more, playing at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi Stadium.

More Name Changes

A return to Leo Stadium followed in 2015, and with it, a slight improvement on the pitch, before Thai football was extended to four tiers for the 2017 season. The club became Bangkok Glass B in the Bangkok region of Thai League 4, where the team ended third.

2018 saw another retitle, to BGC. The team reached the playoffs, which ended in defeat to Hua Hin City, as Phattharaphon Jansuwan led the scoring. At this point, the club was taken over and renamed Siam FC.

The Siam FC Years

The side played half the 2019 campaign at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, with the other at Nonthaburi Province Stadium, as Ghanian striker Oscar Plape provided the goals under coach Alireza Hassanalizadeh, who was later replaced by Philip Adejoh.

A turbulent campaign ended with Boonyanaisakdi Yiamran in charge of the side, as club aso set up an academy. Hassanalizadeh had another spell at the helm, followed by Ruben Fortunato Lopez and then Matu Conde. A vastly improved performance saw a sixth-place finish in 2021-22 after relocation to the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi.

That season saw Sarfo Otis Adjei end as the top scorer for the team led by Kobenan Leon N'Guatta from November 2021, before the return of coach Adejoh. Adisorn Kittipornpracha was put in charge of the side at the start of the following season.

Adjei continued his form into the following campaign when Sergio De Mota was tasked with keeping the team up with a couple of games remaining. Siam FC were relegated. The club was seemingly dissolved with no further updates on their social media page.

My visits

Siam FC 1 Inter Bangkok 0

Thai League Cup First Qualification Round - Sunday 4th September 2022

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My third visit to the 72nd Anniversary Stadium after previously seeing BEC Tero Sasana and Inter Bangkok as home sides there. This encounter would see the two clubs currently sharing the venue do battle in a cup tie.

My friend Gary was down from Buriram, eager to tick the venue off his list, as we were going to the match between Police Tero and Port afterwards. On a gloomy Sunday lunchtime, he and his girlfriend headed for lunch with Taew and me.

We met at the decent Phahon View Restaurant on Khum Klao for some nice food, before my good lady headed off to open her bar, while we went over the road and down the lane to the match, where free admission was an obvious bonus.

The 72nd Anniversary Stadium is a venue like many others used in lower-league Thai football. It has a track around the pitch and stands on either side. The ones in Minburi are big, the place is showing signs of age, and it is far too big for any of its uses. A proper white elephant.

That said, the views high up under the roof were excellent. The pitch, like many other hired-out arenas, was hard, bumpy, and badly maintained. We saw what turned out to be a reasonable match as both sides tried to play football.

Inter had been taken over by AUU in the close season, and I expected them to be the stronger of the sides, but not for the first time, my prediction was wrong. The teams were separated by a goal from Otis Sarfo Adjei, which was scored nine minutes before halftime.

The facilities for spectators were pretty much nonexistent, with toilets, which were far from pristine, being the only amenity. The chance of refreshments was zero, which was a shame as when I saw Tero playing there, it was an excellent set-up.

At full time we sped away as quickly as possible to pick up our mutual mate Steve in the centre of Minburi, ready for the evening’s action, which was truncated by a huge storm and the three of us getting drenched.

Siam FC 0 Royal Thai Army 1 

Thai League 3 Bangkok - Saturday 19th November 2022

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It was an unexpected return later in the season, as I wanted to stay close to Minburi, as my friends were coming to Brothers and Sisters Bar to celebrate my birthday. I knew Taew was making an effort, so I didn’t want to be worn out or late.

My plan was a Minburi City friendly at 3pm at Kanjanapat Arena, not too far away and handy to get to by bus. Unfortunately, that fell foul of the overnight rain, and I wouldn’t have been too worried about staying in until I received a message from a mate.

My cricketing mate Brett and his daughter Libby were in town and keen to catch up, and they didn’t mind going to football, so they agreed to meet me at Min Residence. From there, we took a taxi to the stadium.

It’s fair to say that this would not have been my first pick, especially as Port were at home to Buriram United later, but that was sadly out of bounds. Admission was 80 Baht, and the club looked like they'd found a volunteer to sell tickets, but the atmosphere was negligible.

At least I knew to advise my friends to pop into 7/11 and take refreshments with them. I’d seen the Army side win at Kasem Bundit a few weeks earlier, and their style matched their persona. They were fit and disciplined but not hugely flamboyant.

It was lovely to catch up and try to answer as best I could the questions about the lower leagues of Thai football, and why such a small game was being played in such a huge stadium. I honestly did not know.

The only surprise to me was how long it took the Army outfit to break the deadlock. It might have been the pitch, or some hard work from Siam, who played nothing like the lovely stuff I would see from their Academy team on a couple of occasions.

The goal eventually arrived halfway through the second period, when substitute Wasin Tiammuang thrilled the gaggle of away fans along the main stand. Both sides tried their best, but it was pretty obvious that the goal would be decisive.

We departed a few minutes from full-time, not to beat the traffic, I hasten to add. Sod's law decreed that there were no taxis, so I walked along to the main road. I dropped my friends off at Minburi Market so that they could have a good mosey while I grabbed an hour on the bed.

They both joined me, Brett, for a very long drink at my favourite bar, where a wonderful night of food and drink ensued. And Port, where I would have otherwise gone for my football fix, took a beating, so all in all, things probably worked out for the best. Friends are always more important than football.