Siam FC

 

Siam FC is a semi-professional football club located in the Thai capital of Bangkok, which was originally formed in 2011 as Rangsit FC, who were given a place in the third tier Regional League Division 2 Bangkok Metropolitan Region as an expansion club in 2012.

A debut season eleventh place playing at Leo Stadium, home of Bangkok Glass. A change of name for the following campaign to Thonburi BG United followed, with the team a reserve side for Glass, with home games played at Thonburi University Stadium. 

The side ended second from bottom in Central & Western Region prior to a move back to the Bangkok region, where they reverted to the Rangsit name, finishing in midtable while playing at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi Satadium.

A return to Leo Stadium followed in 2015, and with it, a slight improvement on the pitch, with another similar position being achieved a year later. Thai football extended to four tiers for the 2017 season, which saw the club become Bangkok Glass B in the Bangkok region of Thai League 4, where the team ended third.

2018 saw another retitle, as BGC ended in the Champions League playoff positions, where their hopes of promotion 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 side played half the 2019 campaign at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, with the other at Nonthaburi Province Stadium, with the side ending in seventh place as Ghanian striker Oscar Plape provided the goals under coach Alireza Hassanalizadeh who was replaced by Philip Adejoh. 

A turbulent campaign ended with Boonyanaisakdi Yiamran in charge of the side. The club set up an academy at the same time, to try and nurture its own production line of talent. The 2020-21 season saw Thai professional football revert to three levels, and to adopt the European playing calendar.

Siam finished second from bottom of the table, in which 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, prior to the return of coach Adejoh. Adisorn Kittipornpracha was put in charge of the side at the start of the 2022-23 season.

Adjei also led the scoring charts in 2022-23 in a season that saw coach Adisorn Kittipornpracha replaced by Sergio De Mota with a couple of games remaining. However, the Spaniard could not rescue the team that was relegated.

The club appeared to fold shortly after with no further updates on their social media page.

My visits

Siam FC 1 Inter Bangkok 0 (Sunday 4th September 2022) Thai League Cup First Qualification Round (att: c150)

 

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 are 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 (Saturday 19^th November 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter (att: 75)

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.

 

Brett Johnston 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 walked along to the main road. I dropped my friends by 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 took a beating, so all in all, things probably worked out for the best. Friends are always more important than football.