Thaispirit FC

 

Thaispirit FC is an amateur football club formed in 2014 in the Thai capital of Bangkok who describe themselves in 2022 as a small club with a goal in football. Their primary aim to give junior development through their many aged group sides through to their adult team.

Spirit funded a party to participate in the Gothia Cup in Sweden for international youth sides along with other international tours. Thaispirit open age team competes in the Thailand Amateur and Thonburi Leagues.

The club has a base at Soi Yothin Phattana 3 in the Bang Kapi District of the city with a couple of smaller sized pitches under the chairmanship of Grandma Dawan Nakhirunkanok. The adult side compete in the Thonburi League based at Sampaosan Stadium, a few miles away.

In the 2022 Thailand Amateur League, Spirit finished top of Bangkok Group F, with one of the games can be read about here, before leaving the competition on penalties to Ramkhamheang University in the first knockout round.

The side led by head coach Thanapol Kaewruang found some consolation a few weeks later, when they won the Thonburi League Cup with a fine display against Yungthong United, which can be read about here.

Thaispirit FC will play in the Thonburi League in the 2022-23 season.

My visits

Sampaosan Stadium

Thaispirit FC 5 Muangkrung FC 3 (Sunday 10th July 2022) Thonburi League East Zone (att: c50) 

Id enjoyed watching spirit lift the Thonburi League Cup a few weeks earlier and wanted to see them again. The opening round of the new Thonburi League season was an ideal opportunity, what with the club using a venue not too far from home.

Sunday arrived with me sporting a huge hangover following a friends’ birthday party at my local bar. At least she had enjoyed a happy birthday! Under normal circumstances, I’d have been tempted to walk to the ground, but there wasn’t a chance on this occasion.

 

A taxi dropped me just round the corner as I arrived ten minutes or so before the 4pm kick off. Grabbing some soft drinks and a bag of peanuts, which included herbs and chili powder I took up a seat under the cover in the corner.

Sampaosan had two pitches, with some shelter between them across the far side. Behind where I sat were changing facilities and toilets with the roof forming a overhand shelter for its seats. At right angles was an open fronted street food establishment where some fans chose to sit.

There was no accommodation for spectators down the roadside of the ground, and not really anything dedicated behind the goals. However, flat areas atop the natural banking proved a good vantage point that some took advantage of in cars and their own fold up seats.

Bangkapi FC were over on the second pitch as they took apart DMF FC in a 3pm kick-off. Meanwhile, the two young sides representing Thaispirit and Muangkrung were warming up ready for their clash on the wider expansive playing surface. 

As the game got underway the maintenance team of the venue decided that using an electric drill and hammer to put up shelves on the wall behind me was a good idea. My head didn’t think so. Fortunately, it was a relatively quick job.

Spirit carried on where they’d left off from when I’d seen them last with a high pressure, fast passing game that was pleasing on the eye. They came close twice in quick succession to taking the lead. 

It therefore came as a bit of a shock when the away side in a snazzy yellow and black kit took the lead midway through the half. A wide free kick looked harmless enough, but it snuck past the keeper and in at the far post.

To try to drum up atmosphere, Thaispirit had a couple of large flags while crowd noises and chants were played down speakers. Whether it assisted them, I don’t know, but they were soon level.

 

An indirect free kick was tapped to one side, where number 21 hammered it into the top corner from around twenty-five yards. Number 7 for the ‘hosts’ squandered a great chance to put his team ahead, but he missed an open goal after the Muangkrung goalie had parried a low free kick.

The same player was then denied by the stopper when put in by teammate 21. It was the scorer of the equalizer who sent his team in at half time in front when he collected a short corner and fired in a screamer into the roof of the net to make it 2-1. 

It had been an excellent first half and the quality and entertainment was in abundance again after the interval. A cross from Spirits’ 8 was net by the man wearing 6, but the visiting custodian once again pulled off a good save.

Muangkrung were more than playing their part in the affair as they restored parity. Their 17 was played through before he rounded the goalie to score. This seemed to ignite the Spirit players further as they quickly restored their lead.

Skipper and man-of-the-match 21 fed in substitute 26 who scored with a low shot across the keeper into the far corner. The lead was extended to 4-2 through an own goal when the yellow sides’ 45 tried to clear while under pressure on the six-yard line.

There had been some fine individual goals but the effort that made it 5-2 oozed quality and exemplified Spirits’ all-round team play. 26 got to the byline and dragged back a beautiful low cross which was converted at the back post by 10. 

Muangkrung’s players continued to battle as great skill from their number 18 nearly created a goal. Spirit responded with number 28 being denied by the feet of the Krung custodian who had put in a fine performance.

The away side got a goal back that their performance merited as their 23 capitalized on a defensive error to sidestep the home goalkeeper and score. It was nearly 5-4 when 30 hit the bar with free kick.

I thoroughly enjoyed the match and even felt a little bit more like returning to the land of the living by the end. I took a walk to Thanon Khubon where I just missed the 197 bus to Minburi. A taxi soon had me back for a few drinks and lovely meal back in my favourite bolthole.

Thaispirit 0 FC Bangsaotong 2 (Sunday 14^th August 2022) Thonburi League East Zone (att: c60)

My choices were varied for the afternoon. I could try and fit in a game or head straight to Khlong Toei where I was going to the 7pm kick off between Port FC and Lamphun Warriors. Then this Thonburi League game with a 3pm start appeared on Facebook.

It worked perfectly as I was to be joined by my Australian cricket friend Vaughan McClear who had been asking to be kept in touch about when I was going to a local game. I took the 26 bus along Ram Inthra and walked up Soi Kubon to the match.

My mate arrived with his son Pat in time for us to grab a beer and wander round to the covered tents near the players. As I was becoming a regular face with the Bagsaotong fraternity we were fine to get seats and sit near the subs.

 

I knew that we would get a good game of football played properly by two decent sides and fortunately I was proved correct. FCB played too much football in the first half and over-elaborated when shooting was the best option around the box.

Head coach Jamie Clarke certainly was of the same opinion doing his rocker as the second chance was spurned. At the other end the visiting defence marshalled by Adam Mather and Lee Hall were doing a fine job keeping the enthusiastic Spirit forwards at bay. 

Spirits keeper then made an amazing fingertip save redirecting the ball onto the bar when a Qons forward did get his shot away. The hosts had occasional forays as the first half continued up until the interval.

Having a wander round to the facilities at the break I received some smiles and nice words from one of the home coaches warming up the subs on spotting my Port shirt. A perfect example of why I loved my life in Thailand.

FCB took the lead somewhat fortuitously not long into the second half. Kuatrakul Kwankua broke through but delayed his shot. The referee however, decided that he had been fouled. To compel the misery for Spirit the offender was shown a second yellow card and was dismissed.

Kwankua picked himself up to score from the spot. The home keeper was helpless but he then performed further heroics to push over a vicious shot that drew widespread applause from both benches and sets of fans.

 

We were walking round to have another beer near the covered area in the far corner when the lead was doubled. A low shot took a bit of a bobble to escape the otherwise faultless goalie who was angry with his efforts.

At full time Vaughan kindly drove me back through Bangkok and dropped my ten minutes from PAT Stadium with time for me to enjoy food and drink. A great start to the football day. If only my second match was as entertaining!