the iCon RSU FC
Ground: Rangsit University Stadium
Capacity: 3,000
Club Founded: 2009
League: University Competition (current level)
There are over forty universities in the Bangkok Metropolitan region. Many have football sides, some of whom, like the Icon RSU, have played in the Thai national leagues before returning to university competition.
Club Background
Originally formed as Rangsit University, the club became a member of the Regional League Bangkok Area. They won promotion in 2010 after Prachinburi FC were defeated in the playoffs to become JW Rangsit following a deal with the JW Real Estate Group.
The team consolidated, moving to Thupatemee Stadium to share with Air Force United. Unfortunately, Thupatemee was hit by the disastrous floods in November 2011. Rangsit played out the season at Nakhon Nayok Military School. They remained there before heading to the Queen Sirikit Sport Stadium for the second half of the 2012 season.
The team was relegated to the third-tier Regional League in 2012, this time being placed in the Central East Region. Rangsit returned to play their home games at their original university home, with a sideways move to the Bangkok Region.
The club reverted to the title of Rangsit University for the 2015 campaign. After another lowly league finish, the club became usually referred to as RSU FC, although also still known in some quarters as Rangsit University.
The iCon RSU Years
Changes in the Thai League system came into play for the 2017 season as a fourth tier was added, where RSU was placed. Weerayut Phuiprom finished as top scorer for 'The Trespassing Tiger' as the side finished in eighth spot.
Banjong Padungpattanodom led the scoring under head coach Niphon Biawtungnoi. A finish next to the bottom of the table in 2019 saw the club relegated. The team competed in the Thai University League, also known as the U League. The side reformed as The iCon RSU to compete in the Thailand Semi-Pro League in 2023.
Phumipat Pinthaisong coached the side, progressing through the Bangkok Zone to clinch a runners-up spot in the Southern Zone. It was enough for RSU to reclaim their place in the national set-up. Queen Sirikits 60th Anniversary Stadium in Pathum Thani was initially selected as the home venue, but it failed to materialise.
Krisada Sangchant led the side in T3, as the club played home games at North Bangkok University Stadium before Bangkok University Stadium was adopted as their new home. The club’s stay lasted just one season before being relegated.
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| Bangkok University Stadium |
Some doubts surrounding the backing of The iCon as owner/sponsors circulated as the company was investigated by official regulators away from football.
My visits
Stadium Visit - Wednesday 27th March 2013
A Day of Self-Indulgence
My day away from the early touring life with my cricketing pals was going well. I had already visited two stadiums and was now really getting into the mood despite the soaring temperatures that even had the locals struggling.
However, I was soon to hit frustration when I got into a taxi. Now I admit my Thai isn't the best, but with the aid of large print copies of Google Maps, I thought that finding a well-known university campus would be easy enough for my driver to find. Sadly, I was to be proved wrong.
In the end, I paid him up and went in search of another cab, which soon arrived. Over the years, I have found this to be the best solution to avoid frustration on the part of all those inside a vehicle.
This time, my new pilot made no mistake and soon had me by the campus entrance, just as many students were calling it a day. I did my usual act of smiling at the guards while continuing to walk. I could see my target, and I didn't want to be denied.
As it turned out, the venue was a bit of a disappointment. The only building was the Main Stand on the halfway line around a shale running track. I did the necessary with my camera before heading back through the gate. I was soon in another taxi heading to the home of Bangkok Glass.
Stadium Visit - Monday 18th June 2018
An Unexpected Adventure
The following is a story of what can go wrong when you don't check on the websites and Twitter feeds before you set off to watch a game in the lower divisions in Thailand. There are occasions when my adventures pursuing my hobby don’t work out as I expect when leaving in the morning, and this day out definitely fell into this category.
I's begun the second half of a tremendous holiday in Bangkok and Isaan. Everything had more or less fallen into place, much to my surprise. Therefore, I could see no warning signs of the cock up approaching as I left Steve’s house in Minburi on another lovely morning.
I had my rucksack with me, as I was heading straight to Don Muang Airport after the RCU FC v Port B game in the Thai League 4 Bangkok Region. The website said it was a 4pm kick-off when I last checked. I'd taken local transport down to Bangkapi to meet Steve for coffee in the Mall, where my mate asked if I’d checked that the match was definitely on.
I laughed at him. “Of course it is”, I replied. We said our goodbyes until the following Saturday, when we’d be enjoying the final few hours of my trip, as I headed to take the Saen Saep Ferry downtown. I alighted from the packed service at Asok, then headed to Phetchaburi MRT station.
Bangkok Transport
I wanted to make my way as near as I could to Rangsit University by public transport, aside from taxis, unless absolutely necessary. I should have stuck to my plan of taking a bus from Chatuchak, but I thought I’d save time by jumping out at Phahon Yothin, as I knew this stop before when heading to watch an Air Force game by bus.
What I hadn’t realised was that I was on a different road to the one I required for this present journey. I ended up walking and getting lost several times around the Central Plaza Ladprao.
I eventually worked out that I needed to cut through the Mall and out of the far side of the Centara Grand Hotel to the main Don Muang road.
After much confusion, I managed to find a bus stop and a service going north. I decided to take it past the airport and then commandeer a taxi the rest of the way, as the bus service didn’t appear to serve the university.
A Top Taxi Driver
Everything worked fine, grabbing myself some much-needed refreshments at the 7/11 by Don Muang railway station before getting in a cab. I thought that the hard work had been overcome. How little I knew!
My driver thought I knew exactly where to go, which I thought I did. Only, he thought he was dropping me off at a condo. He hadn't understood me. For the following twenty minutes, we went up and down the main road, missing turnings, while I was becoming increasingly confused in the back.
Finally, we were on track. I expected the left turning down Thanon Ek Thaksin to be a simple enough ride to the university. The Skytrain was being developed along the route. We saw the nearly completed Lak Hok station ahead, getting ready for the new service, which reassured me as I recognised the name.
However, I had not realised that our required road was a flyover above where we were, so it could cross the new tracks. There was no access to our road. This led to us trying other turnings with no success before we took a U-turn and went back south of the station.
After what seemed like ages, with my driver still somehow finding the strength to smile, we turned down a small soi and had to pay a man a toll to cross the Khlong before we did a right and got onto Thanon Ek Thaksin. My pilot was still unconvinced as we went down an interesting road with plenty of facilities for food, drink and relaxation.
We continued past the entrance to Muang Ake Golf Club, soon turning into the grounds of Rangsit University. I got out close to the small stadium and paid up. I think the driver was glad to be shot of me, even if he had taken a good fare.
Immediately, I became aware that my test of endurance was far from over. There was a distinct lack of footballers on the pitch, ahead through the trees. Perhaps they were in the tunnel waiting to come out for the match as it was nearing kick-off time?
The stand was virtually empty, with just three or four students in there with a drum. I knew that fourth division games were sparsely attended, but surely the under-23 Port side would attract a few more than this?
I tried to convince myself that I was at the right location and time, but in truth, I was struggling. There were no team coaches behind the stand, and no desk to take admission money. I went out to the front to see the scoreboard on the far side displaying a 3-1 score.
The match had already taken place. I eventually discovered that it had been played twenty-four hours previously. This was virtually an exact repeat of my first two visits to Lamphun Warriors. What an idiot!
However, all was not lost as I salvaged something from the adventure as I took a further taxi to Thammasat Stadium, where I saw the first half of the League 4 clash between Dome and BGC, which can be read about here.
Minburi City 3 Krungthep FC 1
Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Group E - Friday 29th April 2022
👨👨👧👧 c100 🎟️ Free
Please click here and scroll down for a full description of a wonderful occasion, as Rangsit University Stadium was used as one of several neutral venues for the group stages of the 2022 Thailand Amateur League.
As it turned out, the venue was a bit of a disappointment. The only building was the Main Stand on the halfway line around a shale running track. I did the necessary with my camera before heading back through the gate. I was soon in another taxi heading to the home of Bangkok Glass.
Stadium Visit - Monday 18th June 2018
An Unexpected Adventure
The following is a story of what can go wrong when you don't check on the websites and Twitter feeds before you set off to watch a game in the lower divisions in Thailand. There are occasions when my adventures pursuing my hobby don’t work out as I expect when leaving in the morning, and this day out definitely fell into this category.
I's begun the second half of a tremendous holiday in Bangkok and Isaan. Everything had more or less fallen into place, much to my surprise. Therefore, I could see no warning signs of the cock up approaching as I left Steve’s house in Minburi on another lovely morning.
I had my rucksack with me, as I was heading straight to Don Muang Airport after the RCU FC v Port B game in the Thai League 4 Bangkok Region. The website said it was a 4pm kick-off when I last checked. I'd taken local transport down to Bangkapi to meet Steve for coffee in the Mall, where my mate asked if I’d checked that the match was definitely on.
I laughed at him. “Of course it is”, I replied. We said our goodbyes until the following Saturday, when we’d be enjoying the final few hours of my trip, as I headed to take the Saen Saep Ferry downtown. I alighted from the packed service at Asok, then headed to Phetchaburi MRT station.
Bangkok Transport
I wanted to make my way as near as I could to Rangsit University by public transport, aside from taxis, unless absolutely necessary. I should have stuck to my plan of taking a bus from Chatuchak, but I thought I’d save time by jumping out at Phahon Yothin, as I knew this stop before when heading to watch an Air Force game by bus.
What I hadn’t realised was that I was on a different road to the one I required for this present journey. I ended up walking and getting lost several times around the Central Plaza Ladprao.
I eventually worked out that I needed to cut through the Mall and out of the far side of the Centara Grand Hotel to the main Don Muang road.
After much confusion, I managed to find a bus stop and a service going north. I decided to take it past the airport and then commandeer a taxi the rest of the way, as the bus service didn’t appear to serve the university.
A Top Taxi Driver
Everything worked fine, grabbing myself some much-needed refreshments at the 7/11 by Don Muang railway station before getting in a cab. I thought that the hard work had been overcome. How little I knew!
My driver thought I knew exactly where to go, which I thought I did. Only, he thought he was dropping me off at a condo. He hadn't understood me. For the following twenty minutes, we went up and down the main road, missing turnings, while I was becoming increasingly confused in the back.
Finally, we were on track. I expected the left turning down Thanon Ek Thaksin to be a simple enough ride to the university. The Skytrain was being developed along the route. We saw the nearly completed Lak Hok station ahead, getting ready for the new service, which reassured me as I recognised the name.
However, I had not realised that our required road was a flyover above where we were, so it could cross the new tracks. There was no access to our road. This led to us trying other turnings with no success before we took a U-turn and went back south of the station.
After what seemed like ages, with my driver still somehow finding the strength to smile, we turned down a small soi and had to pay a man a toll to cross the Khlong before we did a right and got onto Thanon Ek Thaksin. My pilot was still unconvinced as we went down an interesting road with plenty of facilities for food, drink and relaxation.
We continued past the entrance to Muang Ake Golf Club, soon turning into the grounds of Rangsit University. I got out close to the small stadium and paid up. I think the driver was glad to be shot of me, even if he had taken a good fare.
Immediately, I became aware that my test of endurance was far from over. There was a distinct lack of footballers on the pitch, ahead through the trees. Perhaps they were in the tunnel waiting to come out for the match as it was nearing kick-off time?
The stand was virtually empty, with just three or four students in there with a drum. I knew that fourth division games were sparsely attended, but surely the under-23 Port side would attract a few more than this?
I tried to convince myself that I was at the right location and time, but in truth, I was struggling. There were no team coaches behind the stand, and no desk to take admission money. I went out to the front to see the scoreboard on the far side displaying a 3-1 score.
The match had already taken place. I eventually discovered that it had been played twenty-four hours previously. This was virtually an exact repeat of my first two visits to Lamphun Warriors. What an idiot!
However, all was not lost as I salvaged something from the adventure as I took a further taxi to Thammasat Stadium, where I saw the first half of the League 4 clash between Dome and BGC, which can be read about here.
Minburi City 3 Krungthep FC 1
Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Group E - Friday 29th April 2022
👨👨👧👧 c100 🎟️ Free
Please click here and scroll down for a full description of a wonderful occasion, as Rangsit University Stadium was used as one of several neutral venues for the group stages of the 2022 Thailand Amateur League.
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