Thonburi United

Ground: Thonburi Stadium

Capacity: 1,500

Club Founded: 2016

League: Thai League 3 West (current level)

Under the stewardship of Thonburi University, United have a comfortable home stadium and continue to push for promotion to the next level of Thai football.

A Potted Club History

Thonburi United FC represents the district on the west bank of the Chao Phraya in the Thai capital of Bangkok. The club started out its life as Thonburi University FC, playing in the Thailand Amateur League at Thonburi Stadium, with the stewardship remaining in the same hands.

In 2018, the team was crowned as champions of the Bangkok Region, winning promotion to the Thai League 4 Bangkok. In their debut season, ‘The Thonburi Side Warhorse’ finished fourth.

A change of title to Thonburi United for the 2020-21 season ended with the side playing in League 3 of the same region after the restructuring of the Thai League. For the second successive season, Piyaphong Phrueksupee finished top scorer.

A disappointing season followed despite United attracting the third-highest average attendance in the division to watch the side coached by Poramin Chaichalerm. Chatturong Longsriphum went on to lead the scoring for a couple of seasons.

Improvement followed in 2023-24 as Nigerian striker Bright Friday led the scoring charts. T3 was then realigned geographically as Thonburi were placed in the West region, under head coach Autsada Traiperm.

He led the side to an unsuccessful playoff campaign before being replaced by Petprasert Jangcham for the 2025-26 season. Again, United faltered in the playoffs.

My visits

Thonburi United 1 North Bangkok University 1

Thai League 3 Bangkok - Monday 10th January 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c200 🎟️ Free

A Tricky Journey

My usual track of bus to Bangkapi, followed by boat down the Saen Saep to Asoke, saw me change to the MRT to its terminus stop at Bang Khae. My plan from there was to go the rest of the way by bus.

This is where I came slightly unstuck. I got off where I thought I needed to at Sakhon Kasem Intersection, from where it was my intention to catch a bus along Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road. However, after a short wait, I got anxious and hailed a taxi.

Fortunately, Google Maps sorted me out so I could help the driver on a rather convoluted route down some narrow lanes, this after the first driver had declined the fare. I was more than happy to see that there was no admission fee as I headed upstairs into the home fans' area of the solitary raised seated grandstand.

Most games in the Thai League kick off at 3.30pm, so spotting a rare Monday fixture, I was keen to enjoy exploring new places in my early days as a Bangkok resident. I double checked online to confirm the game, such is the scarcity of Monday football.

The Match

The surroundings looked most pleasant on this beautiful afternoon. The toilets were pristine, but the stadium was lacking in catering facilities. The United supporters were friendly, with the louder ultras at the rear drinking beers that they’d brought with them.

The early stages of the game were scrappy, with referee Wisarut Kantawong looking to let plenty go so that play had a chance to flow. It did indeed gradually improve as North Bangkok’s Russian forward Sergei Tumasyan missed a good opportunity with a free header.

The refs’ patience finally gave way when he produced the first of what would finally amass to seven yellow cards in the thirty-fourth minute. University’s Passakorn Khumthared had been consistently offending and had no complaints.

Thonburi’s support wasn’t huge in numbers, but it was loud, proud and passionate. Their side produced a half chance that flew across the face of the goal before a poor challenge in the box gave the official no alternative but to award a penalty to the visiting ‘Horsemen’.

Tumasyan stepped forward with a stuttering run as home keeper Thitikorn Wiyawattana was sent the wrong way to put North Bangkok 1-0 up a minute before the half-time break. More challenges were flying in before the teams headed up the tunnel for a rest.

While they recovered and received their briefings, I headed for a little walk to the nearby convenience store in the corner of the car park to top up on snacks and refreshments. I was wishing I had advanced local knowledge and had taken some beers.

The match was entertaining and even in the second period. Seven minutes in, the hosts restored parity. North Bangkok’s goalkeeper Sanan Amkerd badly scuffed a clearance. United substitute Narathip Kruearanya made no mistake, firing into an empty net. Home forward Taiga Matsunaga seemed a clever footballer, not shy to demonstrate his tricks. 

The away team responded with a fine move, which resulted in a low cross, which Naphawit Tonyim’s side-footed effort hit the goalie Wiyawattana. Despite the best efforts of both sides, the game petered out into a draw, which, on reflection, was probably about the right result. 

Homeward Bound

Now it was time for me to put in some exercise of my own to find the best way home. I had uploaded the Bolt taxi App onto my phone and decided to give it a go. A cab arrived within fifteen minutes. The driver on this occasion, Liverpool FC daft, and desperate to try and have a conversation about the glory days of John Barnes, Kenny Dalglish and co.

The pleasant fella dropped me at Bang Khae MRT station, and on this occasion, I used my improving knowledge to take the train all the way to Lad Phrao station, where the number 96 bus took some time to get me all the way home. But time was never going to be an issue.

A fine day out was completed with a meal and a few drinks at my new favourite local bar, where I resolved a slight misunderstanding on my bill from the previous evening. Little did I know at that time that I would end up marrying the lady owner! Everything in the world was good!

Samutsakhon City 1 FC Bangsaotong 0 

Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Perimeter Final - Saturday 4th June 2022

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Read here to read about my visit when Thonburi Stadium was used as a neutral venue for a Thailand Amateur League regional final.