Thupatemi Stadium otherwise known as the Thai Royal Air Force Stadium, is a multi-purpose arena with a running track that has an official capacity of 20,000. It is mainly used for football and as a training area for athletes.
The stadium was home to Air Force United from 2007 and 2011 and again between 2012 and 2019 when the club was relocated to Uthai Thani.
Previously, another club, Luk Tapfah Pathum Thani FC was taken over by Air Force United in 2012 and played at the stadium from 2013 until 2017 when they were renamed Grakcu Looktabfah and then Grakcu Sai Mai United, moving to their own stadium in Sai Mai.
This left Tupatemi without a host club. This scenario was resolved when Royal Thai Air Force FC, consisting mainly of servicemen entered Thai League 3 for the 2020-21 season.
My visits
Luk Tapfah Pathum Thani 1 Futera Seeker 1 (Wednesday 27th March 2013) Thai Regional League Central West Region (att: c300)
To see my round-up and photos from the above match, click here.
Air Force Central 2 Police United 2 (Saturday 31st October 2015) Thai League Division One (att: 3,389)
Click here for my match account and a full write-up on Air Force United.
Royal Thai Air Force 0 STK Muangnont 1 (Saturday 8th January 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter (att: 265)
Read here about my first match watching the “new” team at Thupatemi Stadium.
Thonburi League Finals Day (Sunday 19th June 2022) day att: c150
I’d read about the finals day several weeks previously on Facebook and penned it in my phone reminders. I even had a sensible Saturday night in my local bar in readiness. My intention was to take in the last two matches of the four.
Siam FC B 3 Famous FC 1 (Thonburi League Cup 3rd/4th Place Play-Off)
I was not interested in the first game, a friendly between Bangkapi and Muangkrung, which kicked off at 9.30am. I didn’t really consider this clash until I made far better time than I’d accounted for.
A Minivan took me from Minburi to the 11th Infantry Regiment BTS Skytrain station. I was delighted to find that travel on the extension of the Green Line was still free as I collected my ticket north above Pahon Yothin Road to Yæk Kor Por Aor.
Part of me considered finding somewhere for breakfast, but I decided to stock up on top of my breadcrumb chicken sandwich at 7/11 and Lam Luk Ka Junction Market a few minutes’ walk from Thupatemi Stadium.
Common sense had kicked in as I took my cool bag, which was essential on such a hot day so I could carry plenty of water. It was good to see a couple of snack and drink stalls open by the stadium car park for later use.
Strangely no gates were open into the spectator area of the stands, so I walked in the main entrance and down the players entrance before finding a way upstairs to the seated area. It was all very nicely relaxed.
It was half-time in the third and fourth League Cup play-off on my arrival. I chose a vantage point where visiting supporters are allocated in league matches, as I’d not been in there previously. Just the covered stand was open to spectators.
Next to me was the Thai Spirit entourage. When the teams re-emerged for their second half, they brought out their belongings to the sub's bench so that the two sides in the next match could use the changing rooms.
Facebook was king once again as I managed to get on the live feed on the Thonburi League page and find out the halftime score. The second string of Siam FC were in the lead. My immediate attention was drawn to the frequency of descending planes heading to Don Muang, which was massively higher than my January visit.
Thupatemi Stadium was also showing signs that it could do with some tender loving care with dirty seats and peeling paintwork. It was even more noticeable without the advertisement boards missing from the Thai Royal Air Force FC match.
The game restarted and it was at as very gentle pace in the extreme heat. Water breaks and the usual delays meant that the match was behind schedule, having supposedly kicked off at 11.30. I think it was shortened to forty minutes each way.
Siam doubled the lead when their 32 was played through. His effort proved too strong for the Famous keeper despite his best efforts. It was 3-0 when Siam’s 21 netted after the referee decided to let go what was a robust challenge on the edge of the box that saw the Famous player felled.
A scruffy effort got Famous a goal back which infuriated the Siam coach who appeared to feel that his charges were taking things a little too easy. His side put the smile back on his face when it was 4-1 through 19 with the last kick of the game after the keeper made a real hash of a low centre.
Thaispirit FC 3 Yungthong United 1 Thonburi League Cup Final
The turnaround between games was quick as both teams had warmed up on the track areas behind each goal. Spirit were backed by a good following of friends and families and seemed to be a really decent bunch.
I particularly wanted to be at this game as I’d seen Spirit in action in a previous game in absurd waterlogged conditions in the Thailand Amateur League and a good friend Chris Felton informed me that his good lady was a close friend of club owner Lek.
Immediately I was struck by the good standard and high intensity as tackles flew in. Both sides had structure about them and were trying to play good football. A drummer tried to rally Spirit support, but fans seemed keener to try and keep cool than sing.
Yungthong in a striking yellow and red outfit looked the physically stronger of the teams. Their keeper made a fine save from a shot at the angle of the box from Spirit’s 26. United’s 26 had a chance, but the Spirit goalie rushed out narrowing the angle which forced the shot to go wide.
The scoring was opened by one of the best strikes I’d seen in months. The Thaispirit number 21 was getting on for thirty yards out in an inside left position when he let fly with his left foot. The ball continued to curl away from the Yungthong goalie and dipped into the top corner. I actually shouted out “what a goal”. It really was outstanding.
The referee was doing his best to let the game flow but became inconsistent when he did blow his whistle for a foul, and it was often for things far less severe than he had let go. United had a good spell up to halftime, with their 27 having a free kick saved at the second attempt.
At the interval, I rushed out to get another bottle of water and a coke with lots of ice. Thankfully a few entrance gates had been opened as well as the downstairs toilets. I took up my previous position for the second half.
Yungthong’s number 6 had impressed me throughout playing up front with skill and ingenuity. He was denied by an excellent last-ditch challenge. Spirit responded by winning the ball high up the pitch and creating a lovely little passing move before 8 blazed over.
It was the team in blue who would score next to double their advantage when number 2 saw his shot go through the legs of an outstretched defender and across the goalie into the far bottom corner of the net.
My thoughts were that United would have really given Spirit a proper game if they had a forward partner alongside their 6. Their opponents were far more team-based in their movement with everyone getting involved.
As it was, they halved their deficit when a low strike from 25 at the edge of the box went just inside the post past the sprawling custodian. For a short time, it looked like Yungthong may even muster an equalizer.
However, the game was put to bed at 3-1 when a slide rule pass from the excellent 2 was finished off by number 6. The number 2 was then put in by another intelligent pass, but he was denied by a combination of goalkeeper and defender blocking the follow-up.
Yungthong were really stretched by this point. They had nothing to lose and sent men forward but were exposed consequently. Spirits’ 2 was again in the action as he headed wide a cross from 7 in the last chance of what was a really enjoyable spectacle.
Following the trophy ceremonies, the Spirit entourage and several spectators got onto the pitch to have photos taken of their big day. I was genuinely pleased with who appeared to be a really nice set of people and a well-organised football club.
Rose Asia 1 RTC Bangbon United 1 (Asia win 5-3 on penalties) Thonburi Champions League Final
The celebrations further delayed the start of what was billed as the main event of the day. We were looking at a 4pm kick-off rather than the half-hour earlier advertised. I took the opportunity to move to the other side of the stand.
I’d also been taking photos of the planes between the on-field action and fancied a slightly different angle. The crowd had dropped a little but both sides had reasonable followings. I noted that Rose Asia had a red rose on their emblem. Not something to impress this Yorkshireman!
Again, the match started with a high tempo with some naughty niggly challenges going in. There was definitely an edge to it. I described it in my notes as ratty. Rose had some youngsters who were keen to engage with me.
I later noted that it was horrible and disjointed as a spectacle, lacking skill and inventiveness, but certainly not effort. To be honest, that is the best I could make of the first half. I genuinely considered heading home.
Only my stubbornness having travelled a fair distance and the fact that it could only improve kept me back. I was not massively impressed when the second half started similarly. I could see it going to penalties after a 0-0 draw.
In fairness, both defences were doing their jobs well, even if it did sometimes involve underhand methods. The referee was handing out plenty of yellow cards. Good for the leagues’ bank balance but not necessarily for onlookers.
Rose formed an attack which was flagged for offside, which seemed a highly debatable call from the linesman. RTC attacked from the resulting free kick. Their number 9 looked well offside when played through, but the flag remained down.
He finished well with a clever lob over the keeper but then lost marks from me making those silly ear gestures at the opposing set of supporters. The Rose stopper made a fine low save from RTC’s 16 to keep the deficit manageable.
A spell of Rose Asia's play resulted in them restoring parity when 33 scored despite protests from the Bangbon players. The goal inspired the Rose side as 10 blasted an effort over and the fans began to chant their support.
In what was definitely a “slow burner” the game opened up and became very watchable. The scorer of the RTC goal was put in on goal once again but he dithered and was blocked. Served him right for his earlier antics in my book.
Five additional minutes couldn’t separate the sides, so it was down to penalties to decide the winners. Rose went first and were faultless, as were RTC until their fourth kick hit the underside of the bar and stayed out.
The Rose goalkeeper used plenty of gamesmanship trying to put off the opposing kickers with delaying tactics. He seemed unphased by it all. He stepped up in double quick time to score the fifth and winning spot-kick.
I’d had seen enough and wanted to head back. It had been a long hot day and I was feeling tired. I also need to go back to my favourite bar to see iof my missing keys had been found the previous evening.
Fortunately, a number 520 bus arrived in quick time, which took me all the way back to Minburi. My keys were found, and I enjoyed a few cold ones with a later meal. A super Sunday indeed.
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