Uthai Thani

 

Uthai Thani FC is a professional football club from the town of the same name in lower northern Thailand. The formation of ‘The Elephants’, the current club representing the town, came in 2019 following a name and location change.

The owners of Air Force United FC decided to move the club from their Thupatemi Stadium in northern Bangkok to Uthai Thani and change their name to reflect the move. You can read here about Air Force United. 

Previously, Uthai Thani Forest FC playing at the towns’ Province Stadium were the local football club when formed in 2010, finishing their debut Regional League Division 2 Northern Region season in fifteenth position.

A big improvement saw seventh place being achieved prior to a couple of seasons in lower middle table in 2012 and 2013, with the latter being played partly at Lat Yao Wittayakhom School Stadium in Nakhon Sawan.

Forest finished second bottom in 2014 and did not enter the competition the following year. The team re-appeared in 2016, finishing last in the Central Region which meant relegation, but the club was suspended regardless.

After the ‘new’ club moved in, they took up the place of Air Force United in Thai League 2, finishing in the relegation places in seventeenth in the 2020-21 campaign, which is best summed up by the turnover of head coaches throughout.

Thanaset Amornsinkittichote started the season in charge before being replaced by Therdsak Chaiman prior to the arrival of Japanese boss Masayuki Miura. Worachai Surinsirirat could not save the side from the drop.

The team regrouped in Thai League 3 with an outstanding 2021-22 season thanks in part to the fire power of Ricardo Santos, Phattharaphon Jansuwan and Chigozie Mbah at the Elephants finished top of the Northern region table under returning head coach Chaiman. 

The form continued into the Champions League promotion play-offs when they finished top of their group to win promotion as well as defeating Krabi 3-1 on aggregate to be crowned as outright Thai League 3 champions.

The knockout competitions also saw good runs, with Uthai Thani reaching the quarter-final of the FA Cup before going out at home to Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda. The side also reached the last eight of the League Cup, with eventual winners PT Prachuap ending the run.

There was a spell of doubt whether the club would compete the following season until new owners were found who then appointed the experienced Somchai Makmool to run team affairs. Narasak Boomkleang was appointed as head coach in 2022-23 before being replaced by Pan Suksawang and then Pattaraphon Naprasert.

The season saw the team end in third place to reach the playoffs as the reliable Ricardo Santos continued to score the goals. Suphanburi, and then Customs United were defeated as Uthai Thai reached Thai League 1. The Province Stadium was adapted, with new stands behind each goal being added over the running track.

The owners showed their intent by appointing Jukkapant Punpee as head coach but replacing him within two weeks with Mikael Stahre. In a turnaround, Jukkapang was back at the helm before the end of the season as the Elephants finished in seventh place.

The experienced Serbian head coach was given the role at Uthai Thani in August 2024.

Uthai Thani FC will play in Thai League 1 in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Uthai Thani FC 0 Nakhon Ratchasima 1 (Wednesday 16th February 2022) Thai FA Cup Round of 8 (att: 856) 

Studying the forthcoming midweek fixtures, I fancied somewhere different for a couple of days and to have an adventure outside Bangkok. Time was of no consequence, so I figured that a venue not so easy to get to was a good challenge.

This trip around 180 miles north fitted the bill, with the third-tier hosts looking to knock out another top-flight side after an extra-time win at Muang Thong United in the previous round. A potential cup shock and unchartered waters. A plan was hatched. 

I'd travelled to nearby Nakhon Sawan the previous day by train to stay overnight. This looked like my best solution. A fine afternoon of sightseeing and walking, followed by an evening in the Analogue Bar drinking and listening to music was a great start.

My trainers were still wet from the Tuesday evening deluge when I awoke in my room in the basic but friendly Anodard Hotel. I had obviously had a good walk as I soon relented on my way to the bus terminal and jumped aboard a tuk-tuk instead. 

The helpful staff soon sorted me out with a minivan ticket for 30 THB. I quickly grabbed some provisions at 7/11 and got a seat by a couple of monks, one of whom was most friendly and helpful as he spoke a bit of English.

I’d been told that it was a religious day because of a Buddhist celebration and that bars would be closed. I was still hopeful, despite the religious brothers confirming the fact to me. Surely, I’d find somewhere?

The journey took around an hour before I began exploring another new place. I was a bit early to check into my excellent room at S2@Uthai but the smiling staff soon had me sorted. It was time to head out for more exercise.

The area along the banks of the Sakae Krang River was interesting. I particularly liked the street lampstands being decorated with elephants. From there it was onto Wat Sanggat Rattana Khiri.

This consisted of two temples. One at street level and the other one overlooking the town up a long set of steps. The view at the top was well worth the effort, as were the various buildings and places of worship.

I headed back to my hotel via a convoluted route down the hill and then around the main road. A siesta was most welcome before I headed in the direction of the local Province Stadium for the 6pm kick-off.

Arriving reasonably early just in case there was a huge crowd, I was delighted to see that the fan's area outside the stand had been missed off the memo about the booze ban. I grabbed a couple of beers and snacks.

An excellent atmosphere was building as cup fever had reached town. It took me back to Scarborough playing Chelsea in terms of many non-regular townspeople turning out to create a festival vibe. 

It was great fun outside and again once upstairs in the seats. The ground reminded me of a lower-league German venue around a running track and with a mountain forest as a backdrop. The raised seated stand was on the far side with a long lower cover where I was located.

The locals made plenty of noise getting behind their favourites, with some grabbing a vantage point looking over the fence in the far corner as they stood in the back of an open truck. I was shocked when I saw the announced crowd figure. I thought that there was more there. 

The visiting Swatcat from Korat saw Kwame Karikari head over a decent cross in the opening exchanges. It wasn't hard to see how Uthai Thani topped their regional division and were also in the last eight of the League Cup. They gave it everything.

A fine long diagonal pass picked out Elephants’ Phongsakon Trisat who headed down for Nontapat Naksawat whose half volley from the edge of the box was parried away by visiting custodian Pisan Dokmaikeaw. 

Chitpanya Thisud then flashed a powerful drive wide for the hosts. Ratchasima responded when Nattachai Srisuwan saw his shot deflected narrowly wide. Karikari came close to inadvertently heading into his own net when trying to clear a corner.

There wasn't much between the sides in the first half, but on the pattern of play, I was convinced I was going to see a giant-killing after the interval. At the break, I went for a wander to get some photos from different angles.

The away side defended with discipline and created an opportunity when Karikari just failed to get on the end of a slide rule pass from Amadou Ouattara. Srisuman hooked an effort over when it eventually fell in his path following a corner.

Mongkol Thosakrai came desperately close to converting with a diving header for Uthai from a low cross, but the ball was just ahead of him. Korat’s English defender Charlie Clough showed intent when heading over at the other end.

It would be the big fella from Taunton, who was about my man of the match with a powerful display, who broke the deadlock with just over three minutes remaining. Naruphol Ar-romsawa sent in a bending free kick. Clough ran past the high line defence to score on the volley having lost his marker.

Uthai weren’t done. Persistence from Phattharaphon Junsuwan and Thosakrai saw the ball come to sub Suphawit Chusaksakunviboon around eight yards out in the centre of the goal. He somehow contrived to shoot over the bar. 

Fine play from Thosakrai was not capitalised on when he got to the byline and got his cross in. Another substitute, Kirati Keawsombut should really have got a header on it. I must admit to feeling quite sad at full-time. I'd really got into it among the hospitable locals.

Common sense should have prevailed on leaving as I should have had a couple of beers at the ground. Nomto Café music bar over the road was closed so I decided to head back into town looking for a rare sign of life.

I couldn't find a bar or shop serving beer though I thought I’d struck lucky when I spotted a man with a drink watching the Thailand Under 21 side on TV outside a shop by the bus station. The forthright woman inside gave me a proper dressing down when I asked for a beer!

Back on Thanon Toep Siri opposite KFC, a group in Uthai Thani shirts were sitting. I’d waved and said hello on the way to the stadium and they pointed to the turn-off I needed when they went ahead on their motorbikes. They remembered me and beckoned me over the road.

 

They said they could get beer if I fancied one, so I gave them some cash to get some cans. My new friends were intrigued by what I was doing there as an educational drink ensued. They soon knew all about the Scarborough v Chelsea game I mentioned earlier in the piece.

After a couple of drinks, I headed back to the hotel for a proper night's sleep. The following morning, I was more than a little concerned to find that I would not get to Nakhon Sawan in time for my booked ticket back home. Buses weren’t as frequent as I believed. 

Not to worry. I’d have to buy a new ticket and get home later. No harm done. I was considering all options when I asked where the minibus in the station was going. It was my lucky day as Bangkok was its destination.

It was a bit cramped, but we stopped at the services at Saraburi for a stretch. I was later deposited at Mo Chit from where I caught a bus home via Bangkapi, alighting at home to be greeted by another rainstorm. 

It had been a fantastic couple of days on the road. You can watch the YouTube clip of my full adventure here.