VRN Muangnont

VRN Muangnont FC

Ground: Nonthaburi Province Stadium

Capacity: 10,000

Club Founded: 2012

League: Thai League 3 West (current level)

One way of growing a football club organically is to have an academy system in place, which is the method chosen by VRN Muangnont of Nonthaburi in Bangkok's west.

Nonthaburi Province Stadium

Kapoon Warrior

VRN Muangnont's timeline can be traced back to 2012 when Singburi Kapoon FC was founded. Kapoon competed in the Central Region of the Thai Division 3 Tournament in 2016, which was in effect the highest competition outside the national league set-up. 

Kapoon won their group before disposing of Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nongkhae, Bang Pa-In School, and Pichaya Kasem Technological College. This set up a final against Vongchavalitkul University, which ended in a 1-1 draw, with Kapoon winning 4-3 on penalties.

Nonthaburi Youth Centre Stadium
VRN's former home

Their reward was promotion to Thai League 4 Bangkok Metropolitan Region for the 2017 season when the league was extended to four tiers. Now competing as Kapoon Warrior, they ended in sixth place as Ludovick Takam scored the goals for the team, which played their home games at Ayutthaya Stadium.

Wittawat Wongnarat top-scored for the seventh-placed side in 2018, who finished a spot lower twelve months later for the club, which was taken over, changing its name to Bankunmae FC. Thailand reverted to three tiers of professional football and the European-based fixture calendar for the 2020-21 season. 

The STK Muangmont Years

The club changed its name again, this time to STK Muangnont, who moved to the Nonthaburi Youth Centre Stadium, formerly the home of BB-CU in the top-flight. The club also started their academy with land over the river in Nonthaburi, called Five Zone Field being acquired. 

Fabricio Peris Carneiro scored regularly for the team coached by Nikorn Anuwa, while Supazin Hnupichai excelled in goal. Ittiphol Pimvong and then Ekalak Thong-Am led the team before Surachai Jarisirichoth was installed as head coach for the 2022-23 campaign, lasting a few months until the appointment of Jakkree Nongnoi.

Nonthaburi Youth Centre Stadium
VRN's former home

VRN Muangnont

The club became VRN Muangnont in 2024 as Akarat Naunla-Ong was appointed as coach, later replaced by Wichanchai Hasap, who in turn stood aside for the return of coach Akarat.

Following a geographical reshuffle, VRN were placed in T3 West for the 2024-25 campaign, which saw Parinya Jaruhati take charge of team affairs before being replaced by Atiwan Tosuwanasid.

My visit

At Nonthaburi Youth Centre Stadium

STK Muangnont 0 Bangkok FC 0

Thai League 3 Bangkok  - Wednesday 9th November 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 205 🎟️ 80 THB (£1.80)  

Pre Match Planning

I had enjoyed several Wednesday afternoon fixtures since my move to Bangkok, as it offered me the opportunity to see various places in daylight, and still get back to Minburi to enjoy food and drink at a reasonable hour.

After carrying out the task of booking a nearby hotel for friends heading to my forthcoming birthday and sussing out a van to Pattaya for the following day, I caught a minivan to Chaeng Wattana prior to catching a number 66 bus.

Jumping out at the intersection of Pracha Cheung and Samakki Roads, I wandered along the road through a quickly developing area, with lots of future potential, as it had plenty of eating and drinking establishments for the locals, along with other amenities.

Grabbing some provisions at 7/11, I proceeded to the stadium I’d visited with my pal Steve to see BB-CU on a grand day out that also included horse racing at the RSBC. The venue seemed unaltered since then, making it one of the better third-tier grounds.

The Match

Admission was cheaper for home fans, including myself, with an extra 20 Baht in the away section along the same stand. Half chances didn’t quite materialise at either end on a late, humid afternoon for the 4pm start.

Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Moreira caught the eye for the hosts, who were under the control of head coach Jakkree Nongnoi for the first time. His keeper, Siwat Rawangpa, caused a flap trying to play out. Fortunately, for the home side, the effort from Bangkok’s Bruno Suzuki was blocked.

I do like the atmosphere that Thai fans create, often in small numbers, but the drumming and chanting from the Muangnont contingent were awful. It was out of tune and time. Meanwhile, I was quickly discovering why Siwat was a goalie and not an outside player. He was poor with his feet.

STK’s skipper Jeera Jareansuk put in a good cross to find Naoya Tokai in a good position, but he put his header wide. The visitors put together a fine move, including play from Bunlue Thongkliang, Wichaya Pornprasart, Suzuki, and Padungsak Phothinak.

The ball found its way back to Bunlue, who saw his shot blocked. Referee Niruch Panjontuk, whom I thought was distinctly average, called a halt halfway through the period for drinks, which stemmed the flow as nothing much else happened until halftime.

At which point I went for a wander to take some photos and have a stretch. Shortly after the restart, Wichaya's effort produced a fabulous save from Siwat. I had enjoyed Bangkok FC's attacking play earlier in the season at Kasem Bundit. On that occasion, they somehow lost after dominating and being 3-0 ahead at the break.

A weak shot from Sattawas Leela failed to trouble Bangkok goalie Yannasit Sukchareon as dusk descended on the arena, with no signs of the floodlights being turned on. Both sides probed and looked for a breakthrough in what was a decent enough encounter.

Dauda Bortu played a one-two for the visitors with Phootran Gingpan but was denied by Siwat. At the other end, a long punt put in substitute Teerapat Watyota, who rounded Yannasit but put his attempt over the bar.

The lights were eventually pressed into power with just four minutes remaining, as the game flowed from one end to the other. The hosts had an effort blocked while Bortu and Thongkliang set up Gingpan, who blasted over for the Fire Bulls.

The final action in stoppage time saw STK nearly grab all three points as Moreira astutely played in Teerapat, who made a brave challenge with the ball falling to Pokpong Chaveesuk, who was denied by Yannasit. The last fifteen minutes were good entertainment, not hugely helped by some ropey officiating.

Testing Journey

I headed away with what I thought would be a simple enough journey back to Minburi, but we live and learn! Hardly a taxi passed on the main road. When they did, they didn’t want to know, so it was time for Plan B. 

I jumped aboard a songthaew, which I presumed would drop me on a main road. Therefore, I was a little jumpy when it pulled off in ridiculously heavy traffic to enter what seemed like a housing village of some size.

Not to be perturbed, I alighted with the other passengers, wondering what I was doing on it in the first place, before walking down alongside the Prapa canal down to the busier Ngamwongwan Road, from where I knew that I could catch buses heading east.

Sure enough, the 114 soon arrived, depositing me at Kasetsart University, so it was easy to hail a taxi, whose driver agreed to go to Minburi. I could then phone the UK. It was a slightly longer adventure than I anticipated, but an excellent few hours out of the condo.