Phuket Andaman

 

The history of the professional football club of Phuket Andaman FC can be traced back to 2019 when they began life as Patong City FC. They follow in the footsteps of other professional clubs from the southern holiday island.

Phuket FC was formed in 2009 and placed in the Regional Division 2 South with home games being played at Surakul Stadium. The goals of Diarra Ali took them to the title in 2010 and promotion to Thai Division 1 League, which was the second tier at the time. 

The club lasted five seasons at that level as the likes of Adama Koné, Dudu, and Berlin Ndebe-Nlome topped the scoring for the Southern Sea Kirins. The owners pumped considerable sums into the club and launched a big marketing campaign before withdrawing their finances with some player's contracts being left unpaid.

In their final two seasons, Phuket FC played in and were relegated from Regional League Division 2 South. In 2017 the side ended second in Thai League 4 South as Nattapoom Maya top-scored before the club dissolved over the license being denied owing to unpaid contracts. 

In 2018 and 2019 the owners of the newly formed Phuket City FC somehow moved Banbueng FC, who competed in Thai League 3 Lower, to Sarakhul Stadium and changed their name accordingly, while a legal battle commenced. In 2020 they returned to Chonburi to resume as Bangbueng FC.

Meanwhile, in 2019, Patong City began life in the Thailand Amateur League, where a second place in the South region was enough to win promotion to Thai League 3 South. Walit Jitboonchuen was in charge as head coach when the 2020-21 season commenced as the side finished tenth.

Yodwong Misen led the scoring, going on to do so for the following two seasons. Adirek Bintuan arrived as head coach but was later replaced by Nipont Chanarwut during the disappointing 2021-22 campaign before the club took the title of Phuket Andaman in 2022-23.

This saw a much improved sixth place being achieved under the leadership of Jarupong Sangpong. Vilson James Dos Santos was appointed as head coach in 2023-24 which resulted in a ninth-place finish before the club was bought by foreign owners, Higher Sports Co. 

The group already had academy set-ups in other countries and wanted to introduce the same in Phuket, when Andaman became available to buy. Chairman Russ Horsley began the task of putting down foundations by appointing the returning Jarupong as coach.

The relationship failed to materialise, leading to him being replaced in the mid-October of 2024 by Phuwanart Saengsri, as the club looked to put a turbulent few months behind them.

Phuket Andaman FC will play in Thai League 3 South in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Wednesday April 13th 2016

It was time for my annual visit to Phuket ahead of the Sixes Cricket tournaments that I was involved in. With the first event starting the following day, I decided to take myself off and enjoy some quality time, and head over the island from my hotel in Karon. 

My pal dropped me near Karon Roundabout where I knew a songthaew service went up over the hill and towards Phuket Town but no idea how often they ran. I'm not sure those in charge did either. After what seemed ages in the heat, I clambered aboard and off we went.

As soon as we reached the outskirts of the town my eyes were peeled looking out for the floodlights. This was in the days before I had an internet connection running on my iPhone to source Google Maps. It was just a couple of hundred metres along Vichitsongkram Road when I pressed the bell for the driver to stop. 

Thankfully, the gates were open, and I had access to take photos of what had a horseshoe-shaped continual terrace around the running track. One side had seats with a roof, opposite them were open to the elements. The road end had no spectator accommodation as such.

Once complete I continued to the old town. I had alighted there on a bus from Bangkok on my first-ever Thailand adventure but saw little of it. This time I had a nice look around, including a taxi ride down to the waterfront at Saphan Hin. It was extremely pleasant as I seem to recall. 

The songthaew took me back, jumping out so that I could wander down Taina Road to visit AllStar Aussie Bar, one of the cricket sponsors, to enjoy a good few drinks with Gary, the friendly host.

Later during the stay, a second cricket tournament was played at the Republic Ground where at the close of play in the cricket, the footballers of Phuket FC arrived for their training sessions.