Thonburi Stadium (Bangkok)

Thonburi Stadium is a venue in the Bang Phai district of Thonburi, in the east of the Thai capital of Bangkok. It is predominantly used as the home stadium of Thonburi United in the Thai League.

Some of its funding and maintenance was and sometimes still is paid for by the Thai FA who use the venue to stage neutral games.

My visits

Thonburi United 1 North Bangkok University 1 (Monday 10th January 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok (att: c200)

To read a description of a rare Monday afternoon fixture, click here.

Samutsakhon City 1 FC Bangsaotong 0 (Saturday 4th June 2022) Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Perimeter Final (att: c350) 

I had earlier visited this fine venue for a Thonburi United home game, but this occasion had considerably more resting on it. In short, the victors would be promoted to the professional ranks for the following season as a Thai League 3 club.

I had prepared in fine style having met up with a former New Zealand Test cricketer the previous evening and enjoyed a very sociable few hours around Sukhumvit in the capital. After breakfast, I took the MRT right around the final stop at Bang Khae where I had a break in the aircon mall, being ahead of schedule.

A bus took me to Nongkhaem District Office from where I crossed the road and bought some beers at the 7/11 for the match. I then took the walk, which was longer than I estimated along Soi Phet Kasem 110. I wasn’t upset to see the floodlights as I turned the final bend.

In the main stand, I sat next to a fellow Englishman whose son was on the bench for FCB. Samutsakhon were backed by a couple of busloads of supporters and had the more experienced side, with some former T3 players in their ranks and were coached by Chanyut Pongpanomwet. 

I had skin in the game as I’d followed FCB through the course of the competition and was friends with their coach Jamie Clarke. His side always played lots of nice football but could sometimes over-elaborate. They were a young outfit, and their lack of nous would prove to be one of their undoing’s on the big occasion.

Their keeper, Chaiyasit Phetrangsee, seemed to have caught a case of the nerves, while the forwards including Kuatrakul Kwankua didn’t really get going, with City goalie Wichan Manmueang hardly having a shot to save despite FCB having plenty of the ball in the final third. 

The goal was highly contentious, to say the least. Even more so after watching replays of the game online later. A low shot from just outside the box was touched onto the post by Chaiyasit. Plchet Inbang followed up to put the ball away. Images would later reveal he was clearly offside.

Samutsakhon’s elder players knew how to close the game out. Their custodian Wichan had to go off with an injury soon into the second half. His deputy Aekkachai Srisaengchan coped well and was protected by his defence. In the end, just one goal was enough to win promotion. 

The Samutsakhon City players quite rightly celebrated in style with supporters on the pitch after the final whistle and trophy presentation. Bangsatong’s boys were in pieces. It was really sad to experience. All good lads, with their dreams of being pros for their team written off.

Samutsakhon had been heavily backed by their local authority, one of which was connected to the Thai FA. As someone in an official capacity at FCB said, there was no way City were going to be beaten. It’s not a great way to secure promotion. 

Jamie had some beers with me and was understandably as dejected as his players. One of whom Adam Mather went back in the taxi with us. Jamie’s regular driver obligingly stopped at a 7/11 for cans before depositing us at the Sportsman on Sukhumvit 13.

Some other lads who played for FCB in the Bangkok Premier League were in there celebrating after playing for Siam Celtic who had won their Bangkok Casuals League final. No foreigners were permitted to play in the Thailand Amateur League. 

A couple of beers in, I got a message from Taew at her restaurant in Minburi telling me Thai friends had arrived and wanted to drink with me. The price of fame! I said my farewells, caught a taxi, and left the others to it.