A Funny Kind of Love. Port FC and I

A Funny Kind of Love. Port FC and I

Port 1 Khon Kaen United 2

Wednesday 14th January 2025

Thai League 1

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Thai football has always been special to me, ever since I first discovered there was a league in the Land of Smiles during an early visit. Back then, my time spent in Thailand was primarily for my involvement in six-a-side cricket competitions, meaning any information was found online.

It was scarce at the time, with Wikipedia being the main outlet before I later discovered Facebook and Twitter pages, and I came across the excellent “It’s A Habit that Sticks”, an English blog site concentrating primarily on Chonburi FC. They were a huge name in Thai football at the time. 

My First Time at Thai Football

I first found Thai club shirts in 2007 at shops near the National Stadium, including Police United and Port FC. My first chance to go to a game arrived in 2010 after the cricket was over in Phuket. An Icelandic volcano put pay to any scheduled return to Blighty.

I went to Army United v Bangkok United and then Customs Suvarnabhumi v Thai Honda on consecutive days, thoroughly enjoying my introduction without feeling any passion towards any of the sides involved. Before I returned home, I caught the MRT to Khlong Toei and walked the ten minutes or so to the PAT Stadium, which was being upgraded.

No More Madam Pang on the posters anymore

A Love Affair is Born

Something about it hooked me immediately. I later found out Port already had a reputation, with their fans involved in fighting with those of rivals Muangthong United at Suphachalasai Stadium a few months previously. It was so severe that it saw the Kor Royal Cup being awarded to MTU. I would have to wait for my first game at the PAT.

I got my chance in April 2013, after attending a Regional League game between Globlex and Samut Sakon. I hailed a taxi down Ramkhamhaeng Road, with the driver eventually working out where I wanted to go.

It was a disappointing result, as Singhtarua, as Port were called at the time, lost 2-1 to BB-CU in the second tier. It was the first night under the new floodlights which attracted a good-sized crowd.

A drink with a pal in Bangkok's best beer garden

The ground had previously been somewhat of a shambles, with repeated floodlight failures, causing the abandonment of matches. Port had to move out, and the club had to reform.

It might have been because of what I’d gone through with Scarborough FC going bust and then helping with the new Scarborough Athletic, I felt quite at home. I did giggle when a fan in front of me had “Hooligan” emblazed on his shirt rather than a player’s name.

Early Impressions of Port FC

My regular twice-yearly trips sometimes came up lucky for Port fixtures. I enjoyed everything about the PAT experience and the occasional away games following the team. The feistiness and passion of the fans, while being virtually on top of the pitch, gave it something that stood out above other Thai venues. I even streamed some games while back in the UK.

Never a shortage of food or drink at the PAT

Things changed, possibly forever at Port, when Nualphan Lamsam, otherwise known as Madam Pang, took over the club. She is not camera-shy and is not to everyone’s tastes. However, her finances made a huge difference. 

The atmosphere at games seemed to change somewhat. Beer was no longer allowed in the stands. Her image was displayed on a match advertisement, while she sat on the bench next to the coaches. They were put in awkward positions. If they had told her not to, it would have led to a difficult situation and dismissal. That’s how Thailand works. 

Only the Lonely as the kick-off approaches

Living in Thailand

By December 2021, I had moved to Thailand full-time. Tickets for the start of the second leg during Covid restrictions were purchased, with my mate Steve joining me. I went a lot that season as the results nosedived. The same as they had in many previous seasons and did in future seasons to come.

A Change of Perspective

Undoubtedly, my feelings towards going to football changed when I moved home. Results were far less important to me than before. I’d sometimes still get involved and have a shout at games, which I attended more than often as a neutral to visit new places. If a team like Port, whom I wanted to win, didn’t, I wasn’t that bothered once I walked outside the gates.

I think it was because I was living in a beautiful place and finding the woman of my dreams. We'd got married, while I was fully integrating into Thai life with her family and friends. I still meet up occasionally with fellow farangs, but generally, it's on a matchday somewhere. At Port, I have been lucky to meet some loyal Thai locals who are passionate in the extreme.

At first, I thought that I had confused them. My friends going to games with me, were treated superbly by them. They understand that football is my love rather than one club, even if they think I’m bonkers ever considering going to games of Port's rivals Muangthong in the home end. 

The Journey to the PAT Stadium

Returning from an amazing three-week tour around Thailand with my good lady and her relatives, the fixtures fell kindly for me to go to my third home game of the 2024-25 season. Port had lost the previous Sunday away to Chiang Rai United, who, like visitors, Khon Kaen United were in the drop zone. Surely it would end in a home win.

I had taken the quick route from Minburi, consisting of Songthaew, a rickety old smoke-belching bus, to Bangkapi, a canal boat with similar attributes, and then the MRT underground. From there, it was a ten-minute walk to the stadium. While I have a relaxed attitude toward attending games, something struck me on this occasion.

Why the PAT Stadium is Special to Me

It was similar to the times that I would walk from St John’s Wood tube to Lord’s or when I headed down North Marine Road for a day of cricket at Scarborough. The PAT Stadium approach gave me the same warm feeling inside. 

It is a scruffy place — and a dream job for any health and safety official on secondment from the UK. It has no corporate facilities but has noise, passion and raucousness. To me, it's a perfect football stadium.

There was certainly no need to seek out a tout or buy online for this match, with the 6pm midweek slot being a contributory factor in a poor turnout. There is always somewhere to sit or wander around in the large open forecourt once through the main gates from the road. 

A huge variety of street food is available in what I describe as Bangkok’s best beer garden, when there is a game on, and the atmosphere builds.

Two gents who always improve my PAT experience

My New Thai Friends

Yao (apologies if misspelt), my Thai friend, who plays great tunes via Bluetooth speaker in the fans park outside, was unusually missing. I located his mates and had a couple of beers with them before heading inside to our usual vantage point. 

I found my friend concentrating on the team doing their warmups along with his wife, Tuk. Yoa had trials with the club as a youngster, being brought up over the road from the stadium. He is well educated from time spent studying at a university in England, and now helps run the family business.

His knowledge, helpfulness, and generally great company were a joy to be around. The same applied to the rest of the gang, who positioned themselves in the corner behind the goal nearest the main stand. 

Port games attract a wide range of fans from different backgrounds and nations. I find the company of the locals the most comfortable as I get the chance to practice speaking Thai and learn from them. And they have genuine passion. It’s their club, whereas I am an expat and a guest. 

One of those who stands in the corner never misses a game, home or away. He turns up with large yellow and red cards, which he shows to the referees to offer them advice. I love it.

Time for half-time beers

Matchday Anticipation

The visitors went 1-0 ahead through Ryu Seung-woo midway through the first half. Port striker Lonsana Doumbouya had somehow headed a delicious cross from the exquisite left foot of Kevin Deeromram over the bar before that. 

He made amends by nodding him stylishly within three minutes of his side going behind. The hosts were missing opportunities galore, with away goalie Chirawat Wangthaphan making one superb save.

Time for Beers

Yoa had gone out and returned with some beers. When Madam Pang took on the role of President of the Thai FA, she handed control of the club to a relative. She was often still seen in her apartment behind where we stand and even seen at games in her Port colours. Some disapproved, saying that it wasn't a particularly good look for someone who should be maintaining neutrality.

Once again, beer was allowed back inside the stands. Muangthong fans were also allowed back in the stadium for the derby after a hiatus of nine years, while improvements were made to it. 

This included an excellent playlist before games to enhance the build-up. It was back to more relaxed times. The wall of portraits of her on the rear wall of a stand leaves nobody in any doubt about whom to thank. 

We went outside at the break, where Yoa’s mate had a stall. He served our beers and also sold some superb spicy sausage. The chat and fun were such that we missed the start of the second half, which included what would prove to be the winning goal for Khon Kaen United.

Another match. Another Disappointing Result

Port continued to huff and puff, but the lacklustre performance got no more than it deserved. The visitors did what should be expected of any team fighting relegation, as they fought and scrapped and used every trick in the book. If only the home side showed the same passion. The victors showed just how ordinary they were when, a few days later, they lost 9-0 away to Buriram United.

It's A Family Affair at Port

Enough was enough for the Port hierarchy. Head coach Rangsan Viwatchaichok had been talked out of resigning earlier in the season. This time, he was shown the door before the night was out. It was typical of Port and summed up their previous seasons. A good start with big signings before falling apart. It was a good job that there were so many poor teams in the division.

The Problems Facing a Football Club Owner

But here lies the issue. Port, BG Pathum United, and Bangkok United are relatively unchallenged by the chasing pack, yet they know they have no chance of chasing down Buriram United. 

Sacking a coach may need to be done occasionally, not least to indicate to the fans that the owners understand their disappointment. But will it really make a huge difference? I think that the only way is to be honest with fans and create a project over several years. This would mean employing without interfering and being patient. Traits that Thai club owners lack.

The corner in the B Zone where I watch from

Drowning Our Sorrows

We were oblivious to the news of the sacking, as we got stuck into more Leo’s, enjoying the evening. There was another home game to come the following week against Ratchaburi. I was pretty sure that I’d be there, but it looked like Yoa was double-booked. I'd find a way to have fun regardless, though I'd miss him.

Tuk kindly took pity on me and dropped me at the end of my village, putting up with two heavily-imbibed blokes chatting away. She deserved the Player of the Match award, as I remembered how lucky I was to have made such good friends to enjoy my football with.