Songkhla

 

Songkhla FC is a professional football club representing the city of the same name in the southern Thai province of Hat Yai. Their history can be traced back to 1999, when they played in the Thailand Provincial League which was for clubs outside of Bangkok who played in the Thai Premier League.

Tinsulanonda Stadium was used for home matches, continuing with little success and being suspended for the 2005 season. Third place on their comeback in Provincial League 2 in 2006 was backed up by finishing runners-up in the Provincial League 1 in 2007. 

Songkhla were promoted to Thailand League Division Two in which they ended second in 2008, a season of two spent playing at Chiranakhon Stadium in Hat Yai. Witthawat Iamram ended the top scorer in the second tier Division One in 2009 as the side consolidated their position.

Worawet Chanuthai and then Chayene Santos bagged the goals as the club finished in fifth and then fourth position as a season was spent at Na Thawi District Stadium before a return to Tinsulanonda Stadium which saw the club attract huge attendances. However, things changed after just avoiding relegation in 2012.

Back in 2009, Buriram FC had been formed by Karuna Chidchob. They won promotion from Division Two Northeast in 2010 and then lifted the Division One title in 2011. The club was bought by the husband of the president, Newin Chidchob who had already bought out PEA and moved them from Ayutthaya to become PEA Buriram and then Buriram United.

He decided that the rights of Buriram FC should be sold to Songkhla FC to have a southern team at the top level of Thai football and conveniently have two Buriram controlled clubs there at the same time. The relocated club was named Wuachon United FC in 2012 before the original Songkhla FC was dissolved to join the new club and become Songkhla United.

The initial season saw Wuachon attract a crowd of 30,102 for the top-flight clash with Muangthong United as Jadet Meelarp led the team from the bench. Goals from Kirati Keawsombat in 2012 and then Manop Sornkaew in 2013 kept Songkhla United safe.

Franz Schwarzwälder was appointed as coach in July 2013 lasting just a few months, before they went down a level at the end of the 2014 season after Kayne Vincent had put away the chances. The side was managed throughout the season by Phayong Khunnaen and then Jason Withe. 

Somchai Makmool took over team affairs in 2015 as Rufino Sánchez top scored with the team ending in midtable. Willen Mota was a scoring sensation in 2016 for the side coached by Nopporn Eksatra who also reached the semifinals of the League Cup, going out on aggregate to Buriram United.

The following season proved to be United’s last. Giorgi Tsimakuridze scored the goals as the team ended up in a relegation place for Watchara Tochanakan’s team while playing at Na Thawi District Stadium. Not that it mattered because the club failed the criteria for a license and was banned for two seasons.

The reincarnation of Songkhla FC was born in 2018, starting initially in the Thailand Amateur League, playing at Prince of Songkhla University Stadium, finishing third and then as champions twelve months later of the southern zone to win promotion to Thai League 3 South for 2020-21.

The goals of Abdussalam Saman took the Samila Mermaids to the title back at Tinsulanonda Stadium under the stewardship of Akaporn Chalitaporn. The Champions National League playoffs ended in failure before Daiki Higuchi was given the role of head coach.

2021-22 again saw a third-place finish with Natan Oliveira putting away the chances, before the regional title lifted in 2022-23 as Jardel topped the scoring charts for the side led by Sarawut Treephan who finished third in their playoff group.

2023-24 saw a third Thai League 3 South title being delivered, this time under returning Japanese coach Higuchi thanks in part to the efforts of Nigerian forward, Ekene Victor Azike. Once again, the playoffs ended in disappointment.

My visit

Songkhla 1 Kasem Bundit University 0 (Sunday 5th January 2025) Thai League 3 Cup Round of 16 (att: 345) 

The tour of Thailand that I was on provided immense fun travelling with my wife Taew along with her cousin Q and his family. I’d visited football stadiums in cities that I had never visited before and may not have the opportunity to again. However, this fixture made me extremely happy when it was revealed.

Not that I was the biggest fan of the competition which drew some derisory attendances. I mean, who would expect a team from Bangkok to travel to Songkhla, a journey going on for fourteen hours for a third-tier cup game on a Sunday night? It seemed second nature to organise such games in Thailand.

Despite that, Tinsulanonda Stadium was very high on my bucket list, so I agreed that I would be happy to do anything the rest of our group wanted if I was released for football on Sunday lunchtime. With everything in place, I was deposited at Central in Hat Yai to use the bank and grab some food before walking to the bus terminal.

The driver of our minivan would certainly not be getting a gig at the Comedy Store anytime soon. He displayed a Phatthalung FC scarf above him and drove like the clappers. I wasn’t too upset to get out and start my mini tour of Songkhla's old town, arriving far too early if truth be told. 

I visited an art gallery and wandered through the many narrow lanes seeing some lovely old architecture and street art with many others doing the same thing. If it was a coffee shop someone wanted, they were in the right city, with lots of them, many extremely trendy offering refreshments.

The old rice mill by the lake was being put forward as a World Heritage site, while a small bus took tourists around. I visited the Songkhla National Museum and the city wall, with every local I met being extremely friendly and helpful, something I’d experienced a few days earlier when we visited other local places. 

With time to kill, I thought I would head to the stadium and take photos inside in case access was restricted when spectators arrived for the match. The security guard waved me in as I went into the various stands, with the preparations beginning and the home side arrived by coach.

On my way, I walked along Si Suda Alley, which had several bars which would open later as well as Irish Buzz Stop Restaurant and Bar which was already serving a couple of customers. I decided to return there and maybe have a meal. I regretted it instantly. 

One Thai lady was trying to serve a large group of English fellas, maybe in their late twenties or a bit older. They were not causing any problem, but they were loud, obviously enjoying themselves and were ordering food and lots of drinks. It was clear that I would have waited a long time.

After looking at the menu, in which nothing particularly jumped out at me, I decided I’d leave them to their fun and have a drink somewhere a bit quieter. It was unbelievable the names I was called because I hadn’t decided to introduce myself and make friends. It saddened me, but these things happen.

The irony of having a trouble-free tour, including visiting places threatened by terrorism, but then having issues with English was not lost on me. I had a couple of cold beers watching the world go by and trying to cheer myself up at The Corner Bier before heading back to the stadium, again rather early.

Refreshments were confined to a stall once inside the stadium complex before entering the arena. There was no beer for sale. The souvenir stand consisted of a small rack and table which also sold match tickets. It was all extremely low-key and a bit disappointing.

 

I chose a VIP seat for 120 Baht, again feeling disappointed when it turned out to be downstairs in the main stand rather than the upper tier. The stadium PA played very melodic local acoustic tunes as the teams warmed up before they returned for the match.

It had to be asked if it was wise to arrange a 6pm kick-off when Thailand were playing Vietnam in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup final on live TV at 8pm. Surely an earlier start at Songkhla would have attracted more fans who could then get home to watch the national side.

The game was closely fought in the first half. Thomas Chinonso, the Nigerian Kasem Bundit striker was pacy and caused the host defence some problems, breaking away and seeing his shot go narrowly over the bar while Songkhla seemed more methodical but slower in their build-up.

I was surprised to see Jhonatan Bernardo in the lineup for the home side who led their league table. I had watched him for Udon United at the start of the season and it’s fair to say that I was unimpressed. The impression was confirmed after his showing in this match. He was dreadful and must have had a good agent. 

Ridwan Ruangchuai was one of the midfielders who impressed me for Songkhla, but he was lucky to remain on the pitch in my eyes after he was the last man bringing down Chinonso on the edge of the box when through, not attempting to play the ball as half-time neared.

Referee Pissanusak Sriyai decided the challenge only merited a yellow card. The striker received lengthy treatment in what would be the game changing moment. Abdulhafis Nibu, Thiraphong Yangdi, and Anwa A-Leemama also impressed me for the home team. 

It was the latter who was denied just before the interval through a flying save from Chanon Aunjaidee in the student’s net. At the break, I decided to change position and ensure that I could get away easily from an exit to meet my family. The view was far better high up on the open side.

Chinonso wasn’t the same after his injury, hobbling off five minutes into the second half, his assailant staying on having done his job. Ten minutes later the only goal of the game arrived from Anwa and that was pretty much game over. The hosts came close to doubling their lead a couple of times with the threat of KBU extinguished.

My Roving Report for A Thai Football Podcast

 

Should the game have gone into extra time, it would have done so without me in attendance. As the final whistle sounded, I was on my way to dinner at Son Kaew Seafood Restaurant. A pleasant meal was enjoyed before Q gave us a nighttime tour of the old town.

We wanted to be back in Hat Yai for a night of sleep, as the following day would see Taew head off and make our way without our hosts, catching the bus to Krabi to enjoy many further adventures. It was only then she revealed that her cousin’s wife was worried about me going to football alone. If only she knew.