Yala City

Yala City FC

Ground: Yala Rajabhat University Stadium
Capacity: 1,500
Club Founded: 2023
League: Thai Semi-Pro League South (current level)

Many clubs around Thailand are relegated from the national Thai League 3 and simply disappear. That cannot be said about Yala City FC, which regrouped to play in the Thai Semi-Pro League the following season to try to regain its status.

Stadium of Thailand National Sports University Yala Campus
The home of Yala City FC in 2024-25

Early Years

Yala City FC first came to light when the club entered the Thai Semi-Pro League in the 2023–24 season.

The ‘Potentate of the Killer Roosters’, as they are nicknamed, benefitted from a small Southern Zone competition that year, with only two entrants — Yala City and Phuket Rajabhat University. The sides met four times to decide promotion to Thai League 3 South.

The goals of Adilif Chesor under head coach Ibrohim Kasirak saw City win promotion. Home matches staged at the Thailand National Sports University Yala Campus. City eventually earned promotion to join local rivals FC Yala.

Stadium of Thailand National Sports University Yala Campus

Thai League 3

Life at a higher level proved more demanding. Results were harder to come by, despite encouraging support for a new club in the system. Samart Chankachang later took over as head coach as the team struggled in a relegation battle.

In November 2024, the club moved venues to share Rajabhat University Stadium with FC Yala, before briefly returning to their original ground the following February. A stoppage-time goal by Phuket Andaman sealed their relegation at the end of the 2024–25 season.

Yala Rajabhat University Stadium

Regrouping in the Semi-Pro League

Unlike many clubs, Yala City were determined to regain their league status, entering the 2026 Thai Semi-Pro League. Miklus Tahetasae coached the team to the runners-up place.

My visit

Stadium of Thailand National Sports University Yala Campus

Stadium Visit - Saturday 4th January 2025

The latest leg of our road trip around Thailand and Laos, embarked upon by my wife and her relatives from Hat Yai in the south, had reached the Malaysian border at Betong, which proved to be a very enjoyable place to spend an evening. 

On our way back, Q, Taew’s cousin, had said that he would take me to the stadium in Yala after visiting Jaru Stadium the previous day. Sure enough, after collecting a sweet order from a shop in the city with a reputation for making unique items, we cut back towards the university area.

I’d have been happy enough with parking at the back of the Rajabhat Stadium and maybe getting a glimpse of the Stadium of Thailand National Sports University located over the road. Still, my driver was having none of it. He was a champ.

We entered the car park, where many were keeping fit and running around the track. The stadium was no thing of beauty, but perfectly adequate for Thai League 3 football, with a raised stand complete with a roof on one side and an open raised enclosure opposite.

Once I had got my snaps, we went round to the home of FC Yala before heading back to Hat Yai for food and then Q and I headed downtown in Hat Yai, my host ever eager to impress me. 

If you have enjoyed reading this article, you may enjoy watching the video of our marathon road trip around Thailand and Laos. My YouTube Channel also includes many other football and sports videos, along with visits to Thai cities, festivals, and capturing the culture that makes the Land of Smiles so special. Feel free to subscribe for free.