Kamphaengphet

Kamphaengphet FC

Ground: Cha Kung Rao Stadium

Capacity: 2,406
Club Founded: 2009
League: Thai League 3 North (current level)

While some football clubs have a long list of honours, some around Thailand continue to offer their community a place to attend and stability. That is something that could be said about Kamphaengphet FC.

A Potted Club History

Kamphaengphet FC is a professional football club that took up residence at the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) Stadium, otherwise known as Chakangrao Central Stadium in the centre of town, when the club became a member of the third-tier Regional League Division 2 Northern Region.

In their first three seasons, the ‘Cha Kung Rao Warriors’ finished in the lower reaches of the division before ending in sixth place in 2012, before slipping back down the table over the following three campaigns.

A Playoff Appearance

A runners-up finish in 2016 earned the club a place in the Champions League playoffs, in which they saw off Ayutthaya Warrior before falling to Surat Thani. When the Thai football league structure was amended in 2017, Kamphaengphet were placed in Thai League 3 Upper Region.

Otsu Kazutaka top-scored as the side ended in eleventh place. This performance was repeated a year later with Badar Al-Alawi topping the goals charts. Kawin Nuanthat then became the fans' favourite forward for a couple of seasons.

League Struggles

Lowly finishes followed after the league chose to follow the European fixture calendar, which continued under coach Saksan Siripong. Sakdinan Makmuang was then put in charge of the team, which saw Punyaphat Autha top scoring. Former coach Saksan returned, without any change in fortune on the pitch.

Khwanchai found his old scoring touch in 2024-25, as the team completed a remarkable fifth consecutive ninth-place finish. He continued his scoring run the following season, first under returning coaches Saksan and then Sakdinan, as Kamphaengphet finished one place above relegation.

My visit

Stadium Visit - Monday 7th April 2025

A Visit to See an Old Friend

I try not to miss an opportunity to call in and see friends when Taew and I are travelling anywhere. On this occasion, Alan Parkhouse, an old journalist friend who had been of great assistance when I covered cricket media duties at various tournaments in Thailand, was now living there. Even better, he and his good lady, Phung, had got married a few days earlier. 

I'd been in touch in the weeks leading up to our trip to Chiang Mai, for the annual International Cricket Sixes, to find the best options of accommodation and to plan our brief stay, which was to be the day after we had been in Sukhothai to meet more friends and go to the football.

The trip home, which would then include a ride through the Petchabun Mountains and an overnight stop in Chaiyaphum, is featured in this video on my YouTube Channel. Many more adventures around the Land of Smiles, along with lots of sports, can be found there.

We arrived in Kamphaeng Phet around lunchtime after visiting Sukhothai's UNESCO Historical Park. What I didn't know was that we were to find one similar an hour later, albeit on a smaller scale.

The area around both that and the city shrine provided an immediate positive impression, as did a visit to the football stadium on the way to our hotel for the evening. Chakangrao Central Stadium was located just over the road from the Ping River, which I considered a perfect spot,  near markets, and probably having the benefit of a breeze. 

Inside the arena, I liked how the original raised main stand had two large, covered extensions on either side of it, making it stand out from many other such provincial municipal venues that also have running tracks.

Opposite stood an open, raised terrace, while an unusually large detached block occupied one corner, as was also the case when I visited Phitsanulok and Lopburi. The High School behind that end of the arena provided it with an enclosed feel.

Happy with the photographs and videos I took, I rejoined my ever-obliging wife, Taew, for the short drive, which entailed crossing the river and finding the majestic Mango House Resort & Café, our refuge for the night.

A Most Convivial Evening

A quality lunch and then catch up with food with Alan and Phung ensued before we caught up with them at their place the following morning, which will see their steakhouse open in a pleasant area near the golf course. Hopefully, a return was being planned by the ladies, which would include me seeing a football game and having a round of golf!