Muang Loei United FC is a professional club which represents the city of Loei, located in the Isan region of northeast Thailand. The clubs' origins go back to 2012 when they were formed as Wang Saphung Municipality FC.
At that time, another club, Loei City were in existence, playing at the Provincial Stadium in the centre of the city. Wang Saphung won the fourth-tier Thai Division 3 Tournament North Eastern Region in 2016, beating TWD Tanaytum 6-0 in the final.
When the national league structure was reorganised for the 2017 season, the club was placed in Thai League 4 Northeast playing their home games at Wang Saphung Stadium. They ended the campaign in the playoff positions with Malagasy forward, Carlos leading the scoring. Muangkan United ended any dreams of promotion.
The goals of Chawin Thirawatsri led the Se-Lai Warriors to the regional title a year later with their Champions League playoff campaign leading to a match to decide the third promoted club. North Bangkok University won the tie over two legs.
Wittaya Thanawatcharasanti put the goals away in 2019 which also saw Loei finish top of their regional division. This time, Pathumthani University, were defeated in the third-place game to see United win promotion under head coach Chumnan Pharkunthud.
However, the
Thai League once again restructured and turned to the European calendar for 2020-21.
Loei were placed in Thai League 3 Northeast with the club moving to Loei
Provincial Stadium.
Diarra Junior Aboubacar put away the chances as the side ended as divisional runners-up, with the playoffs being best forgotten about. 2021-22 saw a third regional title being collected by United as Yossagorn Silaket arrived as the new head coach before he was replaced by Teeratada Chamrus.
The club had decamped to Ruamjai Stadium Loei Rajabhat University at the start of the season, with the team falling short once more in their playoff campaign after Amporn Chaipong had led the scoring. Ibrahim Konaré took over goalscoring responsibilities in 2022-23 with Pradya Sitti being appointed head coach.
Santi Polcha arrived to take over team affairs before the end of the season before he was succeeded by Pratan Senala for the start of the 2023-24 campaign. Sitti returned for a second spell as the season petered out disappointingly with Loei ending it in sixth position.
Theeraphon Tungdee was brought in as coach at the start of 2024-25 before being replaced by Kistachai Wongsim.
Muang Loei United FC will play in Thai League 3 Northeast in the 2024-25 season.
My visit
Muang Loei United 1 Surin City 1 (Saturday 22nd March 2025) Thai League 3 Northeast (att: 120)
The chance to take in a game in Loei was possible thanks to a sensible suggestion to Taew, my wife. We were scheduled to drive to Chiang Khan in the same province the following day. It was an eight-hour trek, and although we were to stay there for two nights, I wanted to make the most of it.
She was happy to head to Loei a day earlier to have a look at that city and then arrive by the Mekong at lunchtime on Sunday. We were going on an exhausting trip to the annual Sixes cricket at Chiang Mai, and I wanted us to be able to relax and enjoy it rather than it being an ordeal.
We arrived in the early afternoon and checked into the excellent Sukjai Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel, chosen by my good lady. Her choice was impeccable, not least because it was in easy walking distance from the Rajabhat University Stadium where the match would be kicking off at 6pm.
After a pleasant siesta, I left Taew to relax as I went for a stroll, determined to find a shortcut after crossing the main road and headed along a small road that ran behind the campus. There were numerous little shops and open-fronted restaurants where I should have grabbed the opportunity to sit down for a beer.
There was a pedestrian gate open to gain access through the wall into the university, saving me a long walk back around. It was still early, so I went for a look around and took some photos before paying my 80 baht admission fee, buying a soft drink and a pot noodle, and sitting inside the stand.
The venue had the usual type of main stand, some open scaffold seating opposite, with a steep banked terrace behind the goal to the left, with nearby buildings giving it an enclosed feel. I’d certainly been to far worse venues. Before kick-off, a gaggle of expats arrived and sat in front of me, bringing their beer with them.
Hilariously, despite there not being any rainfall for several weeks, one end of the pitch was close to being waterlogged. The groundsman being distracted when forgetting that the sprinklers were turned on was the only explanation that I could fathom. It certainly added to the entertainment.
The diminutive Kitsana Chitchuea for Loei would impress me all evening, and he went close in the early stages when he had a decent effort saved by visiting custodian Jeerasak Phananut.
An almighty scramble in the tenth minute almost saw Surin go ahead. It ended with Aphidet Sawaengsuk firing wide. The home side goalie Panupan Juheang wasn’t filling me with lots of confidence under the superb floodlights as the crowd gradually grew to what I thought was a higher number than the official declaration.
Loei went ahead just halfway through the first period. An excellent pass sent Kitsana scurrying down the line before he delivered a beautiful cross to the back post, which was headed home with aplomb by Amporn Chaipong. It took fourteen minutes for Surin to restore parity.
A lovely left-footed finish from Jattuphon Nueakaew did the job. At the interval, I had a chat with a couple of the expats outside the stand. They were friendly and knew their stuff, offering me some superb travel advice for the following day regarding attractions as well as a lowdown on Loei and the fortunes of their side.
Into the second half, Kitsana slid in and saw his effort come back off the crossbar, with the rebound being wastefully blasted over. Wanthayawut Nuchkasae then headed down only for Winiton Duangchai to blaze his effort over the bar as the hosts ramped up the pressure.
The crowd were treated to an appearance from the experienced Loei sub, Arthit Sunthornphit. The former Thailand international midfielder from his time at Chonburi was still capable of spraying the ball around without doing too much running.
The game petered out in the closing stages. Despite this, I enjoyed what I thought was quite a decent watch, as neither side had anything to play for and consequently took the shackles off. Surin, particularly, had been a turgid team to watch in the past, providing a pleasant surprise on this occasion.
My Grab driver was bang on time, meaning I missed the final minute or so of stoppage time. We collected Taew from the hotel and headed to Walking Street, grabbing some food without being overly captivated.
Just over an hour later, we were back opposite the hotel, sitting outside a bar run by youngsters. They gave us a warm welcome, even if the price they charged me for a small bottle of whisky to take out was on the steep side.
The advice
offered by those at the match was spot on as we enjoyed the Skywalk at Chiang
Khan and the other attractions in the pretty riverside town, leaving Loei
province with a very favourable impression a few days later.
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