Uttaradit

Uttaradit FC, or TPF Uttaradit FC to give them their sponsored name, is a professional football club from the Thai city of the same name in the north of the country. The club was formed in 2009, playing their home games at Uttaradit Province Stadium.

The ‘Fighting Cocks’, as they were originally nicknamed, joined Regional League Division 2 Northern Region with Atithep Yoosawad appointed as coach, finishing fourth in their debut campaign. 

That was repeated in 2011, after a season playing at Uttaradit Rajabhat University Stadium, before returning to their original venue. Twelve months later, playing under the name Uttaradit-Morseng, the team finished in seventh position. Finishing third bottom was considered a disappointment in 2013.

Three more midtable endings were then accumulated, with Noh Hyeong-cheol top scoring in 2016. The South Korean responded again in 2017, which saw Uttaradit compete in Thai League 4 North following league restructuring, finishing fourth in the table. 

Diarra Aboubacar Sidick, the Ivorian striker, would lead Uttaradit to the regional title in 2018. However, the side fared badly in the Champions League playoffs. They regrouped under head coach Vorrakorn Vijannarong in 2019 with the goals of Giuberty Silva Neves helping the team retain their title.

Again, the playoffs ended in disappointment for the ‘Broken Sword’. After another reorganisation of the lower tiers, Uttaradit were placed in Thai League 3 North in 2020-21 with the playing calendar being aligned with that in Europe. The team ended in fourth position.

 

Chatchai Narkwijit put away the chances in 2021-22 as Uttaradit Saksiam, as they were known under a sponsorship deal, finished seventh after Chumnan Pharkunthud had been appointed as head coach during the season.

Chaiwat Puengsiri took charge of the side at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, as the goals of Phufah Chuenkomrak helped the side to the runners-up berth. The playoffs ended in disappointment. The TPF backing of the club was put in place before the 2024-25 season as Nitipong Saiyasit was named as head coach.

Uttaradit FC will play in Thai League 3 North in the 2025-26 season. 

My visit

Tuesday 25th March 2025

The opportunity to visit the Province Stadium in Uttaradit came about as my wife Taew and I were staying at the far side of the town on our final stop of a four-day road adventure from Sisaket to Chiang Mai.

We’d already enjoyed the delights of an overnight stop in Loei, where I took in the Saturday night match against Surin City, before a wonderful two nights in Chiang Khan, which offered lots of fun and relaxation.

The road to our strategic destination for the evening was dramatic at times, with plenty of mountainous roads being travelled along. The scenery in parts was not unlike deepest Wales or the Highlands of Scotland. Good for me, but undoubtedly more testing for my good lady behind the wheel.

The stadium impressed me when we turned into the complex off the main road. The main stand was better than most, boosted by smart individual seats on its raised deck. The raised open area opposite was more in keeping with other similar venues. The trees that surrounded the arena gave it an enclosed feel.

Once I had completed my videoing and photography, we headed to check in at our resort before taking in a couple of places that qualified as sightseeing. Food was obtained at a quaint department store to take back as we enjoyed a relaxed evening before the final leg of our trip the following morning.