The iCon RSU

the iCon RSU FC
Ground: Rangsit University Stadium
Capacity: 3,000
Club Founded: 2009
League: University Competition (current level)

There are over forty universities in the Bangkok Metropolitan region. Many have football sides, some of whom, like the Icon RSU, have played in the Thai national leagues before returning to university competition.

Club Background

Originally formed as Rangsit University, the club became a member of the Regional League Bangkok Area. They won promotion in 2010 after Prachinburi FC were defeated in the playoffs to become JW Rangsit following a deal with the JW Real Estate Group.

The team consolidated, moving to Thupatemee Stadium to share with Air Force United. Unfortunately, Thupatemee was hit by the disastrous floods in November 2011. Rangsit played out the season at Nakhon Nayok Military School. They remained there before heading to the Queen Sirikit Sport Stadium for the second half of the 2012 season.

The team was relegated to the third-tier Regional League in 2012, this time being placed in the Central East Region. Rangsit returned to play their home games at their original university home, with a sideways move to the Bangkok Region.

The club reverted to the title of Rangsit University for the 2015 campaign. After another lowly league finish, the club became usually referred to as RSU FC, although also still known in some quarters as Rangsit University.

The iCon RSU Years

Changes in the Thai League system came into play for the 2017 season as a fourth tier was added, where RSU was placed. Weerayut Phuiprom finished as top scorer for 'The Trespassing Tiger' as the side finished in eighth spot.

Banjong Padungpattanodom led the scoring under head coach Niphon Biawtungnoi. A finish next to the bottom of the table in 2019 saw the club relegated. The team competed in the Thai University League, also known as the U League. The side reformed as The iCon RSU to compete in the Thailand Semi-Pro League in 2023.

Phumipat Pinthaisong coached the side, progressing through the Bangkok Zone to clinch a runners-up spot in the Southern Zone. It was enough for RSU to reclaim their place in the national set-up. Queen Sirikits 60th Anniversary Stadium in Pathum Thani was initially selected as the home venue, but it failed to materialise.

Krisada Sangchant led the side in T3, as the club played home games at North Bangkok University Stadium before Bangkok University Stadium was adopted as their new home. The club’s stay lasted just one season before being relegated.

Bangkok University Stadium

Some doubts surrounding the backing of The iCon as owner/sponsors circulated as the company was investigated by official regulators away from football.

My visits

Stadium Visit
Wednesday 27th March 2013

A Day of Self-Indulgence

My day away from the early touring life with my cricketing pals was going well. I had already visited two stadiums and was now really getting into the mood despite the soaring temperatures that even had the locals struggling.

However, I was soon to hit frustration when I got into a taxi. Now I admit my Thai isn't the best, but with the aid of large print copies of Google Maps, I thought that finding a well-known university campus would be easy enough for my driver to find. Sadly, I was to be proved wrong.

My driver seemed anxious, almost as if he didn't want the fare. That was fine as far as I was concerned, as long as he let me know. Instead, we crawled along past Don Muang Airport before he stopped and asked for directions.


In the end, I paid him up and went in search of another cab, which soon arrived. Over the years, I have found this to be the best solution to avoid frustration on the part of all those inside a vehicle.

This time, my new pilot made no mistake and soon had me by the campus entrance, just as many students were calling it a day. I did my usual act of smiling at the guards while continuing to walk. I could see my target, and I didn't want to be denied.

As it turned out, the venue was a bit of a disappointment. The only building was the Main Stand on the halfway line around a shale running track. I did the necessary with my camera before heading back through the gate. I was soon in another taxi heading to the home of Bangkok Glass.

Stadium Visit
Monday 18th June 2018

An Unexpected Adventure

The following is a story of what can go wrong when you don't check on the websites and Twitter feeds before you set off to watch a game in the lower divisions in Thailand. There are occasions when my adventures pursuing my hobby don’t work out as I expect when leaving in the morning, and this day out definitely fell into this category.

I's begun the second half of a tremendous holiday in Bangkok and Isaan. Everything had more or less fallen into place, much to my surprise. Therefore, I could see no warning signs of the cock up approaching as I left Steve’s house in Minburi on another lovely morning.

I had my rucksack with me, as I was heading straight to Don Muang Airport after the RCU FC v Port B game in the Thai League 4 Bangkok Region. The website said it was a 4pm kick-off when I last checked. I'd taken local transport down to Bangkapi to meet Steve for coffee in the Mall, where my mate asked if I’d checked that the match was definitely on.

I laughed at him. “Of course it is”, I replied. We said our goodbyes until the following Saturday, when we’d be enjoying the final few hours of my trip, as I headed to take the Saen Saep Ferry downtown. I alighted from the packed service at Asok, then headed to Phetchaburi MRT station.

Bangkok Transport

I wanted to make my way as near as I could to Rangsit University by public transport, aside from taxis, unless absolutely necessary. I should have stuck to my plan of taking a bus from Chatuchak, but I thought I’d save time by jumping out at Phahon Yothin, as I knew this stop before when heading to watch an Air Force game by bus.

What I hadn’t realised was that I was on a different road from the one I required for this journey. I ended up walking and getting lost several times around the Central Plaza Ladprao.
I eventually worked out that I needed to cut through the Mall and out of the far side of the Centara Grand Hotel to the main Don Muang Road.

After much confusion, I managed to find a bus stop and a service going north. I decided to take it past the airport and then commandeer a taxi the rest of the way, as the bus service didn’t appear to serve the university.

A Top Taxi Driver

Everything worked fine, grabbing myself some much-needed refreshments at the 7/11 by Don Muang railway station before getting in a cab. I thought that the hard work had been overcome. How little I knew!

My driver thought I knew exactly where to go, which I thought I did. Only, he thought he was dropping me off at a condo. He hadn't understood me. For the following twenty minutes, we went up and down the main road, missing turnings, while I was becoming increasingly confused in the back.

Finally, we were on track. I expected the left turning down Thanon Ek Thaksin to be a simple enough ride to the university. The Skytrain was being developed along the route. We saw the nearly completed Lak Hok station ahead, getting ready for the new service, which reassured me as I recognised the name.

However, I had not realised that our required road was a flyover above where we were, so it could cross the new tracks. There was no access to our road. This led to us trying other turnings with no success before we took a U-turn and went back south of the station.

After what seemed like ages, with my driver still somehow finding the strength to smile, we turned down a small soi and had to pay a man a toll to cross the Khlong before we did a right and got onto Thanon Ek Thaksin. My pilot was still unconvinced as we went down an interesting road with plenty of facilities for food, drink and relaxation.

We continued past the entrance to Muang Ake Golf Club, soon turning into the grounds of Rangsit University. I got out close to the small stadium and paid up. I think the driver was glad to be shot of me, even if he had taken a good fare.

Immediately, I became aware that my test of endurance was far from over. There was a distinct lack of footballers on the pitch, ahead through the trees. Perhaps they were in the tunnel waiting to come out for the match as it was nearing kick-off time?

The stand was virtually empty, with just three or four students in there with a drum. I knew that fourth division games were sparsely attended, but surely the under-23 Port side would attract a few more than this?

I tried to convince myself that I was at the right location and time, but in truth, I was struggling. There were no team coaches behind the stand, and no desk to take admission money. I went out to the front to see the scoreboard on the far side displaying a 3-1 score.

The match had already taken place. I eventually discovered that it had been played twenty-four hours previously. This was virtually an exact repeat of my first two visits to Lamphun Warriors. What an idiot!

However, all was not lost as I salvaged something from the adventure as I took a further taxi to Thammasat Stadium, where I saw the first half of the League 4 clash between Dome and BGC, which can be read about here.

Minburi City 3 Krungthep FC 1
Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Group E - Friday 29th April 2022
👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c100 🎟️ Free

Please click here and scroll down for a full description of a wonderful occasion, as Rangsit University Stadium was used as one of several neutral venues for the group stages of the 2022 Thailand Amateur League.

BG Pathum United 2022-2023

BG Pathum United FC

Ground: BG Stadium

Capacity: 15,114

Club Founded: 1979

League: Thai League 1 (current level)

BG Pathum United are one of Thailand's biggest football clubs. Their history and my first visits have their own post, as does BG Stadium with its background and when a neutral venue. This page concentrates on the home games I have attended since 2022.

My Visits From 2022

BG Pathum United 2 Port FC 0 

FA Cup Round of 16 - Wednesday 2nd February 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 3,221 🎟️ 200 THB (£4.80) 

Pre-Planning

I had moved to Bangkok and was delighted when the two teams were drawn out together. I looked at all the possibilities of obtaining a ticket, fully aware that some pandemic restrictions were still in place.

After registering on the Line App via Port, they sent me the information. With the ticket reserved, I was ready to plan my trip. Then COVID intervened, as players in both squads tested positive. The match was deferred for a couple of weeks. On matchday, I decided to wait for a bus to Rangsit from near my condo.

Travel and Optimism

Services were still quite sporadic as the pandemic petered out. In the end, I hailed a taxi to BG Stadium well before kickoff. No catering stands appeared to be open in the complex surrounding the venue, so I bought a couple of beers from a vendor outside after collecting my ticket from the away fans’ booth.

I was optimistic of an away win, despite Port being on a poor run of form. Indeed, they did reasonably well in the opening exchanges. A fine flowing move saw a low cross from Kevin Deeromram, which Adisak Kraisorn nearly pounced on, but he slipped into keeper Prasit Padungchok.

It's the Hope that Kills You

However, the hosts went ahead after twenty-six minutes. Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom's fine work in the corner saw him pass to Santiphap Channgom, whose pinpoint cross was headed in at the back post by the unmarked Ikhsan Fandi.

A fine ball released Adisak through on goal. His lack of pace, along with defender Ernesto Phumipha's great endeavour and a last-ditch challenge, stopped the forward from getting his shot away. Bordin Phala's poor control in the box took him away from the goal before he skewed his shot high and wide as Port pressed.

The Teerasil Show

The introduction of forwards Diogo and Teerasil Dangda from United had a huge effect from the start of the second half. Teerasil hit the outside of the post with a volley from Apisit Sorada on the hour mark after Diogo's goal was chalked off for offside.

Visiting goalie Kawin Thamsatchana expertly pushed Fandi's superb header over the bar before Adisorn Promrak should have restored parity. From a corner, he headed into Prasit's midriff at the back post.

From the resulting set piece, another header went towards the goal, where Apisit somehow cleared the ball off the line via the angle of the post and crossbar. Replays suggested that the ball crossed the line.

Teerasil fired in a rasping shot, which Kawin saved dramatically in a BG move at the other end. Eleven minutes from time, Teerasil rose unmarked at the back post to head home the second. You didn’t need Sherlock Holmes to see it coming.

Concentrate on the League

Port's night was summed up with a couple of minutes remaining when Philip Roller was put through on goal. He dallied before his effort away was cleared off the line. The same player headed wide from a Deeromram cross when well placed.

Port out of both cups within a few weeks despite having plenty of play and chances. Teerasil was magnificent for the hosts, who fully deserved their win. I departed and grabbed a taxi home.

BG Pathum United 2 Port FC 1

Thai League 1 - Saturday 2nd April 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 4,314 🎟️ 200 THB (£4.80)

Handy Help

A Saturday night match worked perfectly for me to do a doubleheader, as I attended the North Bangkok University v Saraburi United clash in the third-tier playoffs less than a mile away beforehand.

When walking along Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road, a car stopped and offered me a lift. It turned out to be driven by the father of Port midfielder Kanarin Thawornsak. He saw my shirt. He was a lovely bloke too. He told me he was a Liverpool fan.

Cashless Stadium

I had time to grab a beer using my bank phone app. The BG Stadium is cashless. Diogo came close to opening the scoring for BGPU when his low shot went narrowly wide. At the other end, Roller should have done better when the ball fell loose to him at the edge of the box.

Bordin beat goalkeeper Kittipong Phuthawchueak to a cross but saw his looping effort headed onto his own bar by Channgom and away to safety. Irfan Fandi headed in at the back post to break the deadlock after twenty-six minutes. Poor marking once again led to Ports' downfall.

The second goal, three minutes later, had a huge chunk of fortune attached as a cross from Ikhsan Fandi took a horrible deflection off Kannarin Thawornsak and looped over keeper Worawut Srisupha into the net. I feared the worst at this point.

A shot from Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom flew wide as the pressure continued before Diogo stung Worawut's fingers. Sergio Saurez tested the reflexes of Kittipong in the home net with a volley for Port.

Second Half Action

After the restart, Pathompol's shot was half-blocked as it flew just wide. Port halved the deficit in the fifty-fourth minute. David Rochela converted a deep cross from Martin Steuble on the volley at the back post.

Teerasak Poeiphimai came close to restoring parity, but his header flashed narrowly wide. Ikhsan Fandi missed a gilt-edged chance to restore United’s two-goal lead, but he panicked in front of the goal.

Defeat in the Cold

Roller had two efforts on goal for Port as play ebbed and flowed. He should have done better on both occasions. Nattapon Worasut went close for BGPU with a glancing header in the next action. Saurez for Port and Nattapon were next with efforts.

At full time, I caught a tuk-tuk back towards Rangsit, and took a couple of buses heading home. I hadn't realised just how cold the wind was as it was behind the away stand at the stadium. I found out back at my local bar, where staff were huddled inside trying to keep warm. It was whisky time!

BG Pathum United 0 Melbourne City 0 

AFC Champions League Group G - Wednesday 27th April 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 3,699 🎟️ 150 THB (£3.60)

Covid Restrictions

I had an extra opportunity to head to a game at BG Stadium when the Asian Champions League groups were each allocated a single venue. This replaced the traditional format, which COVID-19 restrictions prevented.

By now, I had learned even more about local travel and the quickest way to the stadium. I caught a minivan from Minburi to Zeer Rangsit, saving time and money. The 538 bus took me the rest of the way.

Enjoyable Experience

Again, I chose the middle tier upstairs behind the goal, ready to enjoy the skills of Teerasil Dangda, my favourite Thai player. It was a pleasure to watch a veteran craftsman at work.

Again, the cashless system worked well as I had time for a beer and chicken drumsticks from the vendors behind the West Stand before heading to my place. I had taken a real shine to BG Stadium, despite its three-sided nature. It was a proper football ground with an away end that reminded me of the old Spion Kop at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool.

A win for the home side against the Aussie side owned by Manchester City would guarantee qualification to the next stage. City were two points behind in second place. In the early exchanges, Pathompol flicked on a corner. Teerasil came close to converting when goalie Thomas Glover smothered.

The stopper denied Ikhsan Fandi before Andrew Nabbout created problems at the other end when his low cross was parried upwards by the BG custodian Kittipong. Jamie Maclaren will have been disappointed to put his header wide when the ball popped up to him.

Teerasil failed to get enough purchase on his effort when the ball was laid square from a cross, allowing Glover to save. Shortly after the interval, Kittipong pushed a low Scott Jamieson shot around the post.

Chatmongkol Thongkiri fired just over from range for the hosts on seventy-seven minutes before Maclaren was denied for City at the other end. Diogo had a drive that sliced narrowly wide as both sides looked for a late winner.

Cheeky Locals

Towards the end, the locals around me were directing some hilarious abuse at the Aussie players in pidgin English, particularly comedy villain Rostyn Griffiths, who had been a rock all evening but was now using all the dark arts to wind the clock down. They apologised to me at the end, but I told them to crack on!

BG still needed a win against Jeonnam in their final game. I caught a tuk-tuk back to Rangsit before boarding a minivan, which I initially thought would drop me by Wat Phra Sri Mahathat but went all the way to Minburi. Happy days!

BG Pathum United 4 Port FC 2 

Thai League 1 - Wednesday 14th September 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 6,470 🎟️ 150 THB (£4.60)

A Difficult Start

The fixture I always looked forward to was rescheduled owing to BG's involvement in the AFC Champions League. That was understandable, but a 6pm midweek kick-off meant heavy rush hour traffic would make the journey testing

I set off three hours before the start. Sihaburanukit Road at the end of my Minburi condo was flooded, so I had to take off my shoes and socks to wade through the water. A minivan took me to the BTS light green line. Not a great start.

Plans On Course

The train took no time. Before long, a bus arrived to take me towards Rangsit, where we encountered more flooding on certain roads. I found where the songthaew had previously dropped me after games. All was going according to plan, with time for a couple of drinks too.

Then my plan fell apart. I asked a man at the minibus station which service went towards Nakhon Nayok and past the stadium. He pointed to a songthaew pulling up outside, and he even shouted for the driver to wait. What a nice chap.

Plans Derailed

The vehicle then took me in the opposite direction, and right into the floods. I was not impressed. Eventually, a taxi took me to the stadium. I arrived outside seven minutes into the game.

Rushing through the complex, I eventually climbed upstairs in the away section. Twelve minutes gone and it was 0-0. Great stuff, and they were allowing beers while we watched, so I quickly nipped back down to the friendly staff to buy a Leo.

It Gets Worse

Inevitably, as soon as I was settled, United went ahead. And it was yet another case of awful defending as a looped cross from skipper Sarach Yooyen found Irfan Fandi, who plonked his header past a stranded Worawut in the away net.

In the thirty-sixth minute, it got worse for Port when skipper Tanaboon Kesarat was adjudged to have swung an elbow when shielding the ball. Referee Sivakorn Pu-Udom was advised to check the screen. After a VAR review, he showed a red card. A very harsh call in my view.

Suarez nearly got on the end of a Bordin diagonal ball in the box before it was 2-0 three minutes before the break, when Ikhsan Fandi outjumped and outmuscled Frans Putros to head home a cross from Apisit. It was all too easy in the air again for BGPU when playing Port.

Yet the visitors still found time to get back into the game in stoppage time. A cross saw Irfan Fandi and Hamilton collide in a challenge. The ball ended back at the feet of Teerasak Poeiphimai just inside the box, who smashed it home.

The defender rolled around and stayed on the floor trying to make the most of it, and I thought another VAR decision was pending. Thankfully, the ref, maybe aware of his earlier sending-off, was having none of it.

On the concourse at the break, it was a jollier gathering, with an air of optimism. Hamilton teed up Suphanan Bureerat soon after the restart, but Kittipong easily dealt with his shot. If only the Port player could kick with his right foot.

My adventures of an interesting night out

Lots more football videos and life in Thailand

available on my YouTube Channel

BG extended the lead in the sixty-seventh minute. A simple training ground passing move and cross undid the away side out wide. Substitute Teerasil fired home a volley from eight yards with all the freedom in the world. A great finish, but horrible defending.

Worawut pulled off a couple of decent stops before another replacement, Conrado, scored an excellent goal with a rasping right-foot finish. Again, nobody tried to challenge. Teersail was denied shortly afterwards by another save.

Port sub William Weidersjö showed skill and then finished with a low left-foot shot in additional time to reduce the arrears, giving the excellent away following something to cheer. Some of the numbers showed their frustrations earlier with a small outbreak of unrest at the segregation barriers.

At full-time, boss Scott Cooper received a good ovation, as did both sides. His job was surely to sort out the defence. It was a shambles. Port, as ever, looked pretty against a good side but was lacking an underbelly. BG, on the other hand, looked strong and very decent.

I headed out onto the main road and had a beer, while many home fans passing on scooters gave me high fives. I genuinely like the BGPU fans and the experience there. I followed it up with a van ride and a walk to a place I liked the look of when I'd passed it.

Walking past Balance Cafe & Restaurant, which I noted advertised craft beers, I arrived at Kin Do Funk. It had live music, served My Beer, which I liked, and gave out complimentary bowls of salted peanuts with chilli. I enjoyed myself before deciding that a taxi back to Minburi was a good option.

BG Pathum United 0 Buriram United 2 

Thai League 1 - Saturday 4th February 2023

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 10,089 🎟️ 100 THB (£2.40)

Full House

My new policy of picking a game I really fancied, rather than going for quantity, continued. I bought a ticket online a few days beforehand. It was a good idea. All tickets were sold by matchday.

Taew dropped me off in Minburi, and before long, I was on the 520 bus to Zeer Rangsit, enjoying listening to a podcast along the way. I had time for a quick snack before my reliable Viabus app told me the 538 service would soon be arriving.

Heavy Traffic

The road from Rangsit towards the stadium was gridlocked, and progress was slow. My intended hour before the game arrival time was nearly cut in half. The peak-time kickoff and a graduation day at nearby North Bangkok University caused congestion.

Eventually, I arrived and headed for the newly reopened restaurant bar, The Rabbits. It was certainly plush inside with a live band playing. I heard someone shouting my name outside, and it turned out to be someone I hadn’t seen for several years.

Chance Meeting

It was lovely to see a teaching mate of my Minburi mate Steve, whom I'd last chatted to in Pattaya. He was at his first game and with a group of pals. Sadly, the service from staff inside the bar didn’t live up to the surroundings, so I headed off to find a beer.

I knew BG Stadium was cash-free. The system worked. Multiple beers were poured, ready for customers to scan and take them away. It was a simple process on a mobile phone app.

Great Advert for Thai Football

I headed upstairs, happy to find a perch on the second tier to experience a good game and an excellent atmosphere. Buriram would show exactly why they are champions, with two pieces of individual brilliance deciding the encounter.

The teams came out to a light show, a new stadium feature, before the game started at a frenetic pace. Both sides tested each other out. Kittipong's legs in the home goal denied Buriram's Suphanat Mueanta. However, the stopper was absolutely powerless to prevent the reigning champions from taking the lead.

Great Goal

What looked like a harmless square ball along the edge of the box in the eleventh from skipper Narubadin Weerawatnodom was swept in first time with a curling shot by Haris Vučkić that flew into the top corner of the net. A wonderful strike. My heart sank a little. I knew Buriram rarely conceded a lead, and I wanted a close contest. Preferably a home win. 

Therefore, I was delighted four minutes later when the hosts appeared to equalise. VAR ended the celebrations. A magnificent ball from defence found a man out wide on the right, whose deep cross was headed by Chaowat Veerachat. Stênio Júnior headed home a rebound after Nopphon Lakhonphon made a great save.

VAR Spoils the Celebrations

The light show added to the joy as the majority of the sellout crowd celebrated. However, as the players lined up for the restart, referee Wiwat Jumpaoon delayed the kickoff. Despite further BG protests, VAR ruled the goal out for offside. It was the correct decision, but it showed just how spontaneity can be sucked out of a game. 

No doubt I would have had a different opinion if an unlawful goal went in against one of my teams. Peeradon Chamratsamee saw a low skimming shot go close for the visitors before the scorer was involved in a nasty aerial exchange, requiring Vučkić to wear a head bandage for the remainder of the game.

Then Supachai Chaided rolled the ball into the path of Goran Čaušić, whose rasping drive brought out the best in Kittipong in the final action of the half, when I headed back downstairs for another beer and to enjoy the architecture of one of my favourite venues around some genuinely friendly people.

Three minutes after the restart, Stênio Júnior missed a great chance to restore parity. He side-footed a lovely slide-rule cross from Chaowat with the goal at his mercy. Then Nopphon was forced to tip over an effort from Santiphap Channgom.

Quality Counts

With twenty minutes remaining, Buriram doubled their lead through a brilliant, tight passing move involving Vučkić and Čaušić. Suphanat finished superbly with a delicate dink. Leicester City were rumoured to be interested in signing him after he had a spell training there, and it wasn’t hard to see why.

There was pushing and shoving between players from both sides when a home player went down when Narubadin flung out his arm in the area. I was astonished that the VAR team showed no interest in the offence.

The hero celebrated in front of his team’s plentiful support, who were also superb throughout the game. Andrés Túñez saw an effort tipped round for BGPU in additional time, but Buriram ran out deserved winners.

I used my experience and left bang on the final whistle. I headed along the road towards Rangsit rather than getting lost in the crowds. I got a taxi within a few minutes, with Taew giving my driver full instructions to get me to my destination for lots of beautiful food and drinks at our friends house.

BG Pathum United 1 Ulsan Hyundai 3 

AFC Champions League Group I - Tuesday 28th November 2023

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 3,563 🎟️ Complimentary

Friendship Through Football

An Australian friend, Terry, whom I know through cricket tournaments in Chiang Mai, contacted me a couple of weeks ago. His son, Adam, was the fourth official for the game and asked if I wanted tickets. It was very handy as I was in Bangkok for a few days after cricket in the northern city. He sorted me out, and I needed to collect them at the office.

On the way to the game, after a ride on the newly opened Pink Line sky train, a young couple asked if I was heading to the stadium. My Hull City shirt might have given the game away. Anyway, we shared a taxi. They were without tickets and wanted to get there as soon as possible.

Unexpected Session

I explained that the stadium is nearly cashless, although some food vendors do accept notes. I tried to buy them a couple of tickets on my club account, but sales had closed. When the lady met me to hand out my complimentary ticket, she asked how many I required and kindly gave me three.

We had great seats, and we could drink. My new friends insisted on looking after me, so what I thought would be a quiet evening doing reports for A Thai Football Podcast, which I’m involved in, turned into a merry little session.

South Korean Quality

The match was an easy win for the quality South Korean side. The home team had two goals disallowed, but were second-best throughout. Hungarian Martin Adam was a beast of a centre forward for Ulsan. They also had Gustav Ludwigson, a very quick, skilful Swedish winger. 

Cheered on by around a hundred travelling fans, they looked like a class outfit. The hosts were left playing for pride, already dumped at the bottom of the group with just one more game to play.

Home defender Jakkapan Praisuwan put a hard low cross past his own keeper after twenty minutes. Ludwigson doubled the advantage seven minutes later. Their fast interplay was too much for the Thai side, despite BG being second in their league.

Ulsan were recently crowned league champions, which exemplified the difference in standards between the two nations. Ulsan seemingly held back. After the break, as the crowd doubled from its kick-off figure with people finishing work at the same time as the 5pm start, the game was slightly more competitive.

However, a low shot from Lee Myung-Jae made it 3-0 before Uzbekistan wide man Igor Sergeyev reduced the arrears. Teerasil Dangda, the ageing but still excellent BG Thai international, assisted him.

It was great to see that the fourth stand at BG Stadium was under construction. It was already one of my favourite Thai stadiums, and the addition would add to it. I had a great view on this occasion, as I played tour guide.

My video report of the evening was compiled for A Thai Football Podcast

A taxi home, where my good lady suggested I was a little drunk. Rather a large one, to be fair. All was good, with new friends being made and an excellent evening out.

BG Pathum United 2 Chiangrai United 2

Thai League 1 - Thursday 28th December 2023

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 5,713 🎟️ 100 THB (£2.40)

This was a fantastic game to round off my year of 45 matches. It started with Kasem Bundit University 3 Samut Prakan 2, in Steve's company. He fittingly came along for this cracker.

It was a big night in the Thai League. This game saw third up against fifth, while reigning champions Buriram United were away to bottom side Prachuap, and leaders Bangkok United travelled to second-from-bottom Chonburi. We were royally entertained.

CRU took an early lead when the impressive 39-year-old Brazilian, Bill, in the thick of things as ever, played his part as compatriot Felippe Veloso raced clear to finish neatly after five minutes.

BGPU piled on the pressure but over-elaborated, as the visitors’ defence put in a superb display, most noticeably Diego Landis and Marco Ballini, who were like rocks. Finally, they conceded seven minutes from the break when Danilo Alves rose to power home a header past keeper Saranon Anuin.

I thought it would power the hosts towards victory, but I hadn't considered Chiangrai's resilience. Sivakorn Tiatrakul finished with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box to end a superb passing move from the back, leaving Chatchai Bootprom grasping thin air.

This came shortly before the halftime whistle, blown by impressive referee Songkran Bunmeekiart, who saw through plenty of play-acting from both sides, allowing the game to flow and a proper contest to emerge.

The second half saw more home pressure, and they looked like BGPU were about to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty. The ref was persuaded to check his VAR screen. He changed his decision when he saw the offence took place outside the box.

However, that was bad news for the last defender, Ballini, whose yellow card was upgraded to a red. Chiangrai faced a mighty task in the final thirty-five minutes or so. They took off a forward but still looked dangerous on the break, and they missed a good chance following a low cross, which caused confusion in the BGPU box.

Sadly, for me, Bill had gone off at the interval. He’s a true panto villain with lots of skill and a box of dirty tricks which any football fan can admire. Like a large Frank Worthington with dark arts. Or Tony Rogers of Dagenham, near the end of his career.

The board went up showing eight additional minutes. Substitute Igor Sergeev headed home the equaliser in the seventh of them. The CRU players sank to their knees, as did the BGPU team at full-time. Everyone had given their last ounce of energy. It was a superb advert for Thai football.

Steve and I were joined by Mark, an Oxford United fan living in Bangkok. Before the game, we took the Skytrain to Lak Si, then a bus to a bar called Kin Do Funk, a couple of miles down the road from BG Stadium. Unfortunately, they weren’t opening until 6pm, and with a 7pm kickoff, we headed to the match.

We went into the air-conditioned Rabbits clubhouse for a tower of Leo beer and snacks before sitting outside in the fans zone, taking in the atmosphere. Our view inside the stadium was superb, and we could drink on the terraces. We returned to the rammed Kin Do Funk for drinks at full time.

The evening in video for A Thai Football Podcast

What a superb experience it turned out to be with friendly locals. We had a wonderful lads' day exchanging tales and chewing the fat with lots of laughter, food, and drinks. We also did a fair bit of walking, which might, or might not, have explained my condition the following day. Thankfully, we got a taxi home.