North Bangkok University

 

North Bangkok University FC is a football club that is based in Pathum Thani to the north of the Thai capital. Upon formation in 2006 the club played at Bangkok University Stadium, competing in local and college competition.

In 2010 ‘The Horsemen’ joined the third tier Bangkok Metropolitan Region of the third tier national Regional League finishing just outside the championship pool places in their inaugural campaign.

Home matches were split between playing at the Infantry Department 11 Royal Guard ground, Thanarom Village Football Field, Bangkok University Stadium and the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi.

North Bangkok went one better the following season as they ended up as runners up in the table having moved into the North Bangkok University Stadium. This led to qualification for the Champions League promotion play-offs, where hopes of going up ended.

The 2012 season ended in sixth place, followed by eighth place finishes in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 North Bangkok weighed in with a disappointing eleventh place spot before improving to seventh place in 2016 as Robert Ghansah topped the club scoring chart.

Thai league football was restructured for the 2017 season with the club being placed in the new fourth tier Thai League 4 (T4) Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Sirichai Lamphuttha and Poomipat Kantanet scored the goals as North Bangkok raced to the league title.

The team were defeated by Marines Eureka in the Champions League play-offs to miss out once again on promotion. The club bounced back to secure their second consecutive title in 2018 as Joao Francisco scored the goals.

A second place in the Lower Group led to a further play off which was won 2-1 on aggregate against Muang Loei United to win promotion to the third tier for 2019. A fifth place finish ensued with Piyapong Homkhajohn putting away the goals.

The 2020-21 campaign saw Thai football realign its calendar to correspond with the European season with the competition reverting to three tiers. It was also one affected by the coronavirus pandemic with many games played behind closed doors. NBU didn't let this affect their form as they finished top of Thai League 3 Bangkok Region.

The goals of Chanotaj Pipatmongkonchai did the business but the team only came fifth out of six sides in the Lower Region playoff rounds. University regathered under their boss Damrongsak Boonmuang to end top again in the regular season of 2021-22.

ThitiwaThitinartaen ended as the top scorer before a dramatic last round of playoff games saw North Bangkok pipped for promotion in the last few seconds. The 2022-23 season saw the team finish top of the Bangkok region for the third consecutive season.

 

Célio and Veeraphong Aon-pean shared the goals which again saw NBU progress no further through the Champions League playoffs. In 2023-24 both Phitchanon Chanlung and Pheemphapob Viriyachanchai also got in on the goalscoring act as the side ended as runners-up in the regional title but went no further in their attempts to be promoted.

North Bangkok University FC will play in the Thai League 3 Bangkok Region in the 2022-23 season.

My visits

North Bangkok 1 Chamchuri United 2 (Sunday 6^th April 2014) Regional League Bangkok Region (att: approx 200)

My annual Sunday double header on the way back from the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes saw me get an early sighter of the stadium as we flew over it heading to land at Don Muang.

After checking into the Asia Airport Hotel, I went downstairs into the Zeer shopping mall for some desperately needed food after feeling rather under the weather for the previous thirty six hours. 

I crossed the pedestrian bridge that straddled the expressway and thankfully found a cab driver who understood my instructions. This was somewhat of a relief as my driver from the airport had seemed determined to take me on a tour of the city before he realised that I wasn’t a first time traveller.

The pleasant drive along the Rangsit Nakhon-Nayak Road took me past the many eateries and markets along the side of the khlong. The route was the same as I’d taken a hundred or so metres further on the previous year to take photos at the Bangkok Glass Leo Stadium.

My driver took me right through the campus and deposited me by the entrance to the Bangkok University Stadium. I paid my 60 Baht admission fee after taking a few photos looking into the stadium from outside. 

I found myself in the away section. Ironically, I had a Chamchuri United shirt from my visit in October, but it was with my mate Steve Walker as I’d dispatched unneeded luggage for the remainder of my stay.

The stadium basically consisted of two long low stands down one side with bench seating, which was linked in the centre by an area for press, cameras, and match officials. The players got changed in separate blocks at either end of the stands. 

The rest of the arena had no spectator facilities but was surrounded by wire fencing. The far side had a scoreboard on the halfway line. It had once been home to Bangkok United before they moved to the Thai Japanese Stadium nearer the city centre.

The weather was in the high thirties for a 4pm kick off, so I didn’t expect a fast paced encounter. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the tempo and action on a perfect pitch with Leo Stadium in the background. Amazingly the match kicked off bang on time, which I found to be a bit of a rarity in Thailand.

To see a clip of the emergence of the teams, click here.

On seven minutes North Bangkok had a good opportunity saved as they started off in good form. It was a fairly even encounter with the home side showing more creative prowess. Another decent chance was spurned just before the half hour.

The Horsemen were made to pay for their wastefulness as Chamchuri took the lead a couple of minutes before the interval.Number 19 brought down a cross at the back post a fired home to the joy of the fifty or so visiting fans including a little lad who led the chanting on his own!

The joy didn’t last too long as North Bangkok restored parity in stoppage time. They had a free kick charged down by a visiting hand before number 16 fired home the second attempt. At the interval I took a walk to the shop underneath the halls of residence behind the far goal as there was no catering at the ground. 

I purchased a key ring from the club shop before taking a seat in the home section for the second half while enjoying a gratefully received bottle of water and an ice cream. The home side continued to press, but Chamchuri looked mightily effective on the break.

The game appeared destined to end level until the visitors broke once more in stoppage time with number 10 finishing another counterattack. It was very nearly 3-1 as the ball once more entered the Bangkok net, but the goal was chalked off for offside.

It had been a decent encounter in general. I headed back on foot past the buildings in mid-construction and where a student was working on an old aeroplane fuselage. I walked over the footbridge over the busy road as the sun set over Pathum Thani to take a taxi to Muang Thong United for the north Bangkok derby against Bangkok Glass.

North Bangkok University 0 Nakhonsi United 0 (Saturday 19th March 2022) T3 Champions League Lower Region Playoffs (att: 520)

It was time for a long overdue revisit to the North Bangkok University Stadium, and with the team qualifying for the end of season group stage playoffs for promotion to the second tier I figured there was no better time.

The venue was one of those I considered was going to be awkward to get to while I dreamed of my new location while back in England. However, local knowledge was doing me well along with a couple of apps offering solutions. 

I took a bus to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat from Minburi, where I crossed the road to take a 39 service to Future Rangsit mall for food and a look around. A musical band played middle of the road Thai stuff as shoppers milled in increasing numbers.

When it came to time to find my bus along the main road in the direction of Nakhon Nayok I came unstuck. I couldn’t find my way to the bus stop which didn’t seem to correspond with Google Maps. In the end I jumped in a taxi with time getting on towards the 3.30pm start. 

It was immediately apparent that the visitors had travelled in great numbers for what was a long distance from the south in minivans. They had a stall set up selling souvenirs outside and some had set up an impromptu bar.

The security on the gate was a bit heavy but that might have to do with an incident in the previous home game where Bangkok FC player Aitsaret Noichaiboon attacked NBU man Supasan Ruangsuphanimit with a Muay Thai-style elbow and all hell had broken loose. 

Both sides cancelled each other out in this competitive clash. I viewed from among the superb away support. The German coach of the visitors, Jorg Steinebrunner, was animated at times but he seemed to get his message across

The hosts main tactic consisted of long throws into the box in the general direction of decent striker Sergey Tumasyan, and then falling over quite a lot. Fortunately, referee Thapakorn Thongkon was having none of it. 

While I couldn’t condone any attack on a player, I was quickly understanding how opponents could lose their rag against the mob representing the university. They were a piece of work and knew plenty of dark arts.

Both sides had won their first game 3-0 and were determined not to give anything away in this encounter on a poor playing surface. The heat wasn’t helping either, with drinks breaks being called midway through each half. 

At the break I walked to the shop at the far end for refreshments and an ice cream before settling back down. Ten minutes into the restart an excellent Nakhonsi move ended with a header going just wide, and that was about all to report on.

Both defences were the winner in an absolute stalemate. The courtesy campus bus gave us on foot a ride back to the main road, and on crossing the bridge a bus was soon with us to take me back to Zeer Rangsit, from where another couple of services delivered me back to Minburi.

North Bangkok University 0 Saruburi United 0 (Saturday 2nd April 2022) T3 Champions League Lower Region Playoffs (att: 200) 

If I thought I would see a better game on my return a couple of weeks later, I was to be disappointed. This one really stank the place out. Again, I went in with the away fans and enjoyed the same over the top security measures.

Tumasyan was missing from the Uni line up and were consequently even more lacking in forward invention with the strong wind at their backs in the first half. Saraburi opted for a shorter passing game that was more pleasing on the eye.

Both sides fired off speculative efforts in the early exchanges as those from Saraburi made me most welcome as they cheered on their heroes, while one of their defenders put in a last gasp challenge to avert the danger of a North Bangkok attempt.

Aboubacar Kone looked like a class act for the visitors in midfield dealing with the bumpy pitch. United took the ascendency as the half progressed. It said plenty that I enjoyed the performance of ref Kristin Saisombat as much as any player in what was a real contrast of styles. 

Saraburi continued to be the better side after the interval, but we still awaited an effort on goal from either side. The visitors skipper went down with what appeared to be a nasty injury but play continued. Fans were hysterical in their screaming before there was a long delay in play.

It fired up both teams with the home sides Piyaphong Homkhajohn taking some real abuse which he wasn’t slow in returning. While NBU were not high on my list of most watchable sides, their skipper Weerayut Jitkuntod was solid and excellent in general.

The closest either side came to goal arrived late on when Saraburi keeper Ritthikiat Yodsamut nearly palmed a long range shot into his own net, but the score remained blank until full time.

At which point I again jumped aboard the free shuttle bus and began my walk along the main road towards the BG Pathum United v Port game, when I was intercepted by a fan who turned out to be the father of an away team player who kindly gave me a lift.

 

Chamchuri United

Chamchuri United FC is a football club based in Bangkok, Thailand, who were formed in 2011 as one of several expansion clubs to play in the third tier Regional League under head coach Sujja Siriket.

The leagues' expansion came at an excellent time for Chulalongkorn University. The league introduced a ruling that all Premier League clubs would have to be PLC's. 

The tennants of the University Stadium at the time, BB-CU, who had originally began life as the University's club had developed over the years and then bought in sponsorship in their quest to win promotion back to the TPL.

From what I can gather through the kind assistance of @wellywolf and @thaifussballde replying to my inquiries on Twitter, the University wanted their own side again so they formed United. 

BB-CU moved out of their stadium, where the now defunct former champions Krung Thai Bank FC also played, in 2011 to use Army Stadium and then Rajamangala Stadium for home matches once promotion was achieved.

For details of BB-CU, click here.

It would appear that a link was in place between the fans, if not the clubs, of BB-CU and Chamchuri as a website had pages for both teams. Chamchuri were placed in the third tier Thai Regional League Bangkok Region.

A series of mid-table finishes ensued before the 'Sam Yan Tigers' ended the 2014 campaign in fourth place. The improvement continued in 2015 as the side finished as league runners-up.

This qualified Chamchuri for the promotion play off Champions League; where they finished low down in Group A. The Bangkok Region title was secured in 2016. This time the Champions League was a knockout competition.

Chamchuri went out to Kasetsart in the Round of 16 to extinguish any hopes of promotion. Thai football was restructured for the 2017 season, with a fourth tier added. United were placed in Thai League 3 Lower Region, with coach Siriket still at the helm.

The team finished in sixth position, with Japanese striker Hiroyuki Sugimoto topping the scoring charts. 2018 saw a fourth-place return as Kasitinard Sriphirom banged in the goals. 2019 saw the signing of Isaac Mbengan who would go on to be a stalwart for the club.

It also heralded the appointment of manager Narat Munin-noppamart. United ended that season in eleventh place before the re-organisation of the Thai League structure for 2020-21 with the calendar matching that of European competitions. 

The side was placed in Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter/Metropolitan Region where they ended in fourth place. Korean Yeon Gi-sung scored his fair share with keeper Kritchai Sangrung keeping out opposing forwards.

It was the same final position in 2021-22 as home games were played behind closed doors owing to the restrictions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Cameroonian Mbengan continued to bang in the goals for the side that was coached by Aduk Leukijna which finished in fourth place.

Fifth place ensued twelve months later as Mohamed Kouadio led the scoring. 2023-24 saw the team slip down the league placings, while the start of the following campaign saw Chamchuri take up residence at Thephasadin Stadium while upgrades were made to their traditional home. 

Chamchuri United FC will play in Thai League 3 Central in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

March 2007

The following is my description of my visit as part of a groundhop around Thailand in March/April 2007 that appeared in the Scarborough Athletic fanzine, Abandon Chip

I took a taxi to the Chulalongkorn University Stadium, home of Chula-Sinthana FC and Krung Thai Bank FC to round off my tour. The pitch has a superb synthetic playing surface, which is a long way removed from the 1980s prototypes.

I felt comfortable walking across it and could not believe how natural it felt. Once again the stadium with a capacity of 20,000 had open seats which wrapped around the running track before being broken up by a magnificent main stand.

A tip for souvenir hunters in the area comes from when I decided to have a walk to the nearest sky train station only to realise that I was back on the streets of sports shops next to the old National (Suphachalasai) Stadium. The shops are opposite the main entrance and I came across one shop which sold Grand Sports products.

They supply many of the clubs with their playing kits, at very cheap prices compared to their European compatriots, so I bought myself a collection of Thailand Premier League shirts for a very reasonable price. 

This area is a haven for replica kits of all qualities! The nearest Skytrain (BTS) stations are National Stadium or Siam Square which is also home to many shopping malls including the incredible MBK, where you can purchase anything at reasonable prices.

Chamchuri United 1 Siam FC 1 (Saturday 25^th December 2021) Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter (att: c100) 

It had been nearly a month since I had moved full-time to Bangkok, and I was getting out and about to football. And what could be better than to head to my first football game on Christmas Day? My original plan when setting out had been Bangkok FC v Kasembundit University in the same competition.

However, things run pretty much as normal on this date. The 113 bus from Minburi got snarled up in traffic meaning that I required a Plan B as there was no way I would reach Hua Lamphong followed by another long ride to Bang Mod in time for kick-off.

 

Even this option was a little in the air, as officially spectators were not being allowed access. However, Svein a fellow Bangkok football fan on Twitter has posted that he’d been to a game at the stadium a few days previously.

A pleasant walk through the campus of Chulalongkorn University led me round to the main side of the stadium, where my temperature was checked, and I was given a little sticker for my shirt to say I was OK. There was no admission fee.

It transpired that I was on the side of the main stand designated for families and subs of the visiting team. Many seats were cordoned off as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were still very much in evidence.

I was slightly surprised to hear chatter through the King's Anthem, perhaps a sign of the times and age group in attendance. My first thoughts were what lovely vibrant kits both sides were wearing.

A shot was fired straight from the kick-off by Siam’s Sarfo Otis Adjei on the artificial 3G surface. Kantinan Chanmunti appeared to be a diminutive midfielder for United as his side took the lead on fourteen minutes when Isaac Mbengan smartly finished from a lovely teasing low cross.

Woradach Boonmakhajornkit saw a low shot for the hosts parried by visiting keeper Phoomin Thumraksa as Chamchuri continued in the ascendency despite a high press from the Siam side.

The away side saw a header from Nicolas Vidal well saved by the home stopper, Sakpon Nichakam, as they pressed for a leveller, seeing a shot cleared off the line five minutes from the interval. Then Charmil Sritongon forced Thumraksa into a reflex stop at the other end.

It was getting a bit tetchy and not very festive as referee Waranon Soonsuwan needed to get a grip as handbags broke out over next to nothing. A long-range free kick by Jakkrawut Mekkhawan was pushed onto the bar by the student's Nichakam prior to a pause in hostilities in the dressing rooms. 

A league official gave a dressing down to one of the away contingent near me during the break. I think it might have been advice he was offering to the match officials! Nichakam made another good parry shortly after the restart in what was an even game.

Siam were creating more as play continued and they drew level just past the hour mark with a fantastic training ground free kick move when Yutthana Laohin drove the ball low behind the crowd waiting in the box for Yusaku Yamadera to run onto the pass and smash home from the edge of the box. A quality goal.

The league official was making himself busy again telling a couple that they could not sit next to each other. Siam’s Chutsana Somtrakul was put through and should have squared to a free teammate but instead elected to shoot as the opportunity was wasted.

The match became more entertaining as play was stretched as both sides sought out a winner. I had a pleasant few minutes as my mate Jeff back in London sent Christmas greetings which was a lovely touch.

 

The home side's Nico Bergold completely overreacted to a challenge and made himself look daft while Mbengan came close to securing all three points. There was some shocking play acting towards the end trying to get opponents into bother, which was a bit disappointing, but the game had that undercurrent throughout.

At full time I headed down to Rama IV Road, missing a 113 while in 7/11, but not having to wait too long before the next one arrived to take me all the way home. A grand Christmas Day out.

Chamchuri United 2 Bangkok FC 4 (Saturday 18^th September 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter (att: 200) 

The new season was underway, and I fancied another visit to town. Again, traffic was a determination, so I decided to take an alternative route via a minivan along Ram Inthra before jumping out at Kasetsart University and heading upstairs to catch the BTS to Siam.

I had forgotten my reading specs at home and couldn’t find any in MBK or other stores. After a good walk, I ended up paying more for some at 7/11 before wandering up to Chulalongkorn Stadium to pay my 50 Baht admission. 

I quite liked my visit when I eventually reached Bang Mod a few months earlier, so I decided to go in with the away fans. Their support was enthusiastic as we were all treated to an absolute cracker of a match.

The away team went ahead on six minutes when Bunlue Thongklian spotted keeper Nichakam out of position so he shot into the net from wide in his own half as the keeper floundered but could not get back in time.

Chamchuri’s forward partnership of Mbengan and Mohamed Kouadio was very bright, and their play created the equaliser after nineteen minutes when Mbengan was played through with a slide rule pass before he rounded goalie Yannasit Sukchareon to slot home.

The scorer was soon creating more menace as he saw a low shot kept out. Bangkok replied when Banjong Phadungpattanodom saw a long low free-kick deflected wide. Two more efforts went narrowly wide for the visitors before the break for halftime. 

At this point, I was joined by Marco, a Twitter pal who I hadn’t previously met. He had arrived back in Bangkok a few days earlier and we had a great chat about all things Thai football and the fortunes of Port, our mutual team.

The hosts went ahead slightly against the run of play seven minutes after the restart when Prachpeecha Pachthong thanks to a howler from Sukchareon who misjudged a low through ball entirely and ran past it leaving the scorer an open goal.

The Fire Bulls restored parity when Goshi Okubo fired low under Nichakam to send our section of the stand into wild delight. Even more so when their team went ahead. A clever through ball was ran onto by sub Dauda Bortu who cleverly lobbed Nichakam on seventy-one minutes.

Both sides played some great stuff, but Bangkok looked like an excellent outfit. They extended the lead nine minutes from the end when Wichaya Pornprasart cut inside the box and fired a delicious curling shot into the far top corner.

Phootran Gingpan missed an open goal at the back post, but further punishment would have been harsh to Chamchuri. Bangkok’s Padungsak Photinak was denied by Nichakam in the last action of the game when he broke through.

At the end of the match Marco and I headed to Rama IV where I said goodbye and caught the approaching 113 bus all the way back in time for a shower and to head out to meet my Thai friends in my favourite bar.