Lopburi City

A Potted History of Lopburi City

Early Years

The professional Thai football club of Lopburi City was formed in 2022, in the city of the same name, known for the wild monkeys that live there. Previously, another club, Lopburi FC, nicknamed the Fire Wan, represented the province from 1980 until 2016.

The new club, ‘Hanumans’, successfully entered the Thailand Amateur League in 2022, creating a pathway to professional football under coach Sanong Taengngam. They won their group, progressing to the final of the West Region competition after beating Khoksamrong City and Pakchong SCK.

The main stand at Phra Ramesuan Stadium

Promotion to Thai League 3

Kanchanaburi City proved too strong in the area final, coming out on top 1-0 at Jifah Stadium, but the job was done. Lopburi were placed in Thai League 3 West, with their home games to be played at Phra Ramesuan Stadium, otherwise known as Lopburi Provincial Stadium.

They finished eleventh in their debut season, as Ahmadou Tidjani and Noppadon Kasaen scored the goals, with Kaveepan Taveebut appointed as the new coach for the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.

Phra Ramesuan Stadium

Regional Success

Top scorer Dzama Bata helped the team to fifth place the following season, with Achira Thongjerm in charge of playing matters. Alex Mermoz was the star man in 2024-25, scoring the goals to take the team to the regional title, after they had been moved to Thai League 3 Central.

In the playoffs, Lopburi finished second in Group A before Mermoz headed to Nongbua Pitchaya. During the title-winning season, Nirut Sarasaeng began it as head coach, before a 4-1 away defeat in October saw the appointment of Panithan Munprathes.

Recent Changes

Sakon Saenharn replaced Panithan a year after he had been given the job, as Lopburi finished in a disappointing league position despite the goals of Eric Kumi.

Lopburi City FC will play in Thai League 3 Central in the 2025-26 season.

My visit

Lopburi City 0 Hua Hin City 2 

Saturday 29th October 2022

Thai League 3 West 

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 250 🎟️ 80 THB (£1.80)

Studying the fixtures for Thai football matches was my general habit during the week, as I tried to combine a game with visiting somewhere of interest at the same time. It was always more than just ninety minutes of football to me.

Lopburi had caught my attention a few months earlier, when I passed through it on the train on the way to Phitsanulok. It looked like a fascinating place, with traces of Ayutthaya in the ruins by the side of the tracks, with a level crossing across the main road adding to its features.

Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat

The trains fitted in nicely with my plans, so off I set to Lak Si station to take the service north with plenty of time to spare before the 3.30 pm kick off. Or so I thought. Inevitably enough, the service ran a little late, before I headed out of yet another immaculate station, with the usual old steam engine on a roundabout outside.

My eyes were met by the ruins of Wat Bandai Hin to my left and Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat straight ahead, which was even more impressive. So much so that I paid the admission fee to have a look around. Who’d have thought that on a football away day?

Monkeying Around at Phra Prang Sam Yot

Normal service was soon resumed after wandering around the atmospheric local streets to a café bar that I had found during research. However, it was closed when I arrived. Not to worry, as Noom Guest House & Restaurant was exactly what I was looking for in the way of some Western comfort food and a cold beer.

Pie, chips, and gravy, along with a couple of Leo’s later, I headed to Phra Prang Sam Yot, where the monkeys were running wild. I was most careful to keep hold of my phone while taking photos. Crossing the railway, I hailed a passing songthaew that I knew was heading in the right direction.

My homemade postcard of the day

I alighted at Si Suriyothai Circle, walking around to the entrance of the zoo. There was something deeply ironic in knowing that inside animals were confined, while up the road, monkeys were running free. I’ll never fully understand us humans.

It was a fair old hike from there to Phra Ramesuan Stadium. Certainly, further than I estimated in the heat. There wasn’t much happening as I walked through the gates and past the communal exercise equipment. I was directed around to the far side, where a couple of temporary stalls were set up to buy water.

Match Ticket

It was a decent arena, with both sides having raised covered seated stands, with the pitch having a running track around it. There was a scoreboard behind one goal. Further along was a steep, uncovered seating area in the corner, ideal for looking down the sprint track when athletic meetings were being held. 

Soon into the game, I wished I had the excitement of some track and field events to keep me entertained, as there was very little quality being exhibited on the pitch, the surface of which was also poor.

At least the locals were friendly, as they had been all day, despite their team giving them little to shout about, with several aping professional footballers. Opponents Hua Hin were no great shakes either. They didn’t need to be, going on to take the spoils with two goals a minute apart midway through the second half.

Chitsanuphong Phimpsang and substitute, Ndiogou Ba, were the scorers to send the handful of away supporters home happy. I wasn’t upset either way, having had a pleasant afternoon somewhere I’d not been to before.

At the end, I crossed the road and hailed a songthaew, which took me back to the area near the station, where a night market was in full swing. It was the ideal place to purchase some snacks for the train ride home, which required me to show my passport and book a seat on the express service.

Taew had opened her place back in Minburi, where some of our Thai friends had arrived having won on the lottery. I got my skates on when the train arrived at Lak Si, found a taxi, and was soon joining them for food and drink to round off a wonderful day out in the heat.

If you have enjoyed reading this article, you may wish to visit my YouTube Channel, where there are numerous homemade Thai football videos to watch, as well as a huge range covering all aspects of life in the Land of Smiles. 

The video I made during my day in Lopburi can be watched here.

Why I Love Football in Sisaket, Thailand

                      

Football support often comes down to geography, family, or circumstance. Some people inherit clubs through generations, while others discover new allegiances later in life.

In my case, moving to Sisaket in rural Thailand unexpectedly gave me not one local club to follow, but two.

Attending a Sisaket FC match in 2018
I'm not sure the stadium has been cleaned since

In my case, I am a Scarborough fan, as were all the elder members of my family, with Hull City offering me the chance of some bigger games on a visit to a larger place. When I moved to London, it was Hendon that I had an affection for when I couldn’t travel north. 

My holidays to Thailand saw me get to any games I could, eager for new adventures and to find unknown pleasures. Port FC became my favourite side, as they offered me the best matchday experience in Bangkok. However, things changed halfway through 2022.

I had met and become close to a lady while I lived in Minburi, who suggested we might enjoy life together in her home province of Sisaket. I visited the city on a whistlestop Isan tour in 2018 and took in a game against Nakhon Ratchasima in the League Cup. The city seemed fine to me, and the people were warm and friendly, so why not give it a go?

The Fall of Sisaket FC

Things developed pretty quickly between the two of us, as I fell in love with the people and the country life I was being offered, with the added chance to go and watch some football. It was the season that Sisaket FC were to fold, be disbanded and thrown out of Thai League 3 after a massive wrangle and dispute with Esan United. 

They had enjoyed a good history, previously playing in the top tier of Thai football, and filled the stadium on occasions, losing 1-0 to Buriram United in the 2015 League Cup final. Fortunately, another club, Sisaket United, formed in 2012, took over sole tenancy of the dated and dirty Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium and reached the playoffs in 2022-23, my first season of watching them. 

What came as a shock when my future wife drove me around the area was that there was a second club playing in town in a huge stadium that I was previously unaware of. Rasisalai United were competing in their debut season in the Thai League 3.

The more modern SAT Stadium

This was great news, especially after moving full-time to the area in February 2023, as it meant that there were two teams to go and watch. I quickly worked out that it would be possible to get to see games at Ubon UMT Stadium and other venues in the nearby cities once dropped off in Kanthararom, twenty minutes from us.

Sisaket is mad about football, with the province being fiercely proud of its people and teams that represent it. I often tell friends about its vibe, being one of community and taking me back to being a youngster in England, before attitudes and cultures changed for the worse. I quickly discovered that quite a few people went to watch whoever was playing, whether it be Sisaket or Rasisalai.

Looking towards "our" VIP seats

The following season, Rasi, a town around 40km from Sisaket city, had a distinctly average season, in front of crowds of around 300. Because their town has no suitable venue, they continued to play at the SAT Stadium in Sisaket. 

Sisaket United had a superb season, winning promotion and finishing overall runners-up in Thai League 3. While the tactics of coach “Pat” could sometimes be dull, they were effective, with the excellent Matteus Panigazzi and Danilo leading the way.

Naturally, interest grew along with attendance in the second tier. Rasi owner, the often-excitable Nuchanart Jaruwongsatian, was not about to see her club left behind. Arnon Bandasak was installed as coach, along with the arrival of three Brazilians: Ramon Mesquita, Gilberto Macena, and Alberto Gouvea. 

My pal, John, and I had met Alberto going into a Sisaket match and asked him how he thought he would get on. He was no joker. Alberto smashed through the twenty-goal mark as Rasisalai swept teams aside on the way to becoming national Thai League 3 champions.

Derby Day, and more importantly, a quality deal at a quality bar to get into the mood.
Football will always be far more than 90 minutes to me. It's a day out.

The team did even better than Sisaket had the season before, becoming national Thai League 3 champions as crowds grew, merchandise sales rocketed, and opponents were regularly swept aside. All this while Sisaket finished outside the playoffs despite showing promise on occasions.

Derby Days in Sisaket

The local derby between the two sides early in the 2025-26 season attracted an official crowd of 4,458, to which a thousand can be added, as kids don’t pay. They played out a magnificent 3-3 draw, while “Uncle Chuay”, the new coach of Sisaket United, formerly in charge of Sisaket FC, oversaw an improvement in their fortunes.

A big crowd at the derby

With one game before the mid-season break, Rasisalai sit at the top of the table and are still unbeaten, with Sisaket in third place. Two sides are promoted automatically, with the next four entering the playoffs. We are being spoilt for entertainment and matchdays in town.

Two Clubs, Two Different Experiences

The two experiences do differ. As mentioned, Sisaket’s home is decrepit, filthy, and a health hazard. It has a track around the pitch, but importantly, the stands are in a straight line, meaning not too much distance from the pitch. 

The fans are generally older, following the province’s traditional club, and are extremely passionate and vocal, with officials and visiting players being left in no doubt that they are the enemies. It’s horrible, the toilets are shocking, and the pitch is a disgrace, with some crazy people adding to the entertainment. I love it, especially on the open side.

The SAT Stadium is a bowl with curved stands around its running track, meaning it is a far greater distance from the pitch, and lacking in intensity, despite plenty of noise being made. The fans are generally younger and more polite. 

We sit every game in the VIP area, near the partners and families of the players, basically because we did when hardly anyone attended, so we continued to do so, becoming accepted as part of the furniture.

What will happen if one or both clubs win promotion to League 1 is anyone’s guess. It will take a lot of money to improve the squads. Questions are already being asked about whether the overseas players, now advancing in years, could cope at a higher level.

The pitch at Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium
Even worse than normal

Why Football Means More Than Results

Football has always been about more than the match itself for me. The beers beforehand, the conversations, the travelling to the ground, the familiar faces — that’s the real attraction.

Football day is my day out, and I must enjoy it. Results don’t matter if I have a good day. You see, we’re all different.

Why I Love Living in Sisaket

And that I think is why I love living in Sisaket so much. We have a small golf course, so we can enjoy a round. There is great food to be had, with bars too. It’s easy to walk up to the stadium and drink outside or take a beer to our seats. There is no hassle with tickets, and we get to know regulars. It’s the ideal size for me. I do worry some of it might diminish if either side went up, along with some heavy defeats on the pitch.

Under a Blood Red Sky at Sisaket United

The good thing is, I have the fallback of knowing that teams like Kanthararom United will enter the FA Cup along with amateur sides from Ubon Ratchathani, with a semipro league entertaining me in the new year, with the chance of a few days finding new bars and restaurants, making new friends, as well as an occasional game of golf.

Best of all, I live among people who love their football in whichever way they choose to support their local teams.

Phang Nga

Phang Nga FC was formed in 2009 to represent the province of the same name in southern Thailand, located north of Krabi and Phuket. The club entered the third-tier Regional League Division 2 Southern Region for the 2010 season.

In their debut campaign, the ‘Dredgers’ finished eighth, playing home games at Phang Nga Provincial Administrative Organization Stadium in the main town. They improved to fifth place the following year.

Progress continued with fourth-place finishes in both 2012 and 2013, although full details from this period are limited as the Thai league system continued to evolve.

A decline followed, with tenth in 2014 and bottom place in 2015. A slight improvement the following season helped them avoid automatic relegation, but problems were emerging both on and off the pitch.

When Thai football restructured for 2017, Phang Nga were placed in Thai League 4 but later failed to meet licensing requirements and were excluded from the system. An attempted return under the name Phangnga United in the Amateur League was unsuccessful.

The stadium remained in good condition despite the absence of a regular home team, occasionally used for community sport and training. It also briefly hosted Phuket Andaman FC during the 2024–25 season while Surakul Stadium was under renovation.

A new Phang Nga United side was formed in 2025, along with its own academy, with ambitions of reaching Thai League 3 via the Semi-Pro League.

My visit

Thursday 9th January 2025

When an opportunity knocks, I am not the type to let it go begging, and so it was on this glorious Thursday lunchtime as I was sitting in the back of a car driven by a local man who was offering a taxi service on the latest leg of our tour of Laos and Thailand.

He had delivered us to the boat pier so that we could enjoy the incredible delights of Panyee Island, which included a floating football pitch, before he collected us once again. This time, he took us somewhere that sold the best type of local food, which my wife Taew bought for our tea.

Our driver wanted to visit somewhere on the way back to our hotel, and I sensed my chance. I asked my good lady to tell him to take us to the stadium, and I would give him a tip in return. With both parties happy, we were soon outside the arena.

Like so many in Thailand, it was for the community to use. But this one was a bit special. It had covered stands facing each other across the track and pitch, both in pristine condition, but the outstanding feature was the backdrop.

The stunning, steep faces of the mountains which enclosed the far side were simply incredible. It must be up there with any venues anywhere in terms of scenery and aesthetic value. I was so happy that we visited.

Our man could not have been more helpful, taking us back to our hotel. I nipped back along the main road to have my head shaved and talk to more marvellously friendly locals in a town that didn’t have much happening, but the scenery more than made up for it.

Chira Nakhon Stadium (Hat Yai)

The Chira Nakhon Stadium in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, was built in 1944 and has long served as the city’s main sporting venue. Before the arrival of structured national leagues around the turn of the millennium, it regularly hosted football and other events.

The first Hat Yai club to compete in national competition was Hatyai FC, who entered the Regional League Division 2 Southern Region in 2010 as an expansion side, finishing twelfth in their debut season.

A strong improvement followed as the ‘Red Eagles’ climbed to fourth the next year, before slipping to eighth in 2012. After a brief hiatus, they returned in 2014 but struggled near the bottom of the table, eventually stepping away again.

Hatyai FC returned once more in 2016, finishing tenth, before improving to fifth in 2017 and third in 2018, with Akkarapol Meesawat leading the scoring during their spell at Muang Lak Southern Stadium.

 

By this stage, a second club had emerged in the city. Hatyai City won the Thailand Amateur League South in 2017 and joined the restructured Thai League system, initially sharing Chira Nakhon Stadium with their rivals.

They achieved mid-table finishes in their early seasons, with Teerawat Durnee and later Apdussalam Saman among the key scorers, before relocating to Southern Major City Stadium.

After the pandemic and further restructuring, the club rebranded as Young Singh Hatyai United, returning to Chira Nakhon Stadium for a period. Despite a strong 2021–22 season, off-field issues saw them fail licensing requirements and exit the league system.

As of early 2024, there has been no successful revival of a Hat Yai-based club in the national structure.

My visit

Wednesday 1st January 2025

Many times, in the past, I have celebrated the start of the New Year by heading off to football to blow the cobwebs away and enjoy the cold air and a few beers. It would have been remiss of me not to fit in some football even while in a new city to me.

My wife and I were in Hat Yai with her cousin and family on the latest leg of our tour of Laos and Thailand. The countdown to midnight had been celebrated with Q as he showed me downtown and then on to a late bar with other friends and relatives.

I was certainly in need of cobwebs being blown away and desperately wanted to find a store selling tea bags, having made the schoolboy error of forgetting to pack any at the start of our jaunt. I had mentioned that I would walk to the stadium to get my steps count in the following morning with some exercise. 

However, our hosts said it was a long way, and we could kill two birds with one stone. Well, three as it transpired, as we were also treated to a sightseeing tour of the city and that of Songkhla before dining at an amazing restaurant that had a museum.

The stadium was not unlike many other provincial venues around the country. Where the Chira Nakhon Stadium differed was that it had an uninterrupted horseshoe open bowl and then a main stand that stood alone. All the seats were blue and green.

Compared to many venues still hosting Thai League football, it was in marvellous condition and well-maintained. One wondered why a sustainable club in such a large cosmopolitan city failed to take off. No doubt, being badly run saw off the previous two Hat Yai clubs, as could Songkhla FC, as the province’s major outfit.

Once I had enjoyed my little dalliance, I was taken to a large store near the railway station to buy tea bags, some mature cheddar cheese, and crackers. While I love Thai food, I sometimes need some comfort eating and drinking.

Nong Khai FT

 

A Brief History of Nong Khai FC

Nong Khai FT is a former professional football club from the Thai city of the same name, located on the Mekong River close to the border crossing with Laos. The club was formed in 2010 and ceased playing after the completion of the 2016 season.

Expansion of the third-tier Regional League Division 2 North Eastern Region gave the Nagas their opportunity in the national league system, playing their home games at Nong Khai Province Stadium and finishing in twelfth position.

Treading Water in the League

A fifth place twelve months later was backed up by one place lower at the end of the 2012 campaign. 2013 saw Nong Khai finish in fourth spot as well as reach the second round of the League Cup, which ended in a home defeat to Police United.

A fifth-place finish was followed by a steady run of mid-table seasons, before a sharp decline in 2015. Then came a huge improvement in 2016 as the Nagas ended ninth, which also attracted a huge crowd in the second round of the League Cup. 

A Rude Awakening

Buriram United arrived and ran out 7–0 winners in front of fans who sat in temporary stands to deal with the demand. At the end of the season, Nong Khai FT announced that they were taking a one-year sabbatical from competition. They never returned.

Since then, the city has been represented by Nong Khae Police FC in the 2021 and 2021-22 Thailand Amateur League, before they were joined by Nong Khai Naka in 2022-23 in the same competition.

The Nong Khai v Buriram United Highlights

My visit

Wednesday 25th December 2024

The first leg of our tour of Laos and Thailand had been completed with my wife and her cousin and family from the south of the country. The floodlights of Nong Khai Province Stadium were visible from our hotel as we checked in the previous evening, prompting an early Christmas Day wander.

Early Morning Exercise

It was before 7am as I headed out on a coolish but dry morning, walking along Khon Song past the Provincial Court and Nongkhai Immigration Detention Centre, a stark reminder not to transgress with my visa, before finding the road that led to the stadium on the edge of town.

Already, there were people out using the track to get their exercise while the weather was not too hot in an arena that resembled so many others to stage the lower reaches of Thai football over the years.

A Typical Authority-Owned Stadium

A raised main stand faced an open opposite side, set back from the running track. A scoreboard was behind the far goal, with posts and nets in place, suggesting football was still played there occasionally.

I took a wander around to the big stand and found some identity relating to the former tenants,  although no signage or anything of the present era. The Nong Khai Sports School, located behind the scoreboard the probable user of the pitch.

A Christmas Day Mishap

Before returning to the hotel, I decided to withdraw some cash at an ATM, where a fellow farang wished me Merry Christmas. He was returning to collect his car after leaving it the previous evening, following plentiful drinks.

It turned out he was an Aston Villa fan who had lived in Nong Khai for eighteen years. I mentioned it was a shame there was no football club in what seemed a very pleasant small city when he told me all about the Buriram League Cup game.

Fascinating though it was, I’m not sure my good lady was as interested. I later discovered I’d left my debit card in the ATM and it had been swallowed. A Christmas Day I wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

 

Songkhla

 

A Potted History of Songkhla FC

Songkhla FC is a professional football club whose history can be traced back to 1999, when they played in the Thailand Provincial League, a competition for clubs outside of Bangkok competing in the Thai Premier League.

Suspension and Return

Tinsulanonda Stadium was used for home matches until 2005. A non-descript period was followed by the club being suspended for failing to meet the regulations. They returned to the Provincial League 2 the following year, going on to finish runners-up in the higher division of the competition in 2007. 

Promotion to the Second Tier

Songkhla went up and finished second in 2008, with a season of two being spent playing at Chiranakhon Stadium in Hat Yai. The side consolidated their position as Witthawat Iamram.

Worawet Chanuthai and then Chayene Santos bagged the goals as the club pushed for promotion while based at Na Thawi District Stadium. They returned to Tinsulanonda Stadium with huge crowds attending games. However, things were to go downhill.

A Buriram Takeover

Buriram FC, formed by Karuna Chidchob, won a couple of promotions to reach the highest level of Thai football in 2011. The club was bought by the husband of the president, Newin Chidchob, who had already relocated PEA from Ayutthaya to become PEA Buriram, later Buriram United.

A Complicated Arrangement

The rights of Buriram FC were sold to Songkhla FC, meaning there was a southern team at the top tier. It also meant two Buriram-controlled clubs. The club in the south was named Wuachon United FC in 2012. The original Songkhla FC was dissolved to join the new club, which was renamed Songkhla United.

The club had attracted a crowd of 30,102 for the top-flight clash with Muangthong United as Jadet Meelarp led the team from the bench. Meanwhile, goals from Kirati Keawsombat and then Manop Sornkaew kept Songkhla United safe.

Dropping Back Down a Level

Franz Schwarzwälder had a spell as coach before the team went down a level at the end of the 2014 season, despite the goals of Kayne Vincent. The side was managed throughout the season by Phayong Khunnaen and then Jason Withe. 

Somchai Makmool took over team affairs in 2015 as Rufino Sánchez top-scored. Willen Mota was a scoring sensation in 2016 for the side coached by Nopporn Eksatra. They reached the semifinals of the League Cup, going out on aggregate to Buriram United.

The End of the Road for Songkhla United

The following season proved to be United’s last. Giorgi Tsimakuridze scored the goals as the team ended up in a relegation place for Watchara Tochanakan’s team while playing at Na Thawi District Stadium. Not that it mattered because the club failed the criteria for a license and was banned for two seasons.

Songkhla FC is Born

Songkhla FC was born in 2018, starting initially in the Thailand Amateur League, playing at Prince of Songkhla University Stadium. In their second season, they finished as champions to win promotion to Thai League 3 South for the 2020-21 season.

Back at Tinsulanonda Stadium, the goals of Abdussalam Saman took the Samila Mermaids to the title under the stewardship of Akaporn Chalitaporn. Their playoff campaign ended in failure before Daiki Higuchi was given the role of head coach.

Continued Thai League 3 Playoff Disappointment

Natan Oliveira was next to put away the chances, before another regional was won in 2022-23 as Jardel topped the scoring charts for the side led by Sarawut Treephan. Again, Songkhla fell short in the playoffs.

The Thai League 3 South title was retained, this time under returning Japanese coach Higuchi, thanks in part to the efforts of Nigerian forward Ekene Victor Azike. Once again, the playoffs ended in disappointment.

Promotion at Last

The 2024-25 campaign saw Songkhla win promotion via the playoffs after defeating North Bangkok University, ending as national runners-up to Rasisalai United.

Songkhla FC will play in the Thai League 2 in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Songkhla 1 Kasem Bundit University 0

Sunday 5th January 2025 

Thai League 3 Cup Round of 16 

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 345 🎟️ 120 THB (£2.75)

A Great Opportunity on a Tour

Our tour of Laos and Thailand provided immense fun, travelling with my wife Taew, along with her cousin Q and his family. I’d visited football stadiums in cities that I had never visited before and may not have the opportunity to again. However, the announcement of this fixture made me extremely happy.

Crazy Distances for Third-Tier Football

Not that I was the biggest fan of the Thai League 3 Cup, which drew some derisory attendances. I mean, who would expect a team from Bangkok to travel to Songkhla, a journey going on for fourteen hours for a third-tier cup game on a Sunday night? However, it seemed second nature to organise such games in Thailand.

An Interesting Solo Journey

Tinsulanonda Stadium was very high on my bucket list, so I agreed that I would be happy to do anything the rest of our group wanted if I was released for football on Sunday lunchtime. With everything in place, I was deposited at Central in Hat Yai to use the bank and grab some food before walking to the bus terminal.

The driver of our minivan would certainly not be getting a gig at the Comedy Store anytime soon. He displayed a Phatthalung FC scarf above him and drove like the clappers. I wasn’t too upset to get out and start my mini tour of Songkhla's old town, arriving far too early, if truth be told. 

Songkhla's Old Town

I visited an art gallery and wandered through the many narrow lanes, seeing some lovely old architecture and street art with many others doing the same thing. If it was a coffee shop someone wanted, they were in the right city, with lots of them, many extremely trendy offering refreshments.

The old rice mill by the lake was being put forward as a World Heritage site, while a small bus took tourists around. I visited the Songkhla National Museum and the city wall, with every local I met being extremely friendly and helpful, something I’d experienced a few days earlier when we visited other local places. 

Time to Kill and a Disappointing Experience

I headed to the stadium to take photos with time to kill in case access was restricted when spectators arrived for the match. The smiling security guard waved me in as I went into the various stands, with the preparations beginning, and the home side arrived by coach.

On my way, I'd walked along Si Suda Alley, which had several bars opening later, along with the Irish Buzz Stop Restaurant and Bar, which was already serving a couple of customers. I was to regret decideing to return there and maybe have a meal. 

One Thai lady was doing her best to serve a large group of English fellas, who were around 30-years-old. While not causing any problem, they were loud, obviously enjoying themselves, ordering food and lots of drinks. It was clear that I would have waited a long time if I ordered a meal.

Nothing on the menu particularly jumped out at me, so I decided I’d leave them to their fun and have a drink somewhere a bit quieter. Because they considered that I had been unsociable, they called me names, which saddened me, but these things happen.

I mulled over the irony of having a trouble-free tour, including visiting places threatened by terrorism, but then having issues with fellow Englishmen. Instead, had a couple of cold beers watching the world go by and trying to cheer myself up at The Corner Bier before heading back to the stadium, again rather early.

An Underwhelming Experience

Refreshments were confined to a stall once inside the stadium complex before entering the arena. There was no beer for sale. The souvenir stand consisted of a small rack and table, which also sold match tickets. It was all extremely low-key and a bit disappointing.

 

I chose a VIP seat for 120 Baht, again feeling disappointed when it turned out to be downstairs in the main stand rather than the upper tier. The stadium PA played very melodic local acoustic tunes as the teams warmed up before they returned for the match, which I enjoyed.

I thought that a 6 pm kick-off when Thailand were playing Vietnam in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup final on live TV at 8pm might have been a mistake. Surely, an earlier start at Songkhla would have attracted more fans who could then get home to watch the national side.

A Tight Encounter

The game was closely fought in the first half. Thomas Chinonso, the Nigerian Kasem Bundit striker, was pacy and caused the host defence some problems, breaking away and seeing his shot go narrowly over the bar, while Songkhla seemed more methodical but slower in their build-up.

I was surprised to see Jhonatan Bernardo in the lineup for the home side, who led their league table. I had watched him for Udon United at the start of the season, and I hadn't been impressed. My thoughts were confirmed after watching him again. 

Ridwan Ruangchuai was one of the midfielders who impressed me for Songkhla, but I thought that he was lucky to remain on the pitch after he committed a foul. He was the last man, bringing down Chinonso on the edge of the box when her was through.

Referee Pissanusak Sriyai decided the challenge only merited a yellow card. The striker received lengthy treatment in what would be the game-changing moment. Abdulhafis Nibu, Thiraphong Yangdi, and Anwa A-Leemama also impressed me for the home team. 

It was the latter who was denied just before the interval through a flying save from Chanon Aunjaidee in the student’s net. At the break, I decided to move seats so that I could get away easily from an exit to meet my family. The view was far better high up on the open side.

Chinonso wasn’t the same after his injury, hobbling off five minutes into the second half, while his assailant remained on the pitch, having done his job. Ten minutes later, the only goal of the game arrived from Anwa. It meant that it was pretty much game over. The hosts came close to doubling their lead a couple of times, with the threat of KBU extinguished.

My Roving Report for A Thai Football Podcast

Time for Dinner by the Beach

Should the game have gone into extra time, it would have done so without me in attendance. As the final whistle sounded, I was on my way to dinner at Son Kaew Seafood Restaurant. A pleasant meal was enjoyed before Q gave us a nighttime tour of the old town.

We wanted to be back in Hat Yai for a night of sleep, as the following day would see Taew head off and make our way without our hosts, catching the bus to Krabi to enjoy many further adventures. It was only then that she revealed that her cousin’s wife was worried about me going to football alone. If only she knew.