Bangkapi FC is an amateur football club formed in 2010, representing the eastern district of the same name in the Thai capital of Bangkok. The club has a thriving youth section fielding several teams.
Bangkapi are entrants into the Thailand Amateur League. Their run in 2019 ended in a 5-0 defeat to Prachinburi City. The Coronavirus pandemic cancelled the tournament for two years before resuming.
At Kanjanapat Arena
Minburi City 2 Bangkapi FC 2 (Saturday 19th February 2022) Friendly (att: c40)
To read all about a feisty local derby, an excellent game and experience all-round please click here and scroll down.
At Five Regions Stadium, STK Muangmont Academy
Bangkapi FC 4 Minburi United 1 (Saturday 7th May 2022) Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Group B (att: c70)
Details of this must win match in the Amateur League can be sourced by clicking on this link.
At APBY Airport Stadium
Bangkapi FC 2 Patumkongka 0 (Saturday 14th May 2022) Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Quarter Final (att: c120)
Full details of this day out and match with photos to go with it by clicking on this link.
Bangkapi 2 Phimai United 2 – Bangkapi win 3-1 on penalties (Saturday 21st May 2022) Thai Amateur League Bangkok semi-final (att: c90)
Click here to read about another victory in the quest to become a Thai League 3 club.
At Iris Sampaosean
Bangkapi FC ‘A’ 7 Dream My Friend 0 (Sunday 24th March 2024) Thonburi League Zone C (att: c10)
A strange day in many ways as it would be the last match my mate Steve would go to as a Minburi resident. He was moving to Isan the following week, while I was heading north to Chiang Mai for my annual pilgrimage the following morning. It seemed apt to stay relatively local.
We had enjoyed several games both in the amateur Thonburi and Bangkok Premier Leagues and generally found them entertaining, full of endeavour, and free to get into. Often, we came across venues with surprisingly good facilities. I’d been to Sampaosan before before but it was my mates first visit.
It was a sweltering Sunday afternoon when we jumped on the 197 bus. The route took me past to where I had just come from, as some services go that route and others go directly down Ram Intra to Thanon Kubon. Not to worry, as we had enough time to still take the walk at the other end and arrive around ten minutes before the 4pm kick-off.
While I’d seen games on the pitch before, they were home matches of Thai Spirit. Bangkpai had been in action on the adjoining pitch on one occasion, and on another, I turned up to an advertised fixture only to find an empty field for reasons I never discovered. Anyway, the good news was that all was in place this time as we took our sheltered seats near the corner flag.
Bangkapi had two sides in the competition, with the ‘B’ team plying their trade in Zone B. The hosts would go top with a win, while their opponents, who I’ll refer to as DMF for this report, foundering around the bottom of the table. We expected goals and we certainly got them.
The pitch was in excellent condition, with the shelter going round the corner by the entrance which contains sheltered changing rooms, toilets, and a café area knocking out local staff with a hut selling beer, soft drinks, and snacks. Between the two pitches stands a collection of shelters for subs, officials, and a few supporters.
It took until about midway through the first half for Bangkapi’s dominant possession to be turned into a goal as 25 finished smartly from a low cross supplied by 77. DMF were less mobile with one or two big youths already struggling in the heat. It was obvious that they would be in for a long afternoon.
After half an hour we took advantage of the cheap large bottles of Leo. The nearside linesman who must have lost the toss and was put under the sun looked on longingly as we imbibed. We thought it was only right, as the players had a mid-half break for their drinks. Shortly after 91 for Bangkapi was fed in and he did the rest to double the score.
The tall number 91 looked like a class act against admittedly limited opponents, as he waltzed through elegantly before calmly finishing close to the interval. By now our buddy with the flag was literally flagging and realised he would be just effective staying in one place as the defence he was monitoring was also in slow motion.
There was still time for a shot to cannon off the DMF post and then number 8 to go on a jinking run before finishing past the keeper who must have been delighted when the ref blew his whistle for halftime a few seconds later.
As often happens with such score lines, especially in younger players, the team well on top eased off slightly and made poor decisions as players wanted their own personal glory instead of feeding teammates.
The DMF goalie, obviously fed up with his hapless defence decided to take matters into his own hands after the restart, often with poor conclusions. He will never make a sweeper. 29 proved too strong in a challenge on the deck with him and was left to put the ball into the empty net to make it 5-0.
Bangkapi’s 25 lobbed the custodian with around twenty-five minutes to go, while another amateur game kicked off on the second pitch at the excellent facility, which staged another game on the main pitch after our encounter was finished. A great opportunity to hire somewhere which also had floodlights for nighttime use.
It was 8 for Bangkapi who rounded off the scoring, pushing the ball past the DMF keeper and then slotting home. It was a fine way to relax, chew some fat, and watch some football while enjoying some local beer, but we weren’t done there.
We went on a walk through a village and alongside a khlong to try and take a shortcut to the astonishment of some residents who rarely see a westerner. We arrived at Craft Beer @Khubon where the staff remembered from a previous visit, which I’m yet to decide was good or bad. Once again, we tried some strong tasty taps and listened to music.
It was at this point I said we needed to head home as I had a flight the following morning. My fellow Yorkshireman said he wanted to wait for a bus to save money on a taxi. My app indicated that a bus had left the terminus around fifteen minutes away.
We ended up having one more Leo each at a bar which looked as though it could get very interesting later judging by the staff and customers. Alas, we headed back after a great day out. Ironically the beers cost more than the taxi would have, but such shambles were nothing new to when in each other’s company.