Trat

Trat FC

Ground: Trat Province Stadium
Capacity: 6,000
Club Founded: 2012
League: Thai League 2 (current level)

A Brief History

Trat FC were admitted to the 2011 Regional League Division 2 Central & Eastern Region division. This was the third-tier competition of the time, with the team reaching the play-offs in their debut season as Rattaporn Saetan put away the goals. 

It led to the club nicknamed the White Elephants winning promotion to the second-tier Division 1. Harnarong Chunhakunakorn arrived as head coach as the side consolidated, helped by the goals scored by Woukoue Mefire Raymond and Seiya Sugishita.

Krit Singha-preecha was given the coach’s role, as Trat were relegated to Division 2 Eastern at the end of the 2015 season. Erivaldo top scored as the side won the title a year later after Praphan Narkpong had taken charge of on-field affairs.

Promotions and Relegations

Barros Tardeli became the goalscoring hero at the Trat Province Stadium, as Somkiat Fongpech, Worakorn Wichanarong, and Dusit Chalermsan all had spells as head coach. A runners-up finish in 2018 elevated Trat to the elite level of Thai League 1.

Lonsana Doumbouya scored the goals in 2019 after the arrival of new head coach Phayong Khunnaen, as the team settled in its elevated environment, before being relegated in the 2020-21 season, despite the goals of Ricardo Santos.

Somchai Chuayboonchum was at the helm the following season as Paulo Conrado scored regularly to take Trat to the playoffs. Coach Harnarong returned for a second spell to oversee the 2022-23 campaign, while Ferreira dos Santos scored the goals as Trat won promotion.

Recent Times

Santi Chaiyaphuak came in as head coach. Lidor Cohen’s goals weren’t enough to keep Trat up a year later, as Krongpol Daorueang arrived to take charge of the relegated club. His spell lasted just a few months before he was replaced by Somchai Makmool, who in turn was succeeded by Phayong Khunnaen. 

Phillerson top-scored as the side finished near the wrong end of the table in 2024-25. Coach Santi returned as the Trat head coach on January 1, 2026.

My visit

Stadium Visit - Wednesday 21st August 2024

My wife and I were heading to the Koh Chang Beach Cricket Tournament and decided to make the journey easier by having her drive us to Trat to discover what the town was all about, before taking the ferry over in time for lunch the next day.

A visit to a rather underwhelming but welcoming local museum was followed by a visit to the stadium, which was being cleaned up and readied in time for a local event. I was extremely impressed with what I saw, as rather than a simple generic province stadium, it had some individuality and pride put into it.

Once I’d taken plenty of photos, we checked into our hotel, the excellent BaanRimNam Resort and had a rest before discovering what Trat had to offer on a Wednesday evening. In truth, not a lot, though I quite liked sitting watching the world go by at the open-fronted Lao Leu Music & Restaurant.

Mrs Rob was not quite as enamoured, so after a look at the basic night market, we took beers home before thoroughly enjoying the ride in a boat on the Nam Chiao to see Wat Jai Bridge. We then headed to the ferry and then lunch in the consistently magnificent Tidlom Seafood Restaurant at Salak Khok on Koh Chang.

PTT Rayong

PTT Rayong FC 

Ground: PTT Stadium

Capacity: 12,000

Club Founded: 1998

Club Dissolved: 2019

When the owners decided that the PTT group did not have enough expertise in running a professional football club, along with the low number of supporters in 2019, it was a shame for Thai football. Not least the loss of the superb PTT Stadium in Rayong province.

Founded as PTT FC, under the wing of the state-owned oil and gas company, in Map Tu Phut, the club followed the company ethos that sport can strengthen its community. PTT initially set up a football team in 1983 to play in domestic and foreign competitions. 

In 2007, the club was accepted into the third-tier Division 2, playing their home games at Prachaniwet Sport Centre in Bangkok. Promotion was won in the team's debut season with some games being then staged at Jarun Burapharat Stadium close to Makkasan Airport Link station in the capital. 

David Bayiha scored the goals as PTT consolidated in the higher tier. A couple of mid-table finishes followed, initially playing at IPE Chonburi Stadium, before the club moved to their headquarters and changed their title. A basic ground was initially built as the team gradually improved its league standing.

Adisak Srikampang led the scoring charts for a couple of seasons. Pipat Thonkanya put the goals away in 2013 as Rayong won promotion to the Thailand Premier League, as well as reaching the last eight of the FA Cup under head coach Nopporn Eksrattra.

PTT Rayong's spell lasted just one season despite the efforts of forward Amadou Ouattara. Former Thai national team boss Peter Withe had a spell in charge of the ill-fated campaign before being replaced by Chaiyong Khumpiam. Brazilian coach Zague arrived in 2015, as Haitian forward Yves Desmarets became the fans' favourite before Leandro top-scored.

Teerasak Po-on took charge of the side in 2017, led on the pitch by Apipoo Suntornpanavej, as Dennis Murillo became the leading marksman, with the first also seeing a quarter-final appearance in the FA Cup. The second-tier title was won, and with it promotion to Thai League 1 the following year.

The goals of Ariel Rodríguez helped PTT, coached by Teerasak Po-onto, to stabilise their status, with Peerapong Ruenin impressive in goal. However, the PTT PLC decided to fold the professional club and resign from the competition

In its place, the PTT Youth Academy continued to support local talent and hopefully fulfil potential with the support of locally based residents.

My visit

Thailand 2 Cambodia 0

AFF Under 23 Championships Group A - Monday 21st August 2023  

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c2,300 🎟️ 200 THB (£4.80)

I had wanted to attend a game at PTT after seeing how impressive it looked on TV when Port played there in the past. The opportunity finally knocked perfectly for me as I had been visiting Koh Chang for the annual Beach Cricket Tournament for a few days.

It had been a tremendous six-a-side event with twelve teams from across Thailand plus a Malaysian side, with plenty of action on and off the pitch. After a beautiful early lunch at a highly recommended seafood restaurant on the island, my wife, Taew, kindly drove us to the outskirts of Rayong for some evening entertainment.

Mabka Stadium for this tournament, which didn’t permit sponsorship titles, but PTT Stadium, if officialdom doesn’t interfere, was home to a slightly less wealthy oil-funded club than Manchester City, but was still in excellent shape. Food and drink were obtainable from a pop-up fan zone, though none were allowed inside the arena.

A shame, really, as it is a perfect arena for football. The surrounding area was not unlike the Teesside of the 70s, apart from a lack of feeling like our lives were in danger, and the car was all in one piece when we returned after the match.

The hosts only needed a point to win the group and headed forward to the semis a few days later, and displayed curious tactics in the first half as they seemed unsure whether to stick or twist. Cambodia showed more attacking intent in the early stages, as they needed a win.

Thakdanai Jaihan came close to putting Thailand ahead in twenty-six minutes when he latched onto a through ball and rounded onrushing keeper Rethy Lyheng but saw his effort from the edge of the box stopped on its way to goal by a brilliant sliding block.

Home coach Intsara Sritaro rang the changes at the break, making three changes, which immediately injected more urgency into his side’s efforts. The deadlock was broken in a comedic fashion.

A centre was headed back towards his own goal by a defender, with the keeper and another stopper making a proper mess as the ball trickled over the line. Some sources credit Lyheng with the OG, others Sam Ol Tina.

That was five minutes after the restart, and it looked like it would be enough. Thai skipper Songchai Tongcham looked commanding at the back, though he looked like he might have possessed an error Harry Maguire might have in his locker.

Heavy rain had fallen in the back end of the first half and continued, with the tricky conditions exemplified when the Thai physio slipped and fell on his back when rushing out to administer treatment.

The Thai defence managed to snub a Cambodian effort that was bound for the net between themselves before the lead was doubled ten minutes from time. A shot from sub Nethithorn Kaewcharoen from the edge of the box took a huge deflection off Vanneth Houth, leaving Lyheng leaden-footed.

Another replacement, Varintorn Watcharapringam, held off the attention of three defenders with his first action before his low shot was deflected wide off the boot of the busy goalie, as the hosts celebrated their place in the last four.

Thankfully, the rain had stopped for the ten-minute walk back to the car, and we were in the hotel not long after 10pm. A decent enough new ground off my tick list, which my good lady seemed to enjoy. Well, she didn’t complain anyway and bought a small flag as a souvenir.

The following morning, we drove back to Minburi, with the area near the hotel and the oil works portraying their full finery.

Pattaya United

Pattaya United FC

Ground: Nong Prue Stadium

Capacity: 5,838

Club Founded: 2011

League: Thai League 2 (current level)

It's fair to say that football in the seaside city of Pattaya has an interesting history. Here, I look at the latest club to offer hope to its supporters.

A Look at the History of the Club

The current Pattaya United FC was originally formed as Isan Pattaya FC in 2011, initially competing in local, cup and Thailand Amateur League football. In 2016, Isan Pattaya played in the amateur Thai Division 3 Eastern Region and won through to the semi-finals, where they were defeated on penalties by Bankhai United.

The goals of Thawatchai Yokyos, Siripong Meesiri and Kritsada Sansud were enough for the club to be promoted to Thai League 4 Eastern Region a year later, after the professional league structure was expanded. The clubs’ name was also added to, as they became Esan D-Beach Aura Pattaya for their debut national competition campaign. 

Progression to the Thai League

The team played its home games at Nong Prue Stadium, consolidating its status. Decent attendances were attracted to watch the team, who morphed into Pattaya Discovery United FC for 2019. Narathip Kruearanya took over as top scorer from namesake Treepect from the previous season. United finished in third place.

The increase in gates was undoubtedly aided by the decision of Pattaya United owner Tanet Phanichewa to move his club lock, stock and barrel to become Samut Prakan City FC. This left Pattaya Discovery United as the sole professional club in town. 

Playoff Agony

Pipat Thonkanya led the scoring charts as well as coaching the side in what was now the Thai League 3 Eastern Region following league reconstruction. For the 2021-22 season, the club once again altered its name, this time to Pattaya Dolphins United FC, as Sarawut Janthapan took on the role of head coach before he was replaced by Sirisak Yodyatthai. 

Brazilian forward Pedro Augusto banged in the goals while Thitikit Samerjai kept several clean sheets in goal as the Dolphins won their regional title. The playoffs proved to be a step too far, before the team retained its divisional title under head coach Therdsak Chaiman, as Danilo top-scored.

A Stroke of Luck

This time, a second-place in the playoff group led to defeat by Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi in the two-legged encounter. On this occasion, luck was on the side of the Dolphins as Muankhan United failed to meet licensing requirements, meaning Pattaya went up to Thai League 2. 

Judivan became the latest Brazilian to top the scoring charts, after ‘Dolphins’ had been dropped from the club title. Alongkorn Thongaum began the season as head coach, to be later replaced by Theerawekin Seehawon and then Surachart Singngon. 

Relegation Reprieve

The turnover of head coaches continued in 2024-25 as the fan group Pattaya Dangerous Family put pressure on the club owners and threatened boycotts of attending games. Theerawekin began the season in charge before the appointment of Dennis Amato, who gradually oversaw an improvement in results. 

However, a disastrous run of form saw Pattaya end in the relegation places, but they were reprieved after Lampang FC failed to secure the finances to continue. Bene Lima was appointed as head coach for the following campaign, succeeded halfway through it by Pipob On-Mo.

My visit

Pattaya Dolphins United 4 Banbueng 0 

Thai League 3 East - Wednesday 26th January 2022

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 323 🎟️ 100 THB (£2.40)

Lucky Timing

My luck was in as I had to visit my immigration agent in Pattaya to collect my passport, and they telephoned me the day before the match to say that it was ready to collect. And with a 4pm kick-off, I could get there and back in a day.

I took a songthaew and then the Airport Link train, one stop to Suvarnabhumi Airport in time to grab a coffee before boarding the excellent coach service down the gulf to the terminus in Jomtien, just south of Pattaya.

Pandemic Strikes

Another songthaew dropped me at the top of the soi I required. Within a few minutes, I had my passport and headed off for a walk along Beach Road before cutting through towards Soi Buakhao, where I think there are the best options.

Pattaya had been hit severely by the lack of tourism over the last two years owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. Some businesses had closed because the number of customers was so low. It did mean there was some great value for money to be had.

Lunchtime Libation

Witherspoons, a tongue-in-cheek take on the UK chain of a similar name, had done the job for me a month earlier, but I decided to give Easy Corner Bar on the facing corner a go instead. The staff were welcoming, and I got a front seat with a shelf looking out onto the street.

The beer bottles were cheap, and I enjoyed a fantastic chicken massaman curry, which again was exceptional for the price. It was a lovely way to kill a couple of hours as I read my book and listened to pleasant background music.

The elder lady serving me got chatting as she thought my accent sounded familiar. She had a ‘close friend’ who went to see her whenever in Pattaya from Barnsley. I thought that was pretty good for a Thai to recognise it.

It was time to book a Bolt taxi. Again, my App worked perfectly with my driver arriving within ten minutes. It was a fair drive, as I remembered from my previous visit to Nong Prue. I had time to visit Wat Suttawas temple before I headed round to the Municipality Stadium.

Match Build-Up

I bought a ticket for the Main Stand before wandering in search of further refreshments. Behind the far end, a stall was dispensing beers and the usual Thai snacks, so I thought it would be rude not to grab a Leo.

Further along towards the entrance to the far side, there looked like a large group of expats and what appeared to be another pop-up bar. I finished my beer and wandered back around to find my entrance and grab a good seat upstairs.

Up in the stand, there was a good mixture of farangs and locals. It was the same on the opposite open stand, backed by the temple. This was where the more boisterous Dolphins fans congregated.

I was surprised to see a beer stall in the far gangway, and of mixed mood as to fellow westerners not wearing masks around Thais who were fully clad. The stewarding was unobtrusive and sensible, which is always nice to observe.

The stadium was more enclosed than since I went just to take photos, with the fence behind the far goal and what looked like an administrative building at the other end. With plentiful refreshment outlets and a souvenir shop on a table outside, it had excellent matchday facilities.

United came into the game sitting top of the table against lowly Banbueng, who were now back in their traditional area after a spell in 2018 and 2019 when they relocated to Phuket in a move that would have eventually seen them change their name, but the deal had fallen through.

The Match

Dolphins looked like a fast, competent side from the off, with Banbueng not matching their superb green and red outfit. They managed to hold out until the sixteenth minute before their resistance finally gave way when Suppasek Kaikaew made it 1-0.

Visiting goalie Tissanu Khuptanawin went chasing after referee Suksan Thongkoed to try to get the goal chalked off for offside. Another shot hit the goal stanchion shortly after, as fans on the far side saw that the ball had gone in. We then had a mid-half drinks break on this hot afternoon.

Pattaya head coach, the former Thai international winger Sirisak Yodyardthai, made a couple of half-time substitutions to try and turn his side’s possession into goals. The move paid dividends as four minutes later, one of the changes, Yuttana Ruangsuksut, doubled the advantage.

The away side had an occasional foray, but the hosts looked competent at the back. Eventually, fitness and class were tied with the second of the interval substitutions. Suksan Bunta made it 3-0 with nine minutes remaining.

In the second of three additional minutes at the end of the game, Bangueng’s miserable afternoon reached a climax when a low cross was diverted past stranded keeper Khuptanawin by defender Parinya Nusong.

It had been an excellent Dolphins performance in front of a good, vibrant, and appreciative crowd who created a decent atmosphere, particularly in the stand opposite. I’m sure several holidaymakers went away with good impressions of Thai football.

Get Me Out of Here

Now I was left with the conundrum of how to get back towards the city. I had hoped that there might have been public transport or a fan bus or truck, but it looked like every man for themselves. I checked my Bolt App, but no drivers were available.

Standing outside the gates, I hoped a taxi might pass. I heard a couple of fellas talking with broad Yorkshire voices, so I decided to try my luck. Yes, they had a taxi on its way, and they would drop me where I wanted to be. What nice gents.

Reminiscence Time

They were Barnsley fans who spent quite a bit of time in Pattaya. We had a good chat about its features and then about Scarborough football and the player and management connections between the two clubs.

Fond stories about the likes of Ray McHale and then Phil Chambers, who was the dad’s best mate of the younger of the pair. They kindly told the driver to let me out on Sukhumvit Road. From there, I walked thirty minutes to the North Bus Station on North Pattaya Road.

Bus Ride to Bangkok

It’s hard to believe my pal, Steve, and I walked all the way there some years previously from where we stayed on Middle Road. It isn’t a short distance, especially in the days before Google Maps were a feature on our phones, and we most certainly didn't know the quickest route.

Sadly, I couldn’t find a bar in the vicinity. Instead, I had to make do with a 7/11 to top up on soft drinks and snacks. Prime Minister’s Questions on the radio from back home offered me some dark entertainment of sorts.

It certainly confirmed that I had made a very timely move in leaving the UK. What a mess. The 8pm service ran on time back to Ekkamai in Bangkok. A 501 bus went past just as I alighted, which would have taken me all the way home for 8 THB.

Instead, a taxi was requisitioned, and I was back in time for a couple of beers at my favourite Brothers & Sisters Bar before turning in for the night.

Pattaya United (2008)

Pattaya United FC

Ground: Nong Prue Stadium

Capacity: 5,500

Club Founded: 1989

Club Dissolved: 2018

The story of the first incarnation of a club called Pattaya United is one of a club being relocated to the seaside city before the owner decided to move them 100km for a fresh start, sparking great controversy.

Club Beginnings

The club started life as Coke-Bangpra Chonburi FC, with the name derived from their sponsors and the Bang Phra district in the town of Sri Racha in Chonburi province, where they were located.

The team played their football in the third-tier Regional League, before winning promotion to the third-tier Division One, and then going up again to the Thai Premier League in 2008. A change of name to Pattaya United followed, as the club relocated to the city, with Nong Prue Stadium becoming their home ground.

A New Start

The move attracted some exiled Europeans as home crowds increased. Grand plans were unveiled to move to a state-of-the-art 20,000-capacity stadium midway through 2010, which also included other sporting facilities. However, money ran out after construction began, so the club remained at Nong Prue.

Struggle followed a couple of decent seasons before United were relegated at the end of the 2013 season, as leading scorer Rod Dyachenco could only muster seven goals. At the end of the campaign, Red Bull announced that it would be looking to buy the club and invest heavily in it after the previous owners put it up for sale.

Ownership Change

A disappointing season in the second tier led to drastic action as the club was sold to Enigma Sport Ventures (ESV), the sporting arm of Enigma Global. The company immediately sought to improve its fortunes by appointing Brit Sean Sainsbury as head coach.

He previously worked for Muang Thong as a Reserves and Academy Head Coach. Nong Prue was renamed Dolphin Stadium and had new seating installed behind the goals, while the club colours changed to a darker shade of blue and white, and a new logo was introduced.

Final Seasons

The team won promotion back to the Thai Premier League in 2015. The goals of Júnior Negrão took the side to twelfth place in 2016, before Miloš Stojanović top-scored in 2017 under coach Surapong Kongthep, as Pattaya weighed in with an eighth-place finish. In 2018, the club's final campaign, United finished in eighth position with Lukian as the top scorer.

At the end of the 2018 season, chairman Chonsawat Asavahame decided to disband the club, but keep their license and move them to the south of Bangkok as Samut Prakan City FC. Another club, Pattaya Discovery United FC, which would later change its name to Pattaya United, filled the void.

My visit

Stadium Visit - Wednesday 23rd October 2013

It was the morning after the night before as I awoke early in Pattaya. My six-a-side cricket team, Beer Battered Seadogs, had assembled the previous evening for some team bonding.

As is usually the case when I’ve visited Pattaya, I’d drunk a lot and got into an argument with one of the songtheaw drivers trying to exploit me for what should have been a 10BHT (about 25p) fare, back from Walking Street.

The rain was teeming down, so they wanted 200 Baht. Eventually, I got back near the hotel, drenched and angry, so rather than continuing, I called it a night.

The weather the following morning was beautiful, so after a good breakfast, I decided not to waste my time in the resort, and instead head to Nongprue.

I really wasn’t sure if I’d ever visit the city again. I’d been to Pattaya numerous times and grown to dislike plenty about it, from some of the grizzled ex-pats to the mafia-like transport.

I’d even gone near Nongprue several times as I headed out to Horseshoe Point, where I’d played and assisted in the running of a couple of six-a-side cricket tournaments. However, time was always beating me, popping in, and the team always seemed to be playing away when I was there.

The taxi driver optimistically asked for an unrealistic price for a return ride. I managed to barter him down to 400 Baht return, which was still far too much, but I wanted to get the task out of the way. In fairness, it was a lot further than I anticipated, as we travelled just as far again on reaching the main Sukhumvit Road.

The stadium wasn’t too bad, although there was no spectator accommodation behind either goal; just an area of grass behind the byline and then railed fences. One side had a Main Stand that had the wings added to the original centre section.

In common with so many stadiums in Thailand, it was raised above the pitch, with tip-up seats in the centre section and facilities underneath. Again, typically for the league, the side opposite had a semi-permanent open seating deck built on scaffolding.

My driver was a decent chap as things worked out, and he came inside to save me a walk back to the street, before depositing me right outside my hotel in time for me to round up my troops.

I was interested to hear of Red Bull's investment in the club on my return home and wondered whether the planned stadium would now get the go-ahead and whether I’d muster the enthusiasm to visit if it did.

Chonburi Municipality Stadium (Chonburi)

Chonburi Municipality Stadium is a sports stadium in the city of Chonburi. A multi-purpose arena, it is best known for hosting the matches of Chonburi FC when they played in the Provincial League in the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

Once accepted into the Thai Premier League in 2006, Chonburi played at the stadium until 2008, with its capacity sometimes tested as the club pushed for honours, as the Sharks were Thai Premier League champions in 2007 and finished as runners-up in 2008.

The stadium was also the home to Coke-Bangpra FC for the 2008 season in the Thai Premier League before they changed their name to Pattaya United and were relocated down the coast. The owners of the venue ended their agreement with Chonburi FC, who were forced out to Princess Sirindhorn Stadium in Si Racha.

My visit

Stadium Visit - Friday 25th March 2022

Several years earlier, I had headed south from Ekkamai bus station to spend a few hours in Chonburi and hopefully take photos of the Municipality Stadium. This was before the days of having a phone with a map app.

The day turned into a shambles as I caught a songthaew and ended up taking photos of the basic stadium of Chonradsadornumrung School. It was obvious that I was in the wrong place, so I asked a motorcycle taxi driver to take me to my original intended target.

We went all of twenty yards before I had to abort, being totally petrified. Instead, I ended up going back to the old bus station in the town centre and headed back towards the capital, misjudging the volume of traffic.

My pal Steve was not massively impressed when I finally returned, as he had to sit outside the house after a stressful day at work, on a very hot afternoon. Ironically, I eventually visited the stadium on a trip when I had no intention of doing so beforehand.

I’d been to the Thailand v Nepal friendly international the previous evening at Chonburi Stadium, then hung around Central Chonburi hoping that a van might stop heading back towards Bangkok, or ideally Minburi.

Nothing was happening, so when a songthaew pulled over, I jumped aboard, knowing it would head towards the old city where my van had stopped a couple of times on the way down. The only problem was that it veered off the main drag.

On this occasion,n I was fully equipped with technology, so there was no problem. The transport continued to Mueang Chon Buri District Office, where I alighted and headed towards the stadium. Before I got there. I enjoyed a walk around the beautiful Suan Tamnaknam public park.

There was no access inside the arena, but plenty of views inside were afforded, so I snapped away at a venue that obviously was once popular, but by now had overgrown and was looking very shabby.

It was noticeable just how far away the stands were from the pitch, as I commented online that it would be a great venue for Cricket Sixes, which I administer in Thailand. The shale track was virtually grown over. It painted a sorry picture.

It was time for me to make tracks, and I enjoyed a pleasant walk back towards Sukhumvit Road, passing the square where the night market sets up, and the Chonburi Provincial Hall. I walked a mile or so up the main road and found a stop with some vans parked outside.

After a little bit of confusion, I was put aboard one of them, where it was explained that I would be deposited at Market Village Suvarnabhumi in Bang Na, from where another vehicle would take me to Minburi.

And that’s exactly how it worked out. A cheap return journey costing 180 THB, and I had learned a most useful link to get back home when attending football down that way.

Many thanks to Chonburi FC fan Dale for providing information for this piece. He compiles the excellent and highly recommended fanzine/blog, It's A Habit That Sticks, as well as editing A Thai Football Podcast, which comes out weekly.