Chachoengsao FC, or Chachoensao Hi-Tek FC as they are sometimes referred to to acknowledge their main sponsor is a football club that was formed in 1997 from the town of Chachoengsao; which is located around 50 km east of the Thai capital of Bangkok on the Bang Pakong River.
The club was originally called Look Luang Phor Sothon FC, competing in the Yamaha Thailand Cup; from where promotion was won to second tier Regional Level and became Chachoengsao FC.
The club; commonly referred to as ‘Padrew’ finished in fourth place in 2005 to win promotion to Division 1; finishing in fourteenth place in their debut season at that level. The top tier was split into two sections for 2007; with ‘The Fighting Fish’ being placed in Thailand League Division 1 Group B.
Home matches were played at Subin Pimpayachan Stadium as the goals of Sirisak Romphothong helped the team to eleventh place. In 2008 Cameroon striker Manoz Roger was the top scorer as Padrew ended eighth in Group A.
The team support had grown leading to a move nearer to the town centre at Chachoengsao Town Municipality Stadium. League restructuring led to the club being placed in Regional League Division 2 Central & Eastern Region for 2009.
The club returned to their former home; finishing in mid-table as Edu Kwaku led the scoring chart. The team would continue to end in similar positions for the next three campaigns with Jo Mingsamorn, Akarawin Sawasdee and Jeerachai Ladadok netting regularly.
From 2013 the Chachoengsao Town Municipality Stadium became home once more, with league positions slightly improving for the next couple of years. Chachoengsao finished as league runners-up in 2015 and 2016 with Sarawut Chrenchai the top scorer.
Another reorganisation of the Thai league system followed in 2017 with the Fighting Fish becoming members of Thai League 3 Upper Region ending in seventh place.
Padungsak Phothinak netted a hat-trick against Kamphaengphet; while the club fielded Joshua Jokic, Jonny Campbell, Thierry Tchobe and Nyamsi Jacques as their overseas players throughout the season.
A sponsorship deal led to the title of Chachoengsao Hi-Tek being adopted in 2018 with the Town Municipality Stadium being retitled Fighting Fish Stadium as the club led the attendance table despite the team ending in ninth position.
Berlin Ndebe-Nlome, Mustafa Zazai, Naoto Kidoku and the retained Jacques shone as the foreign signings before the side improved to sixth place in 2019. Moise Gnenegbe and Hans Miertschink were the foreign players next to Jacques under head coach Thanetr Bunlap. The following season was aborted owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the 2020-21 campaign Chachoengsao were placed in League 3 East after the previous bottom tier was disbanded. The goals of Sarawut Choenchai and Lucas Massaro Garcia Gama fired the side to a runners-up berth and qualification for the National Championship play-off rounds. The goalkeeping of Pitsanu Permsab made an invaluable contribution.
The team coached by Thanetr Bunlap finished third in the Upper Group, failing narrowly to have a shot at promotion. However, the form continued into the 2021-22 season. Again Permsab was excellent between the sticks, with Caio da Conceição Silva adding to the strikes of Choenchai.
Again,
second place was achieved as Padrew progressed to the Champions League, as the
play-offs are also known without progressing any further. Kasipat Boonyakornchindet
was appointed as coach for the 2022-23 campaign as the side ended in fourth with
Caio again supplying the goals.
Jacques
Nyamsi took over the goalscoring duties the following season with Poobet
Chophakakorn taking over as team boss.
Chachoengsao FC will play in Thai League 3 East in the 2024-25 season
My visits
Wednesday 27th November 2019
My visit to Thailand was nearing its end following a highly successful and enjoyable Beer Battered Seadogs tour to the Siam International Cricket Sevens in Chiang Mai. I was determined to make the most of my remaining time.
A visit to Chachoengsao had been on my radar for a while and I had a free day to explore away. Taking a cab from Steve and Fah’s house in Minburi I travelled down to Lad Krabang railway station.
There was a while to wait before the service east so I grabbed a coffee upstairs in the shade of the Airlink station and ten some chicken at one of the stands downstairs by the tracks. My single fare set me back 7THB, less than 20p!
As ever, I found the train journey interesting; both people watching and taking in the scenery and small towns when we stopped. The train was fairly busy, but I got a set. It seemed as though most passengers alighted at the same time as me.
It was encouraging to see tuk-tuks and songthaews outside the station. This was useful to know for future trips and give some impression of the structure of the town. I’d already made plans and worked out directions for a twenty-minute walk.
I set off down the duel carriageway of Maha Chakkraphat Road before doing a right opposite the large Shell garage sign into Suan Somdet for a five-minute stroll down to a beautiful area.
It looked like some kind of moat around Sala Thai; a temple-like building as well as administration structures. On the right was the entrance to Fighting Fish Stadium. Thankfully the gates were open and access easy.
The arena had what looked like two new stands with the sort of seating seen around the greens of golf courses at major events. They were a sort of semi-permanent. The stand at the far end was right behind the goal. It was good to see a venue without a running track.
The main side with changing facilities and VIP seating was set back behind a road a fair way from the pitch. The end by the entrance had no spectator accommodation but I had the impression that it could also get a stand; especially if crowds continued to attend.
The location of the stadium was even better as seen when walking past to the far end, with the stunning Princess Mother Garden a magnificent setting containing a large lake and beautifully manicured lawns.
My imagination ran away with me for a few minutes as I sat and took in the scene, picturing heading to a Padrew home game and enjoying a sit by the water with a couple of beers and a picnic. Maybe one day!
There was still plenty more for me to explore. A 60 Baht tuk-tuk ride took me to the magnificent Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan. A lot of temples are similar in appearance, but this huge place of worship took the breath away.
After a look around, saying my prayers and taking photos I commandeered another three-wheeler to a place I’d read about online for lunch. Waterfront House was magnificent. A large bottle of Leo and a good portion of chicken fried rice did the business for 140 Baht (£3.50).
Wandering around the centre of the town I came across thriving markets and plenty of shopping opportunities. I hardly saw another Westerner and all the locals seemed friendly. Many exchanged smiles. It was my kind of day out.
Steve had mentioned that minivans ran a service to Minburi; so I took a tuk-tuk to the bus station after I’d bought a decent set of earphones in one of the electrical shops. My pal was correct. The fare back was 60 Baht.
The driver escorted me to the front seat. I got in while talking away to myself only to look around and see the vehicle nearly full of Thais. I was in really good form and just laughed before listening to some of my favourite tracks.
The journey back was interesting as our driver seemed oblivious to the roadworks taking place on Thanon Suwinthawong as he weaved in and out of areas that seemed out of bounds. He undoubtedly saved us lots of time but blimey!
I was dropped on Sihaburanukit Road; the main street of Minburi, and one in a state of flux as the Skytrain construction followed right up the middle. I had a walk before returning to my hosts.
A magnificent day was rounded off with finger food at Sudtong Club and then mango and sticky rice washed down with beers at Toys Bar in the Soi Hathairat Night Market; my new favourite local hang-out.
If only every day could be as good as this!
Chachoengsao 3 Marines Eureka 0 (Saturday 18th December 2021) Thai League 3 East Region (att: 180)
I had moved over to Thailand on what I hoped would be a permanent basis. After settling into my new abode in Minburi and getting to know the place, it was time for my first away day football adventure. I chose Chachoengsao.
Once again, I decided to take the train from Lat Krabang as I listened to England capitulate once again in the Ashes on the radio. Oh, for the wonders of modern technology. My total travel cost from home was 16 THB (35p) by local songthaew and train.
Again, I plumped for Waterfront House for lunch overlooking the river Bang Pakong. Here I received a heads-up for later. Alcohol was seemingly still banned through C19 restrictions, at least in some places. Not to worry. I enjoyed the meal and soft drink.
To walk off my meal I headed along the river in a sleepy but attractive town. It certainly was scenic with some wonderful buildings, gardens and history. The long stretch eventually took me near the huge Sothon Wararam Worawihan Temple.
My accommodation for the night was the Tree House down Soi 20 off New Sri Sothon Road, a main thoroughfare. It cost me about £15 for the night. A siesta was taken before I headed off towards the 6pm kick-off.
The main reason for my selection of room was the location. I did get slightly lost on the way to the stadium, but more importantly, I located the possibility of beer later. My research had proved correct. When things eventually became ‘normal’ again, this would be the area to head.
I could hear the King's Anthem over the speakers as I passed the stunning park, where many locals were exercising. Plumping for a place down the near side I was charged 60 THB (£1.35) for my ticket, which I thought most reasonable.
The hosts put on a decent display for me and the raucous locals around my age who seemed intrigued with my appearance. I mean what was a farang doing watching their team if he’s not a teacher who lives in the town?
Padriew took the lead after fourteen minutes through the talented Brazilian top scorer Ciao. The player I enjoyed most came on after thirty-three minutes. Midfielder Phakawat Seekhieo had plenty of flare and invention.
Just before half time, I saw a man with a beer. At the interval, I had to investigate. Sure enough, outside was a vendor pouring large bottles of Chang into plastic cups covered by a little bag. I grabbed one and sat near the locals, who became chattier as the beer was put away.
They were there for fun. Despite the language barrier there were lots of smiles with the usual football expressions speaking louder than words. Obviously, the home sides performance helping their good spirits.
As it was, both keepers, Promsab for Chachoengsao and Chaloemlap Arthan for Eureka made some excellent saves to keep the scoreline the same. Indeed, the home stopper made a brilliant stop to deny the visitors from Sattahip an equaliser.
The Fighting Fish finally doubled their lead with nine minutes remaining when Patiwat Sanjnlerd’s glancing header from a corner found the far bottom corner of the net. This led to some of the Marine players losing their heads.
Substitute Sorravit Saisom received a straight red for a ridiculous challenge with five minutes to go. Nuttawat Onin followed him down the tunnel not long after when he picked up a second yellow card.
Of course, this opened space. However, it was irrelevant as Wutthinan Thaweerathitsakul rounded off the win with a superb long-distance effort that caught goalie Arthan off his line. 3-0 was perhaps a little harsh on the away side.
At full time I headed back in the same direction as before and was delighted to find Chill Bar near Big C on the main road was serving alcohol in disguised plastic glasses and that a live band were due on. I grabbed a good seat near the front.
I stayed put for a few. The band seemed shocked to see a westerner at their gig. I know I was being mentioned between songs but kept smiling. I hadn’t a clue what they were saying, and more to the point I couldn’t care less.
It was a top night in a town I’m quite taken to. The audience was still growing as I toddled off home for a good night's sleep. The following morning I headed to the temple before taking a tuk-tuk to the station for my train towards Bangkok and more football action that afternoon at Nonthaburi United.
