Muangkan United

 

Muangkan United FC was a football club based in the historical tourist city of Kanchanaburi in the west of Thailand. 'The Bats' were formed in 2009 and enjoyed a steady existence before not meeting licensing requirements in 2022.

United were originally admitted to third-tier Regional League football in 2010, moving into Kleab Bua Stadium, with the first two seasons in existence ended in mid-table finishes. After yet another average 2014 season, the club dropped out of league football for the 2015 season.

A return in 2016 to the Western Region saw a tenth place ending, before Thai league football was restructured for the 2017 season, with Muangkan being placed in the fourth tier Thai League 4 Western Region. The team finished in second place as Nattapol Onjoy scored the goals.

This took the side into the Champions League play-offs where Muang Loei United were defeated before a second spot in Group B resulted in promotion to Thai League 3 Lower where Muangkan finished in eighth place in 2018.

This was backed up with tenth in 2019 under the stewardship of head coach Prasert Changmool who was replaced by Narongsak Sisang. The 2020-21 campaign saw the Thai league calendar match that of Europe and was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Krit Singprecha was appointed to run the team prior to Jadet Meelarp taking over. United went on to lift the Western Region title thanks to the goals of Bireme Diouf and local lad Suchao Nuchnum while Suntiparp Boonlkliang starred in goal.

 

In the promotion playoffs, the team were placed in the Lower Region group, which they topped. In the showpiece final game, Lamphun Warriors ran out winners, but Muangkan were rewarded with promotion to League 2.

Kitnarong Haolert replaced Meelarp as coach in October 2021 before the arrival of Somchai Makmool a few months later. The team ended just outside the playoff places in seventh place, but any joy at a good season would soon be deflated.

 

The club failed to meet the requirements of the Thai FA license and were removed from the structure and placed into the Thailand Amateur League if they were to continue, which remained unclear. 

My visits

Wednesday 28th March 2012

I was in Thailand for a two week holiday to do some sightseeing, go to some football, play in a cricket tournament in Chiang Mai and do lots of socialising. After an opening evening in Bangkok I headed to Kanchanaburi, a place I'd wanted to visit for some time.

My journey is worthy of a page of its own, but in a nutshell my taxi driver in the capital got stuck in horrendous traffic and then dumped me at the wrong railway station. I had intended to travel up by train but ended up paying around £30 for a taxi ride for the seventy mile journey.

I stayed in a basic but typically Thai place right on the River Kwai. My accommodation at the VN Guest House cost me just 280 baht (around £5.50) for a room on a raft on the river with a small outside area. 

I spent the evening pampering myself with a nice meal, a good walk hoping to see the floodlights indicating action at the stadium (without luck) and both a fish spa and leg and foot massage, before retiring with a smoothie to read my book outside as the moon shone on the water. 

The following morning after a superb breakfast I visited the War Cemetery and The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre before catching the train round to the River Kwai stop. It had been an eye opener and made me feel very grateful to those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. 

I took my photos and had a walk on the bridge before turning back a few hundred metres towards the Kleab Bua Stadium, which I'd spotted from the train in the Tha Makham area of the city.

The approach took me over dusty wasteland with roads laid out, which seemed to indicate that it was ripe for development in the future. The stadium certainly looked impressive from the outside. I headed up to the main Sangchuto Road where the entrance was. A guard smiled from his sheltered box as I walked through the gates. 

The stadium was a multi purpose arena that had been upgraded in 2009 for the Thailand National Youth Games and had more facilities beyond the main stadium. TOT SC of the Thai Premier League had used the stadium during the 2009 season before returning to Nonthaburi Province to the north of Bangkok.

I walked straight to pitch side by the club offices. The pitch was surrounded by a running track and had a covered Main Stand on the far side with an open stand facing it. Both ends were identical with two covered cantilever stands facing each other with gaps in the middle. It was an impressive place for a relatively small city, with Kanchanaburi having a population at the time of around 40,000.

The club name comes from the fact Muang is the Thai name for city centre and Kan being short for Kanchanaburi. Many cities are also the name of the province in which it lies, so Muang is added in front of the city if it refers to that, rather than the whole area - if that makes sense!

I went to the garage for a Gatorade and then caught a sangtheaw back into the city to catch a bus back to Bangkok. I was going to the Muangthong United v Bangkok Glass game that evening and was looking forward to getting back early for a dip in the hotel pool. The lady and driver at the bus station insisted that the 99 baht I'd just spent was for an express bus. How little I learned!

I really enjoyed Kanchanaburi and hoped to return. It's a chilled-out place with plenty of history. Ideally, I'd also catch a Mungkan home game.

Muangkhan United 3 Navy 2 (Saturday 23rd April 2022) Thai League 2 (att: 781)

One of the joys of moving full time to live in Thailand in retirement was the ability to be able to head away whenever I fancied it. I wanted to tick off watching games at some new venues before the 2021-22 season was completed, so I studied the fixtures.

A revisit to Kanchanaburi was most appealing to have a good look around and do a video for my channel. The match also looked like a decent option with Muangkhan in contention for a playoff spot, so it was time to book a hotel. 

Arriving at the Southern Bus Terminal following a bus and boat and then another bus ride I was in decent form. Especially after navigating a bit of a scare when I left my manbag on the ferry which contained my passport.

My luck was in, as staff managed to inform those at Pratunam where it terminated and send it back to me at Chit Lom. Anyway, at least the large van ride went smoothly dropping me at the bus station, a short walk from my room for the evening at D Luck Hostel. 

I eventually found this place after wandering around trying to see it via Google maps on my phone, only to discover it was through a coffee shop. The staff were friendly, but salubrious it wasn’t. My room was so small that despite turning off the light it was still on when I got into bed.

Never mind, I wouldn’t be spending much time in it. After a quick siesta I was out and about and on what would be a long walk, initially visiting the War Cemetery for a few minutes of reflection prior to a wander down the strip to get something to eat and drink. 

Friends charting my progress on Facebook suggested I used the Aussie Rules Bar. Well, I went in what I thought was that establishment and had an average pad krapow and a drink, only to leave and walk past my intended bar. I had been twenty yards away.

Continuing my adventures, I walked all the way along Tha Ma Kham, or Riiver Kwai Road as its commonly known. A walk across the famous bridge and a quick wander at the other side by the Concentration Camp Market was backed up by moving on to River Kwai Bridge railway station.

It was good to see things gradually picking up following the gradual phasing out of the pandemic. Time was getting on and I wanted to grab a drink and a snack at Kleeb Bua Stadium ahead of the 7pm kick off.

My ticket cost 120 Baht, sold by friendly young staff at the main gate. Inside the grounds behind the stands there was a good atmosphere with a band playing and lots of pop-up stalls selling food and drink. 

Everyone seemed happy and friendly. There’s certainly a lot to be said for weekend evening football in such a climate. Despite it such a large arena the home fans on the near open side created a great atmosphere.

We were treated to a cracker of a match too, in which already relegated Navy had obviously nor read the script in the dressing rooms as Sirichai Phumpat put them ahead after just four minutes with a goal of simplistic nature.

 

The forward chased a kick out of the hands of keeper Surat Narkchumsang which was hopelessly misjudged by defender Wattana Klomjit to go clean through and slot home past keeper Prin Goonchon.

The hosts responded when skipper Suchao Nuchnum had a shot blocked prior to energetic Brazilian forward Jonatan Reis firing over. Navy with nothing to lose were going for it with Jakrayut Vivatvanit letting go from distance but going wide which was backed up with a wild effort from Adefolarin Durosinmi. 

Parity was restored through a dipping half volley that bounced just in front of goalie Surat Narkchumsang who got his hands on the shot before it went in off the post seven minutes before the break.

Guntapon Keereeleang, on loan to Muankhan from Bangkok United, fired over in a good position in the opening moments after the restart. But it would be Navy who retook the lead just past the hour mark. 

Suan Lam Mang passed inside to Durosinmi whose shot appeared to be handled by an opponent. Referee Suriyo Kanhachalee wasn’t interested, and the ball ran on to Vivatvanit who had obviously remembered to play to the whistle, as he put the ball away.

The hosts fought back and put on pressure, desperately requiring the three points. Navy defended desperately and blocked a couple of times in one move with the ball running to Nachnum on the edge of the box who smashed home from the edge of the box with an absolute thunderbolt. 

The play swung to the other end and saw a cross from Sakkranvit Nimma find the head of Vivatvanit who forced Goonchon to tip over. Nachnum then let another rasper go from even further out which stung the palms of Narkchumsang.

Ten minutes from time a shot from Reis struck the arm of Bangkok United loanee Santipap Yaemsaen in the box. Mr Kanhachalee pointed to the spot with Reis obliging after a those stop start approach to the ball. The fans around me were wild with delight as their team saw out the win.

 

It was now time for me to try and get a ride back towards the bar area. Neither taxi app worked in the area, and I set off walking to no avail. No tuk-tuks were around either, which meant a walk all the way back to the Aussie Rules Bar.

After a few small bottles, I headed back the extra couple of miles as no transport was about. To be honest the bar area seemed to be busier during the day of folk of my age. I thought it was pretty average and would definitely go local if I stayed over again. 

The next morning, I got my skates on and caught the same mode of the bus back to Mo Chit, beating the traffic before all the shoppers came out to play. After a rest, and editing a video of my adventures around Kanchanaburi, I was ready to go to local football. The fun never stops in Thailand!

 

Lamphun Warriors

 

Lamphun Warriors FC is a professional football club from the city of Lamphun in northern Thailand, which is located around 25km south of the Lanna capital Chiang Mai. Until the 2020-21 season the club was called Lamphun Warrior, until an "s" was added to the title.

Formed in 2011, as the league structure continued to develop in the country, Warrior moved into the municipal Mae Guang Stadium to play their home games. The team ended their inaugural season in second spot of Regional League Division 2 Northern Region as Pat Thongpenkul led the scoring.

Sarawut Wongchai was the top scorer in 2012 as the team finished in a disappointing ninth position. Three consecutive eighth place finishes ensued, with Teerawut Wongtan offering a degree of potency up front.

The goals of Shola Jimmy Omotosho took Warrior to fifth position in 2016, before the league structure was altered for the 2017 campaign, with Lamphun being placed in Thai League 3 Upper Region.

Warrior ended the 2017 season in twelfth position. Goals were scarce, with Panuwat Sripao and Ekachai Pitsanu netting four each to top the charts. Aphirak Sri-arun oversaw the coaching duties for the 2018 campaign, which started out well and ended in third place, thanks to the goals of Saran Sridech. 

Ronnachai Pongputtha led the goals chart in 2019, with Warrior ending their season in third place with home attendances rising to second in the divisional rankings under head coach Jongsarith Wuttichuay.

 

Natan Oliveira netted with regularity in 2020-21, then now Warriors, finished as champions of Thai League 3 Northern Region before going on to top the Upper Region group in the Champions League play-offs and win promotion to the second tier, despite losing the final against Muangkhan United.

The upward trajectory continued following large financial investments in the club. Warriors went on to lift the League 2 championship in part through the goals of Thales Lima who joined mid-season from Udon Thani while keeper Samuel Cunningham led the clean sheet list.

 

Brazilian, Wanderley Junior, was initially appointed as head coach in 2022-23, however, Dusit Chalermsan replaced him before a ball was kicked. Alexandre Gama was appointed to the role in November 2022.

The club was required to decamp to Chaing Mai to use the 700th Anniversary Stadium while Mae Guang Stadium, also known as Lamphun Province Stadium was upgraded for Thai League 1 football. The goals of Mohammed Osman helped the side to a midtable finish in 2022-23

Warriors returned to their traditional home for the 2023-24 campaign as the side again cemented their status as Akarapong Pumwisat led the scoring. All this was while the out-of-town Lamphun Warriors Stadium neared completion and the ownership of the club changed hands as the previous incumbent upset the authorities through an online gambling expose.

The stadium hosted the opening two home games of the 2024-25 season before the authorities impounded it as it was registered by the previous owner. Lamphun were forced to return to the 700th Anniversary Stadium up the road in Chiang Mai.

Lamphun Warriors FC will play in Thai League 1 in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Monday 2nd April 2012

I was in Chiang Mai for the 25th anniversary of their International Cricket Sixes. Because I was involved in a match with Yarrambat, the Melbourne based side I represented the previous day, I was unable to attend when Warrior played at home, so I decided to visit on our day off.

Over an extended Sunday night drinking, my friends and teammates Russell Lamb, Dylan Forster and Simon Bray said that they'd like to go with me rather than just lying around the hotel. 

The following morning, I was waiting in the foyer of the Pornping Hotel at the designated time, when my pal's eventually began to appear. They had stayed out a lot later than me!

We hired a songthaew for 500 baht (around £10) to take us on our journey. I had to admit that Lamphun did seem a lot further than it appeared on the map. The others were in various states, none of which I would have described as being lively. 

The driver dropped us off at the market, where we had a good look around without ever getting close to purchasing anything. I led the party using my map, which I was sure was taking us the right way. We saw the old city wall and crossed the moat. 

I had the feeling that there wasn't a hundred per cent confidence in my orientation, and I was praying I was getting it right, with us having a team fines evening to follow that evening. We headed down a quiet road which did have me slightly concerned until I confirmed my route with some youngsters in a school playground.

Sure enough, we were soon by the bus station, with the stadium just around the corner. We checked out how often the buses ran before walking around to take a look at Mae Guang Stadium.

In truth, it was slightly disappointing, especially after my experience at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai the previous evening in the same division in which Warrior competed in. There was a Main Stand with a roof and open sections on either side of it at one side of the pitch. A tarmac running track surrounded the very bumpy playing area. On the far side of the pitch was an open stand. Both ends consisted of flat open standing.

We took some photos and had a walk on the pitch before heading back to the bus station. We got some water and nibbles. Poor Simo fell asleep once again on the small bus, which cost us just 20 baht each on the return. It was pretty packed, and I'm sure the locals would have been surprised to come across four farangs on their local bus route!

The good news for everyone was that the bus dropped us by the Gymkhana ground, which was hosting our cricket tournament. We were soon enjoying lunch and I went for a nice foot and leg massage while enjoying watching the action.

Absolute bliss and a good morning out. At least I thought so!

Sunday 30^th March 2014

Even extensive planning can sometimes go badly wrong, and this was a perfect example. All looked so perfect. I was in Chiang Mai again for the annual international cricket sixes. My team, Yarrambat didn’t have a game until Tuesday as several of the squad was involved in their Grand Final back in Victoria. 

Instead, I’d gone to the ground to assist the committee do a bit of commentary. Lamphun junior cricket coach Chris Dodd had given me travel advice for minibuses to Lamphun from outside the Gymkhana Ground and my mates had given me their blessing to miss dinner and meet up later. I mean what could go wrong.

A bus arrived and even though I had to stand for a while, I was in good form looking forward to ticking off another Thai venue and watching some football action. The journey had taken a bit longer than I’d hoped for, but for just 20 Baht (40p) I could hardly complain. 

We pulled into the bus station at 6.05 which was certainly later than I wanted. However, if I rushed, I’d just miss the first ten minutes, which was no real problem.

I jogged around to the stadium to find no football match in progress. Several residents were using the track around the pitch, and several youngsters were playing football in the middle, but it was definitely not the derby between Lamphun Warrior and Lampang.

I had no idea why it wasn’t taking place and I could spy no westerner to ask. Instead, I took a few photos of the stadium from a different angle to my previous visit. Two additional roofs had been added to the solitary stand, making it quite an impressive arena. This though was of scant consolation.

I grabbed a bottle of water and jumped aboard a large coach heading back to Chiang Mai. This took me along motorways past the Warrior training ground along the way and to the main bus station. As I’d previously never been there, this was at least useful for future reference.

I arrived back in town and went to my room for a quick change of clothes and to check the internet to see what had happened? The previous day many bars were shut after 4pm as Sunday saw the local Senate Elections take place. 

The authorities wanted to make sure locals voted. Consequently, the match had been moved forward twenty-four hours. An excellent Twitter had posted the news earlier in the week, but I’d missed it during my Bangkok frivolities. It transpires I missed a 0-0 draw.

I headed round to the White Lotus to meet with my pals to lots of laughter. I deserved nothing less!

Lamphun Warriors 2 Muangkan 0 (Sunday 1^st April 2018) Thai League 3 Upper Region (att: 794)

 Finally, I managed to get to a match at Mae Guang Stadium! I’d been commentating at the opening day of the 2018 Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes before getting away around 4pm in my quest to head south.

It was a hot day, and as I waited on the main road near the Gymkhana Ground a songthaew pulled up. I was quoted 500 Baht to the bus station in Lamphun just behind the stadium. This worked out at over £10, but the convenience suited me.

My driver and his missus had an unexpected windfall, but it was nice to spread out in the back and to travel alone. It allowed me to take a video as we went through the busy market area around Pa Sao.

Crowds were gathering on my arrival, with hundreds walking around the paths on the outside of the complex. I bought my admission ticket for 60 Baht (around £1.30) and some questionable snacks; which I initially thought to be chicken nuggets and fries.

There was no restriction on any seat, so I tried to get somewhere with a bit of legroom. It was good to see many of the junior players from the academy along with parents attending the match and supporting their home club.

The ground also had two or three separate sections playing drums and trying to get behind the team, but I wondered why they didn’t all join together and make a noise in unison? It was a phenomenon mirrored at several other Thai stadiums.

It was soon apparent that the playing surface was not going to assist free-flowing football on the deck. It was hard and bobbly and obviously used far too much as a community facility. Passing and control of the ball was extremely difficult.

The visitors came closest in the early stages when a free kick from wide went narrowly over the angle of post and bar with Warrior keeper Sakdawich Sert-lert flapping. A fine passing movement from the hosts, with the ball bouncing all over the place, put pressure on the visitor’s goal.

Lamphun’s Panuwat Sripao looked decent enough as he tried to pull the strings before his side went 1-0 up on thirty-nine minutes as Apichai Ku-or scored with a sliding finish from a cross to the near post.

At the interval, I decided to explore to see if there was a shortcut back to the bus station, before settling for a place on the open side from a different angle, and to hopefully see a different match!

The Muangkan team came out looking the better side after the break and was full of attacking intent. Unfortunately, their lack of pace, skill and the awful pitch allowed Warrior to defend their goal without too many worries.

Sert-lert made a regulatory save at his near post before a couple of efforts flew just over the bar without calling the custodian into action. Saran Sridet went on a fine run for the home side, but his forward colleague fluffed his chance of a shot on goal.

Anusorn Promprasit saw a deflected free-kick go just wide for Muangkan before I decided to make my way around to behind the goal, where some punters were peering over the fence for free. It could be argued that they should have demanded compensation.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, the lead was doubled. A neat pass put in Sridet wide on the right. It was an opportunity to run on goal, but his task was made easier by some kamikaze goalkeeping.

The visiting keeper came flying out and past the ball, as Srident rounded him, bore down on goal and slipped the ball into the empty net from the edge of the area. The home fans were euphoric and celebrated in style. The referee blew for full-time shortly after.

I was now tasked with finding a way home, with absolutely no idea of bus times. The man on the counter wrote down 8.15 and told me where to stand. This meant just a twenty-minute wait, which was fine.

A coach pulled in at the appointed time. It had set off from the town of Tak and was complete with welcoming air conditioning and reclining seats. I was ushered on board by an increasingly frustrated man on the desk who wasn’t interested in issuing a ticket.

The journey back to Chiang Mai took less than thirty minutes. Both the driver and the lady assistant smiled and made a signal that no fare was required despite my offering. I certainly didn’t argue and soon jumped into a tuk-tuk to catch up with my pals, for a few beers before bed.

Lamphun Warriors 3 Chiangmai FC 2 (Friday 25th February 2022) Thai League 2 (att: 1,230) 

My timing for a junior day of cricket in Chiang Mai on the following Sunday worked perfectly as it coincided with this local derby as well as a Maejo United home game the following day. After a flight and checking in at my extremely dated guest house, it was time for some refreshments.

My pal George met me by the moat as we visited a couple of bars, the first of which was still trying to hide the fact that they were serving beers mid-afternoon owing to restrictions caused by the pandemic.

I probably had one too many as time soon gathered pace, meaning a swift walk down Loi Kroh Road to where I knew a songthaew departed to Lamphun. I had asked beforehand on Facebook if tickets in advance were necessary, but all was well.

It was getting on for the 6pm kick-off when I bailed out of the small bus and headed round to buy my ticket for the open side. There was just time to grab some snacks and a beer before the arrival of the teams in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

 

The first things I noticed were the upgrade in playing surface and floodlights and plenty of signage to make the stadium look homely. The club had invested heavily on and off the pitch aiming to reach the top level of Thai football.

The previously more illustrious visitors went ahead through an unmarked Veljko Filipovic from a corner on five minutes. The tall defender was given the freedom of the box as he stooped to head home on the half-volley past keeper Adisak Doungsri. 

Anuntachok Yodsangwal levelled things up midway through the first half when his low shot from a narrow-angle via deflection off the open legs of away team goalie Jaturong Samakorn, who should have done better.

Evgeny Kabaev had a shot saved by the legs of Doungsri as Chiangmai responded. Lamphun’s Brazilian forward Thales Lima saw a powerful drive pushed over by Samakorn as the very watchable contest ebbed and flowed. 

Kabaev really should have got his half volley on target after being supplied by Saharat Posri with Arthit Sunthornphit driving narrowly wide for Warriors prior to Samakorn dealing acrobatically at his near post from a free kick from the same player.

Sunthornphit would not be denied, putting Lamphun ahead six minutes after the restart as he volleyed home a pullback from Mg Mg Lwin. It would be the provider from Myanmar who sent the majority of the crowd wild with just over twenty minutes remaining on the clock as he put in Sunthornphit’s cross at the back post to make it 3-1. 

Chiangmai regrouped and got one back through Amornthep Maundee as he completed a fantastic passing move at the far post leaving them eleven minutes plus stoppage time to try and recover a point.

Filipovic moved forward and went on a terrific run. but Tawan Khotrsupho couldn’t get on top of his fierce cross, with the header spiralling over the bar. The defender was involved again in the dying stages when an effort from Maundee fizzed agonisingly wide. 

A fantastic advert for Thai football. I left very chipper and ready to tell my friends back in Chiang Mai all about it, but my evening was only halfway through. I was astonished to be told that the last big bus had left for Chiang Mai at the terminal behind the stadium.

I guess it must have still been a restricted Covid service in operation. The last train had long departed. I searched everywhere hoping to see a songthaew walking the streets of the pretty city for well over an hour.

 

The online taxi services were unavailable. Fortunately, a Plan B was formulated after seeing a sign for a hotel on the road north. I managed to secure a room for about £14, topping up on provisions at a nearby 7/11 before enjoying a relaxing sleep minus late beers.

I returned by songthaew the following morning, exchanging smiles and more conversations with lovely Thai people ready to sort myself out for the afternoon’s entertainment.