Showing posts with label Nakhonsi United. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nakhonsi United. Show all posts

Tuesday 15 October 2024

Phitsanulok

Phitsanulok FC is a professional football club formed in 2005, from the historic city of the same located in lower northern Thailand. The club started out life in local regional football before being accepted into the second tier Division 1 for the 2007 season playing at Pibulsongkram Rajabhat Stadium.

A fifth-place finish was a promising start for ‘Muang-Song-Kware’ as they are sometimes nicknamed. However, the team were relegated to the new third tier for the 2009 campaign after losing to Nakhon Sawan in the playoffs.

Placed in Division 2 North, and moving to Phitsanulok PAO Stadium, the ‘Violet Army’ ended in sixth and then seventh place. This was followed by being crowned as champions in 2011. Unfortunately, no promotion was forthcoming as the team bowed out in the Champions League play-off.

The season saw the club renamed Phitsanulok TSY FC after Thai Seng Yont became the main sponsor. In 2012 Phitsanulok missed out on promotion from their play-off group on goals scored after ending the regular season as league runners-up.

In was second place again in 2013 but this time a runners-up play-off group finish was enough to secure promotion to the second level Division 1. The team finished bottom of the table in 2014 and went straight back down despite the goals of Yod Chanthawong.

The club changed back to its original name after the sponsors withdrew before finishing fourth in Division 2 North in 2016. Sixth place followed twelve months later before Diarra Aboubacar Sidick finished as the top scorer in 2017 as his side finished third in Thai League 4 North following league reconstruction.

Another third place followed in 2018, with this time Anucha Panthong leading the scoring before the side dropped a place twelve months later. Then followed a return to the European calendar for 2020-21 as Naresuan Warlords ended third with Chatchai Narkwijit putting away the goals for the side coached by Apichart Mosika.

Chumnan Pharkunthud took over the role for the following season before being replaced by Kritsana Tailwan. The goals of Gilberto Macena took the side to the Champions League playoffs, going on to miss out on promotion after a two-legged defeat to Nakhonsi United.

Pitsanulok fell narrowly short again in the playoffs of 2022-23 after winning the North regional division. Brazilian Gilberto Macena was joined at the top of the scoring chart by Argentinian striker, Nicolás Vélez with Adul Lahsoh in charge of team affairs before the appointment of Jongsarith Wuttichuay.

Arnon Bandasak was at the helm from the start of the 2023-24 campaign prior to the return of coach Kritsana as the team narrowly missed out on the playoffs with Caio the latest Brazilian to thrill the home crowds.

Phitsanulok FC will play in Thai League 3 North in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Phitsanulok 1 Nakhonsi United 1 (Saturday 16th April 2022) Thai League 3 Promotion Play-Off 1st Leg (att: 998) 

I’d decided to start exploring some distant cities around football, using the best use of my time while grabbing the best value for money while I was at it. The first leg of this play-off clash was just what I was looking for.

The train worked well for me. The price was around THB520 return (around £12) and the times were just about perfect. I was scheduled to catch the 7.42 north from Lak Si and arose in good form on Saturday morning.

 

My taxi driver seemed unaware of how to get there, but no problem. I would steer him. Only messages of concern about an issue back home distracted me. Before I woke up to us heading the wrong way, we were nearing Bangkapi. Thankfully, Google Maps on my phone came to the rescue, at least in part. 

I commanded my pilot onward towards Lad Phrao taking a turning off just before the MRT station along Ratchadapisek Road. Time was a massive concern by this point. My App seemed to indicate I was OK if I got out at an earlier station along the route. What my driver was lacking in knowledge, he made up for in humour and driving skills.

He deposited me underneath the Don Muang Tollway at Bang Khen station. I panicked at seeing a train already on the platform as I scrambled across the tracks, only to find an earlier service than my own. The Chiang Mai bound service was a few minutes late, but that wasn’t a problem. 

I’d factored in such eventualities. I found my seat and the guard smiled when I explained why I’d got on two stops ahead of Lak Si. The carriage had fans, with plenty of legroom in front of my seat. I opened the window right down to get a breeze. Throughout the trip I did a bit of reading, doing puzzles and listening to music. As well as dozing off a couple of times.

The journey was pleasant. I’d done it a couple of times in the opposite direction from Chiang Mai, so I knew what to look out for. We somehow lost nearly an hour by the time we alighted at Phitsanulok, around 2.50pm.

I had a few places on my list of sightseeing including the three nearby temples; Wat Rachburana, Wat Nang Phaya and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan by the River Nan, where an annual regatta is held. 

It was extremely hot without a breeze. Generally, I enjoy walking, but the heat and early start were beginning to drain. Instead, I invested in a THB 50 taxi ride. I’m sure the metre went slower than in Bangkok.

After taking a walk around the perimeter of Phitsanulok Provincial Stadium I figured the best food and drink options were from the portable cart outside on the main Aka Thotsarot Road. I went for typical Thai snacks and a Coke. I particularly enjoyed their version of a battered sausage.

Time was slow in passing. I managed to find a bit of shade at the rear of the stand on the near side. Phitsanulok had made admission free for the game to try and increase the attendance. My friend Gary was there the previous week when they did the same thing.

The stadium was a typical bowl which had stands facing each other across the pitch and running track. A huge open stand stood in the corner, a bit like Chelsea’s old structure at Stamford Bridge. Over a hundred fans had travelled from a long way south to cheer for Nakhonsi. They were over in the main stand.

The home fans made a proper noise which would continue throughout. The game was open from the start as the home side's Brazilian forward Gilberto Macena showed his class. His wide compatriot André Luís was very pacey.

Indeed, it was Luis who opened the scoring on just four minutes with a clever lob over oncoming goalkeeper Chakhon Philaklang. Nakhonsi kept their composure, and it was so surprising when a low shot from another Brazilian forward, Erivelto beat goalie Sangphet Puklongyong as it went in the bottom corner. 

The locals around me were friendly and enjoying a game that became tighter after the opening flurry. Someone had brought in a drone above the fans to film. Many took in their own beers as there had been hardly any security checks.

The playing surface was hard and bobbly did not help the game flow. United were playing the better football of the two sides as the half progressed although Phitsanulok were more dynamic. The contrasting styles made it a most watchable contest.

The visitors were throwing themselves to the floor a bit too much for my liking as half-time approached. At the interval, I decided to change positions once the sun had dropped and went high up in the corner stand.

Shortly after the restart, Puklongyong made a good stop when a Nakhonsi man was clean through and then made another good save shortly after. It was a game in the balance as both sides looked to take a lead into the second leg. 

A clever home side free-kick routine was nearly headed in at the back post before a header from Luis looked like it might have gone over the line before Philaklang clawed it against the post, as referee Kotchapoom Meesridaecha waved away appeals.

Then another Phitsanulok header came back off the underside of the bar with the keeper beaten. The local ultras were going into overdrive getting behind their side. They were showing plenty of annoyance at the officials for not clamping down on the amateur dramatics of the away team. 

A video of the adventures throughout the day

Despite the increasing pressure from the hosts mainly from set pieces, Nakhonsi hung on for a valuable draw. I drifted away hoping to clap eyes on a songthaew outside or a taxi. Nothing appeared to be available so I set off walking towards town.

At this point, a taxi saw me in the opposite direction while another one stood by the footbridge going the right way. I was about to get in when a fan scrambled down the steps telling me to wait. He’d booked the cab in advance but welcomed me to get in.

 

He was typical of Thais I meet on the travels. He was going for the train and dropped me at the station while refusing to take anything towards the fare. We big our farewells as I headed towards the night bazaar in search of food and drink.

There wasn’t the bar action I’d envisaged but my lovely chicken and rice dish washed down with a coke at Nan Rim Food Center overlooking the river was just the ticket. It was time for alcohol, and to tick off three bars that I’d shortlisted.

 

Amarin in town was a trendy place on the corner of Phayalithai and Chaopraya Road. The Hoegaarden was expensive and the music a bit too cool for school for my liking. However, they charged my phone, and I was served by a young lady for whom anything less than stunning would be an unfair description.

Further up Pahaylithai was Girls Don’t Cry. Again, aimed at local hi-so’s, this bar offered tremendous service, with five beers on tap, with the promise of more to come. Free nibbles too. Again expensive, but well worth it. A bar for an occasional treat but on my radar for any return visit. 

It was then over the railway where I found Wood Stock, which I really enjoyed. A superb band played Thai and occasional western stuff. A TV with the sound down showed the FA Cup semi-final and a DJ played great tracks at the interval.

I got in a muddle over the actual time and when my train was due before enjoying a few cold large Leo’s. Three excellent bars filled in the evening perfectly before I returned to the station. The train arrived at 00:10, a few minutes late. 

The journey lost time throughout, eventually reaching Lak Si nearly an hour late at around 6.30am. My sleep was sporadic, often broken by foghorn-voiced vendors going up and down the carriages. I was home half an hour later, in time for plenty of rest before the afternoon’s local football.

Phitsanulok was great and I’d seen a decent game. Nakhonsi won the second leg 3-2 a week later and were promoted to Thai League 2.




Monday 14 October 2024

North Bangkok University

 

North Bangkok University FC is a football club that is based in Pathum Thani to the north of the Thai capital. Upon formation in 2006 the club played at Bangkok University Stadium, competing in local and college competition.


In 2010 ‘The Horsemen’ joined the third tier Bangkok Metropolitan Region of the third tier national Regional League finishing just outside the championship pool places in their inaugural campaign.

Home matches were split between playing at the Infantry Department 11 Royal Guard groundThanarom Village Football Field, Bangkok University Stadium and the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi.


North Bangkok went one better the following season as they ended up as runners up in the table having moved into the North Bangkok University Stadium. This led to qualification for the Champions League promotion play-offs, where hopes of going up ended.

The 2012 season ended in sixth place, followed by eighth place finishes in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 North Bangkok weighed in with a disappointing eleventh place spot before improving to seventh place in 2016 as Robert Ghansah topped the club scoring chart.


Thai league football was restructured for the 2017 season with the club being placed in the new fourth tier Thai League 4 (T4) Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Sirichai Lamphuttha and Poomipat Kantanet scored the goals as North Bangkok raced to the league title.

The team were defeated by Marines Eureka in the Champions League play-offs to miss out once again on promotion. The club bounced back to secure their second consecutive title in 2018 as Joao Francisco scored the goals.


A second place in the Lower Group led to a further play off which was won 2-1 on aggregate against Muang Loei United to win promotion to the third tier for 2019. A fifth place finish ensued with Piyapong Homkhajohn putting away the goals.

The 2020-21 campaign saw Thai football realign its calendar to correspond with the European season with the competition reverting to three tiers. It was also one affected by the coronavirus pandemic with many games played behind closed doors. NBU didn't let this affect their form as they finished top of Thai League 3 Bangkok Region.


The goals of Chanotaj Pipatmongkonchai did the business but the team only came fifth out of six sides in the Lower Region playoff rounds. University regathered under their boss Damrongsak Boonmuang to end top again in the regular season of 2021-22.

ThitiwaThitinartaen ended as the top scorer before a dramatic last round of playoff games saw North Bangkok pipped for promotion in the last few seconds. The 2022-23 season saw the team finish top of the Bangkok region for the third consecutive season.

 

Célio and Veeraphong Aon-pean shared the goals which again saw NBU progress no further through the Champions League playoffs. In 2023-24 both Phitchanon Chanlung and Pheemphapob Viriyachanchai also got in on the goalscoring act as the side ended as runners-up in the regional title but went no further in their attempts to be promoted.

North Bangkok University FC will play in the Thai League 3 Bangkok Region in the 2022-23 season.

My visits

North Bangkok 1 Chamchuri United 2 (Sunday 6th April 2014) Regional League Bangkok Region (att: approx 200)


My annual Sunday double header on the way back from the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes saw me get an early sighter of the stadium as we flew over it heading to land at Don Muang.


After checking into the Asia Airport Hotel, I went downstairs into the Zeer shopping mall for some desperately needed food after feeling rather under the weather for the previous thirty six hours. 

I crossed the pedestrian bridge that straddled the expressway and thankfully found a cab driver who understood my instructions. This was somewhat of a relief as my driver from the airport had seemed determined to take me on a tour of the city before he realised that I wasn’t a first time traveller.


The pleasant drive along the Rangsit Nakhon-Nayak Road took me past the many eateries and markets along the side of the khlong. The route was the same as I’d taken a hundred or so metres further on the previous year to take photos at the Bangkok Glass Leo Stadium.

My driver took me right through the campus and deposited me by the entrance to the Bangkok University Stadium. I paid my 60 Baht admission fee after taking a few photos looking into the stadium from outside. 


I found myself in the away section. Ironically, I had a Chamchuri United shirt from my visit in October, but it was with my mate Steve Walker as I’d dispatched unneeded luggage for the remainder of my stay.

The stadium basically consisted of two long low stands down one side with bench seating, which was linked in the centre by an area for press, cameras, and match officials. The players got changed in separate blocks at either end of the stands. 


The rest of the arena had no spectator facilities but was surrounded by wire fencing. The far side had a scoreboard on the halfway line. It had once been home to Bangkok United before they moved to the Thai Japanese Stadium nearer the city centre.

The weather was in the high thirties for a 4pm kick off, so I didn’t expect a fast paced encounter. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the tempo and action on a perfect pitch with Leo Stadium in the background. Amazingly the match kicked off bang on time, which I found to be a bit of a rarity in Thailand.


To see a clip of the emergence of the teams, click here.

On seven minutes North Bangkok had a good opportunity saved as they started off in good form. It was a fairly even encounter with the home side showing more creative prowess. Another decent chance was spurned just before the half hour.


The Horsemen were made to pay for their wastefulness as Chamchuri took the lead a couple of minutes before the interval.Number 19 brought down a cross at the back post a fired home to the joy of the fifty or so visiting fans including a little lad who led the chanting on his own!

The joy didn’t last too long as North Bangkok restored parity in stoppage time. They had a free kick charged down by a visiting hand before number 16 fired home the second attempt. At the interval I took a walk to the shop underneath the halls of residence behind the far goal as there was no catering at the ground. 


I purchased a key ring from the club shop before taking a seat in the home section for the second half while enjoying a gratefully received bottle of water and an ice cream. The home side continued to press, but Chamchuri looked mightily effective on the break.

The game appeared destined to end level until the visitors broke once more in stoppage time with number 10 finishing another counterattack. It was very nearly 3-1 as the ball once more entered the Bangkok net, but the goal was chalked off for offside.


It had been a decent encounter in general. I headed back on foot past the buildings in mid-construction and where a student was working on an old aeroplane fuselage. I walked over the footbridge over the busy road as the sun set over Pathum Thani to take a taxi to Muang Thong United for the north Bangkok derby against Bangkok Glass.

North Bangkok University 0 Nakhonsi United 0 (Saturday 19th March 2022) T3 Champions League Lower Region Playoffs (att: 520)

It was time for a long overdue revisit to the North Bangkok University Stadium, and with the team qualifying for the end of season group stage playoffs for promotion to the second tier I figured there was no better time.

The venue was one of those I considered was going to be awkward to get to while I dreamed of my new location while back in England. However, local knowledge was doing me well along with a couple of apps offering solutions. 

I took a bus to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat from Minburi, where I crossed the road to take a 39 service to Future Rangsit mall for food and a look around. A musical band played middle of the road Thai stuff as shoppers milled in increasing numbers.

When it came to time to find my bus along the main road in the direction of Nakhon Nayok I came unstuck. I couldn’t find my way to the bus stop which didn’t seem to correspond with Google Maps. In the end I jumped in a taxi with time getting on towards the 3.30pm start. 

It was immediately apparent that the visitors had travelled in great numbers for what was a long distance from the south in minivans. They had a stall set up selling souvenirs outside and some had set up an impromptu bar.

The security on the gate was a bit heavy but that might have to do with an incident in the previous home game where Bangkok FC player Aitsaret Noichaiboon attacked NBU man Supasan Ruangsuphanimit with a Muay Thai-style elbow and all hell had broken loose. 

Both sides cancelled each other out in this competitive clash. I viewed from among the superb away support. The German coach of the visitors, Jorg Steinebrunner, was animated at times but he seemed to get his message across

The hosts main tactic consisted of long throws into the box in the general direction of decent striker Sergey Tumasyan, and then falling over quite a lot. Fortunately, referee Thapakorn Thongkon was having none of it. 

While I couldn’t condone any attack on a player, I was quickly understanding how opponents could lose their rag against the mob representing the university. They were a piece of work and knew plenty of dark arts.

Both sides had won their first game 3-0 and were determined not to give anything away in this encounter on a poor playing surface. The heat wasn’t helping either, with drinks breaks being called midway through each half. 

At the break I walked to the shop at the far end for refreshments and an ice cream before settling back down. Ten minutes into the restart an excellent Nakhonsi move ended with a header going just wide, and that was about all to report on.

Both defences were the winner in an absolute stalemate. The courtesy campus bus gave us on foot a ride back to the main road, and on crossing the bridge a bus was soon with us to take me back to Zeer Rangsit, from where another couple of services delivered me back to Minburi.

North Bangkok University 0 Saruburi United 0 (Saturday 2nd April 2022) T3 Champions League Lower Region Playoffs (att: 200) 

If I thought I would see a better game on my return a couple of weeks later, I was to be disappointed. This one really stank the place out. Again, I went in with the away fans and enjoyed the same over the top security measures.

Tumasyan was missing from the Uni line up and were consequently even more lacking in forward invention with the strong wind at their backs in the first half. Saraburi opted for a shorter passing game that was more pleasing on the eye.

Both sides fired off speculative efforts in the early exchanges as those from Saraburi made me most welcome as they cheered on their heroes, while one of their defenders put in a last gasp challenge to avert the danger of a North Bangkok attempt.

Aboubacar Kone looked like a class act for the visitors in midfield dealing with the bumpy pitch. United took the ascendency as the half progressed. It said plenty that I enjoyed the performance of ref Kristin Saisombat as much as any player in what was a real contrast of styles. 

Saraburi continued to be the better side after the interval, but we still awaited an effort on goal from either side. The visitors skipper went down with what appeared to be a nasty injury but play continued. Fans were hysterical in their screaming before there was a long delay in play.

It fired up both teams with the home sides Piyaphong Homkhajohn taking some real abuse which he wasn’t slow in returning. While NBU were not high on my list of most watchable sides, their skipper Weerayut Jitkuntod was solid and excellent in general.

The closest either side came to goal arrived late on when Saraburi keeper Ritthikiat Yodsamut nearly palmed a long range shot into his own net, but the score remained blank until full time.

At which point I again jumped aboard the free shuttle bus and began my walk along the main road towards the BG Pathum United v Port game, when I was intercepted by a fan who turned out to be the father of an away team player who kindly gave me a lift.