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 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.
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.