Samut Prakan City

 

Samut Prakan City FC is a professional football club with an interesting story to its formation in 2018. The origins of Pattaya United FC, who were based in the Nong Prue suburbs of the Gulf seaside town, can be traced back to 1989.

However, owner Tanet Phanichewa decided to disband the club, but keep their license and move them to the south of Bangkok as Samut Prakan City FC. United’s history along with my visit can be read about here.

The club moved into Samut Prakarn SAT Stadium along with Samut Prakan FC. The arena had previously staged top-flight football as home to Osotspa FC who changed their title to Super Power Samut Prakan FC in their second season in residence before morphing into Jumpasri United FC and heading off to Mahasarakham.

The vacancy was obviously noticed by Mr Phanichewa prior to him bringing in new head coach Surapong Kongthep. Investment was made in the team, and City ended the 2019 season in sixth place with Ibson Melo topping the scoring charts.

A Japanese-Thai connection was introduced to the club as new coach Tetsuya Murayama remodelled the squad. His tenure lasted just a few months before being replaced by Masatada Ishii as ‘Sea Fang’ ended again in sixth in 2020-21.

Barros Tardeli had led the scoring while on a one season loan from BG Pathum United. The 2021-22 campaign was a far different affair. Crowds dwindled partly to the COVID-19 pandemic and after early enthusiasm waned.

Yasushi Yoshida was appointed as head coach in December 2021 and despite the goals of Chayawat Srinawong and a late upturn in form, City were relegated on the final day of the season. Wholesale changes were announced at the club in the summer of 2022. 

The owners sold City, who would become a feeder club to Chonburi FC, as many of that club's players were sent on a seasons’ loan. Sharks former assistant coach Jukkapant Punpee was appointed in charge of team affairs at Samut Prakhan.

He was replaced by Kritsakorn Kerdpol and then Tana Chanabut as a dip in form saw City in a battle against relegation. The 2023-24 campaign saw a new owner, Samrit Bunditkitsada, purchase the club. He certainly made an impression, not being slow to court publicity.

Vantawut Whangprasert was appointed as head coach, lasting five months before being replaced by Wanderley Junior. His spell didn’t last until the end of the season, with Vantuwut returning to the dugout as City finished fifteenth with Fernando Viana top scoring.

However, that only tells half the story. Players went unpaid for long periods leading to a clear-out before the 2024-25 season. The club was locked out of Samut Prakan Stadium over non-payment of rent, meaning that they became tenants of Customs United in Lad Krabang.

Samut Prakan City FC will play in Thai League 2 in the 2022-23 season.

My visits

Samut Prakan City 1 Police Tero 1 (Saturday 22nd January 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 486) 

Based in Min Buri directly north of Samut Prakhan, for a couple of months, I decided that with my newfound knowledge of local transport that it was time to venture a little bit further. SAT Stadium previously looked a bit awkward to get to.

A Saturday teatime kick-off was ideal as was the fixture. It gave me a chance to catch up again with Tero and a few of their fans who are friends with a couple of mine, Sean and Tracey Newby.

 

Tickets had to be bought online in advance, but that proved no problem. I plumped for the away zone for 200 THB. Buses and their timetable can be unreliable at best in Bangkok, so I gave myself plenty of wriggle room.

In my favour was a previous trip to FC Bangsaotong, not too far west of this venue. Minburi to Bangkapi is always a piece of cake. The 145 from there can be a bit sketchy, but there were no issues on this occasion. 

Indeed, it was to be my lucky day as the 133 soon pulled up at my stop at Seacon Square. From there I was taken adjacent to the stadium. A Tero fan getting onboard during the ride confirmed all was good.

It was only around 4.30pm, an hour before the scheduled kick-off time. I immediately took a liking to the outside of SAT Stadium while standing on Thepharak Road behind the main stand. I was taken back to the 1980’s in an instant.

It reminded me of the hemmed in streetscene surrounding many inner-city lower division and non-league grounds of that era. The TV crew vans added to the congestion along with pop up stalls vending food and drink. All that was missing was the smell of burgers and Bovril.

Getting stuck into the beers, along with a complimentary nip or two of whisky from the friendly away hardcore fans, a little too easily, I decided to introduce myself to a group of ex-pat away fans I’d seen at Tero’s home game the week before. 

They were an interesting group. Extremely boisterous, including a couple of Hearts fans who’d seemingly fallen out of a time tunnel from the Wheatfield Stand in the late 70s. They were not shy to offer out their thoughts or insults.

A poor Thai couple came walking down the road wearing Port FC shirts. I quickly worked out that this wasn’t the fellas' most favourite club. The kick-off was put back thirty minutes, which added to the session.

We stumbled in as the teams lined up for the King’s Anthem. I was quite impressed with the inside of the venue too. We were down the side towards the corner flag, with a covered seated section further up and then more open accommodation.

The more vocal City fans were based over in the covered stand which ran the full length of the far side. To negate poor views caused by the running track, semi-permanent open stands had been erected square to the goal lines. 

Evandro Paulista had the first effort of the game for Tero, with his low shot being safely gathered by keeper Patiwat Khammai. A direct curling free kick at the other end struck the top of the frame of Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool’s goal.

Paulista gave his side the lead when he rose like a salmon at the back post to head a home a delicious bending cross from Ekkachai Sumrei on seventeen minutes as he climbed above his marker to put the ball in off the post.

 

Hathairattanakool looked confident in dealing with a couple of threats, but he was caught out lingering with the ball at his feet. Chatri Rattanawong dispossed him but could not slot the ball into the vacant goal from a wide angle.

Daisuke Sakai then stung the palms of the visiting stopper, who nearly palmed the ball over his own line. A wonderful little reverse pass put in City’s Kevin Ingreso. The shot from the BG Pathum United loanee flew across the face of goal.

 

At the interval we popped back out to the stall and then managed to circumnavigate the stadium booze rules by adding a coke top to disguise the Leos to our pints with permission from the stewards. I guess this camouflage was in case the TV cameras panned round!

Into the second half a combination of ricochets and brave defending somehow denied Ingreso from restoring parity. The hosts’ task was made harder just before the hour mark when Chaiyawat Buran picked up a silly yellow card and was dismissed. 

Chayawat Srinawong missed a guilt edged chance to level things up when fed by a perfect cross from Settawut Wongsai along the carpet, but the substitute scuffed his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.

Seven minutes from time Samut Prakan got the equaliser that their performance probably merited. A fine cross curling away from the keeper by Suphanan Bureerat allowed Srinawong to make amends as he headed home. 

Tero’s fine away support continued to get behind their side, but they must have feared the worst as pressure continued to mount. Hathairattanakool got a poor punch on a cross, the ball was fired back in where an intended goalward deflection from Aris Zarifovic was gratefully pounced on by the custodian.

Referee Sahapop Sriboonlue blew for full time after five minutes additional time. 1-1 was a fair result. My alcohol content decreed a taxi a good idea. I had an invite to a party at my local bar. A messy evening ensued.

Samut Prakan City 0 Customs United 3 (Sunday 11^th September 2022) Thai League 2 (att: 232) 

There had been much upheaval at Samut Prakan City FC following their relegation to the second tier, with Chonburi FC taking up ownership and sending several of their players on loan. I was keen to see how it affected things.

Especially as I had been to see local rivals Customs the week before and had left very impressed by their own overhaul during the close season. And best of all, I had sussed out a cheap and easy way to reach the stadium. 

Shaking off a bit of a hangover I pressed myself into action. The incessant rain had stopped, it was a lovely afternoon as I headed to the van station at the top end of Minburi Market, from where we were away on a full bus within minutes.

I messaged my Aussie pal Vaughan McClear to tell him my plans and he got straight back to say he would meet me at the ground. The van sped without any traffic issues to Market Village Suvarnabhumi in Bang Na.

A return trip from Chonburi after an international had opened this route to me a few months earlier and it only cost 30 baht. From there I crossed the bridge over the busy Bang Na-Chonburi expressway to have a quick browse around the interesting Kingkaew Market.

Before long the 132 bus arrived and took me the rest of the way for a further 20 baht. So 50 baht all in when a taxi back last time cost me over 400 baht. I arrived with over an hour and a half before the kick off time but this was all part of my plan. 

The area around the stadium had intrigued me on my earlier visits, so I was keen to explore, especially some of the establishments shown on Google Maps were no longer in business following the Covid pandemic.

Bang Phli Market just south of the arena was bustling, mainly dealing in fresh foods. The streets of the area, along with adjoining alleys, were my perfect way of seeing what I call real Thailand. Communities getting on with their business and chatting away.

The smiles and hellos I received gladdening the heart as I meandered just generally filling in time, passing a couple of snooker halls, numerous coffee, and smoothie shops, and lots of general stores who somehow keep going, which is always a mystery to me as to how they manage.

But manage they do, as Thais are a resilient bunch. I had been a laid down with a 24 hour bug a few days earlier, so I was keeping street food to a minimum. I went for the rather safe but dull option of toasties from 7/11. Incredible to think I virtually lived on such food before my eyes and mind were opened. 

Vaughan arrived and parked up as I finished a beer as I explained to him the story behind the clubs and current form etc. The hosts, who my brother thought David Bowie had written a song about, cam into the game winless, whereas United were unbeated.

Tickets were 80 baht on the Popular Side among the noisy City fans. We grabbed a beer and took up a pew on the back row. While low in numbers the fans made an absolute din with leaders on megaphones accompanied by drums. It was so loud that it was hard to strike up a conversation. 

City came close to taking the lead in the sixth minute when a low shot from Warakorn Thongbai was fumbled by keeper Sumethee Khokpho, with Passakorn Sripudpong somehow managing to spoon the follow up over the bar.

At the other end Japanese midfielder Daisuke Sakai saw his effort easily saved by Thatpicha Auksornsri. Yotsakorn Burapha saw a low left footed effort go narrowly wide for the hosts before another effort from outside the box just missed at the other side of the goal. 

City were in the ascendency but were missing a finisher. I later learned that their main forward was out injured. His presence could have been a game changer, but we will never know. Customs classy David Cuerva stung the hands of Auksornsri as half time approached.

At the break Vaughan and I replenished our cups, and I had a chat with some pleasant expat City fans who seemed a cheerful bunch. We moved a bit further along after the restart, so we were able to have a proper chat. 

Customs looked a different side after the break. They saw a shot fumbled wide by Auksornsri before taking the lead on forty-nine minutes. A corner from Sakai was nodded home at the near post by top scorer Phodchara Chainarong, one of five United players on loan from Port FC. Only his marker Phanthamit Praphanth can explain what he thought he was doing.

Cuerva had a low bending shot pushed around the post before it became 0-2 on sixty-five minutes. A cross at the second attempt from Chainarong was cleverly turned in at the near post by fellow Port loanee Sittha Boonlha. 

A low effort from Rachata Moraksa was powerful enough but was straight at keeper Khokpho. With six minutes remaining United expended their lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances when a shot from Sakai took a wicked deflection off the head of Nattapong Phephat to leave goalie Auksornsri helpless.

Burapha saw a shot well blocked in the final action of the game. A 0-3 reversal was harsh on City, but they missed their chances and were made to pay. United portrayed the qualities of a good team when winning convincingly when playing averagely.

Vaughan kindly dropped me back to Market Village where I caught the van back to Minburi with minutes to spare. The driver had been correct on the way down when telling me I would be OK at 9pm! I spent the remainder of an enjoyable day watching a great England Test match performance. A really good Sunday all round.

Samut Prakan City 1 Rajpracha 0 (Friday 11th November 2022) Thai League 2 (att: 129)

My friend Gary was down from Buriram for a football weekend before meeting up with Ryd, a mutual friend from Scarborough at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the Sunday morning. This was a natural choice of fixture as he had never visited Samut Prakan Stadium. 

Neither had Steve, another friend of us both, so he decided to jump onboard once the pair of us had been for a quick look round Minburi Market. My Google map directions were not the best and led to us taking a long route before we eventually got on the main road which heads towards Chonburi.

We still had plenty of time before kickoff, and it was good to meet up with loyal City fan and Twitter friend Phil Williams and his wife Tun as we grabbed a beer before going into the stands. It was only a couple of weeks since my previous visit as the stadium hosted FC Bangsaotong inthe Thai FA Cup.

There had been more in attendance to see a non-league team, which must have worried those in charge of Samut Prakan City. That said, those in attendance really got behind their side who put in a decent performance in response.

Supawat Yokakul in goal for the hosts was first into the action having to tip over an overhit cross from under his own bar. A fine break started by Rachata Moraksa saw Nititorn Sripraman being put in. His effort was saved by Pathomtat Sudprasert with the follow up by Sho Shimoji hitting his own player on the deck and bouncing over the bar. 

Nigerian midfielder Evans Aneni was a quality act in midfield for the hosts in what was a most watchable encounter with the red sky in the distance providing a stunning backdrop. The visitors somehow spurned the opportunity to take the lead three minutes before the interval.

A deep cross was laid back by Pinyo Inpinit to Ronnachai Rangsiyo in the middle of the goal just two yards out. He managed to hit the feet of keeper Yokakul. At the break Phil thought that the ball had crossed the line. Either way, it was a shocking effort.

 

The goalie didn’t reappear for the second half, and surprisingly nor did Aneni. Five minutes after the restart a lovely slide rule pass from Praphanth put in Shimoji who dinked his effort past the oncoming Sudprasert but past the post.

Atthawit Sukchuai for Rajpracha brought out the best of sub keeper Ratchaphol Namthong. At the other end Yotsakorn Burapha controlled a shot and smashed his effort aginst the crossbar with the goalkeeper rooted to his line. 

The winner arrived ten minutes from time, when Kriangkrai Pimrat who fed fellow substitute Phanthamit Praphanth who banged his left footed shot away into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Supawit Romphopak had a chance to level things up but he shot tamely straight at Namthong as City hung on to probably deserve all three points. We all enjoyed the game, the atmosphere and venue. 

The way back to Minburi was made interesting by poor directional skills, which saw us get jammed by a khlong bridge next to an interesting bar. The girls working there certainly seemed bewildered. We eventually returned for Gary and I, to have beers with my girlfriend Taew at her Minburi bar.

Samut Prakan City 2 Chiangmai United 1 (Saturday 2^nd September 2023) Thai League 2 (att: 494) 

Well, I thought I’d seen some stuff over the years, but as I often say in Thailand: never presume. The hosts probably overall deserved the victory gained through a fine early strike from Sangjin Lee and then a header from Fernando Viana. The visitors struck back through Marlon Silva seven minutes after the restart, but that was only half of the story.

The atmosphere had been great despite a small gate, with the locals knowing how to make a din. The game wasn’t the worst either with the home side near the wrong end of the table up against the away team who were near the playoff zone and looked extremely useful when I saw them win away on the opening day of the season.

 

City had missed a guilt edge chance at 2-0 to finish off the game, but on the hour mark I had Chiang Mai down for at least a draw. Indeed, I was doing “live” reports back to my mate to edit for our Thai Football Podcast which is out on Wednesday, and I was about to offer my predictions when all hell broke loose.

Prakan scored with a well taken lob, but the CMU players were most unimpressed, haranguing the linesman, with referee Satchukorn Saenchu heading over. The officials ushered the players away and then had a discussion of a few minutes. VAR is not used in the second tier of Thai football, but between them they decided to chalk off the goal. 

Cue, the management of SPC completely losing the plot with the near side linesman and fourth official before they ordered their players off the pitch and refused to continue. It was a disgrace, embarrassing, and shambolic. I’ve no idea how it was resolved but after a lengthy delay the game resumed.

The final half hour was not good to watch. It turned into a contest of who could con the weak officials the most. My mood wasn’t the best after the incident anyway, so the theatrics didn’t help. CMU had a goal disallowed, for pushing from a set piece, before the whistle eventually went to signal happy celebrations among the home players and fans. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.

It was a shame. City have been taken over by new owners who have given the stadium a facelift and there was a positive vibe about the place. However, they had an incident with officials the previous week, and their opening day win at Pattaya was marred with off field hassle. 

Then the previous week to my visit, the coaches had been embroiled in arguments with the match officials in the away game at Nakhonsi United. The Chaingmai game made it three times in four weeks, and they did seem to be attracting bother.

My Video Roving Report for A Thai Football Podcast

My appearance was opportune for the podcast I was co-hosting as I was originally planning to go to Rayong v Nakhonsi but a friend's plan changed so my wife and I returned from Bangsaray so I could still get to a match.

My journey to Bang Pli was via Bangkapi and then a ride on the new Yellow Line Monorail before disembarking past Seacon Square and catching the 133 bus. I returned by taxi to the village retail park where a minivan and then taxi took me home.

An eventful evening!

Police Tero

 

Police Tero FC is a football club, based in the Lak Si district of Bangkok. The current title of the club came about following a merger with Police United in 2017, after that particular club had been previously dissolved owing to financial troubles.

Police came to Tero's rescue by offering them a home ground. The Thai League 1 rules state that clubs cannot share grounds. When Thai Honda was promoted in 2016 they did a deal to use 72-years Anniversary Stadium in Minburi, leaving Tero homeless.

The club moved to Lak Si to use Boonyachinda Stadium, which is part of the Royal Thai Police Sport Club from where a merger was agreed with the reformed Police United, with the club name being changed for the 2018 season with a new nickname of 'The Silver Shield Dragons' being adopted.

A look at the history of Police United along with a visit to a match while they were residents at Thammasat Stadium, can be viewed here.

The origins of the current club can be traced back to 1979, as they originally went by the name of Sasana Witthaya School. After a few years of playing cup football, the club joined the Thai League in 1996.

It was at that time that the club's founder Mr. Worawi Makudi came to a deal with the Managing Director of BEC-TERO Entertainment Co Ltd, Mr Brian Marcar with the club being renamed FC Tero Sasana; also known as Singha Tero Sasana. 

The following year BEC-World Public Company Limited got involved with the club, with them changing their title once again to acknowledge the fact. 

'The Fire Dragons' reached the FA Cup Final and entered the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League after finishing third in the league, before Jason Withe, son of former Aston Villa and England striker Peter Withe took over the coaching reigns and led Tero Sasana to the TPL title in 2000. He moved aside and Thai, Pichai Pituwong's side retained the title.

The club finished TPL runners-up for the following two seasons and then appointed Englishman David Booth as coach, and then two Frenchmen; Regis Laguesse and Christophe Larrouilh. Around this time the club played at their Nong Chok Stadium, 5km northwest of Suvarnabhumi Airport. 

Links with Arsenal FC were also developed with their famous traditional shirts adopted for the first team.

An image of Nong Chock Stadium, taken from the internet

In 2010 the club moved its home games to the Thephasadin Stadium in central Bangkok at the same time they appointed Peter Butler, the former West Ham and Southend United midfielder. 

For a look at Thephasadin Stadium, a previous home of Tero, please click here.

No honours arrived despite a few runners-up places, so in 2011, Payong Khunnaen was made head coach. At the same time, Yorkshireman Andrew Ord was running the junior second string. 

Following a takeover of RBAC Mittraphap FC based at Rattana Bundit University, that club became known as RBAC BEC Tero Sasana or R-BEC for short. This side fielded young up-and-coming players for the first team. Click here to read about R-BAC 

Ord had done a good job, while Khunnaen was judged to have underachieved, so they swapped positions for the start of the 2012 season. During the 2012 season, Khunnaen was replaced by Sven-Göran Eriksson who led the team to a third-place finish. He departed at the end of the campaign.

Tero moved out of Thephasadin Stadium at the end of the 2013 season, instead taking up residence at 72-years Anniversary Stadium in Minburi in the east of Bangkok, as new coach Stephane Demol took over the team.

The 2015 season kicked off with the Portuguese, Manuel Cajuda as head coach at Tero before Božidar Bandović tried his best to get something out of the team as the side struggled and eventually finished in the final relegation spot.

However, owing to the financial situation at Saraburi who ultimately folded despite finishing in a safe position, Tero were reprieved. Results were disappointing at the start of the 2016 campaign, which led to the dismissal of Bandović, with Surapong Kongthep filling in until the end of the season.

Uthai Boonmoh took over as head coach but only lasted until June 2017, when he was replaced by former Manchester United youth player Mike Mulvey. The goals of Michaël N'dri saw Tero finish in fourteenth position.

Scott Cooper arrived from Ubon UMT United as the new head coach for the 2018 season, with a wealth of experience of coaching in Thailand. Cooper departed soon into the new season to be replaced by Totchtawan Sripan.

He failed to save the club from relegation as five sides went down at the end of the season despite more goals from N'dri and the positive contributions of the Myanmar international Aung Thu. 

Former Thai international midfielder Rangsan Viwatchaichok took over as head coach in September 2018 to look to restore Tero's top-flight status. He took the side straight back up in the runners-up position in 2019 with Greg Houla leading the scoring.

Eleventh place sealed consolidation in 2020-21 with Dragan Bošković putting away the chances before the same position was achieved in 2021-22. This time the top scorers award was shared by Janepob Phokhi and Evandro Paulista. Seventh place was achieved the following season as Tero continued to punch above their weight.

Jeong Woo-geun put away the goals while Isaac Honny led the side from the back. Coach Rangsan was lured away to Port FC in November 2023 to be replaced by Tan Cheng Hoe whose side failed to avoid relegation a few months later. Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul was appointed as head coach in June 2024.

Police Tero FC will play in Thai League 2 in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Wednesday 1^st April 2015

For a look at a visit to Police United, before the merger, please click here.

as BEC Tero Sasana at 72nd Anniversary Stadium, Minburi

BEC Tero Sasana 1 Bangkok Glass 1 (Sunday 1^st November 2015) Thai Premier League (att: 4,066)

My holiday was coming to a close with just two days remaining. I’d had a brilliant time, but I still was eager for more. I had a great chance to tick off a difficult ground to get to, and I wasn’t going to miss the chance.

After a nice relaxing morning, I waited to take a bus out to Fashion Island to meet Steve Walker, my good pal in Bangkok, from a stop on Sukhumvit near Soi Cowboy. Many buses came past, but not the 501.

In later years I would also come to realise that it is an irregular service on a Sunday, but fortunately, I also found other alternative routes.

It was time to use my ingenuity and local knowledge. I walked the mile or so up Soi 23, through Prasanmit University to the pier on the Saen Saep Boat Service up the main canal of the city. My boarding onto the boat got a few looks from the locals, but I was on. The conductor came round and gave me my 16 Baht (32p) ticket.

Steve and I had previously used this service from Bangkapi to the Mahattai stop to go to a Thailand Under 21 match at Rajamangala Stadium. This ride was much longer and most enjoyable. It’s a relaxing, cheap way to beat the traffic while seeing some interesting sights.

Bangkapi Mall was as busy as ever. I walked through the shops and over the bridge in readiness to take a bus when Steve rang. He was already at Fashion, so I jumped in a cab for the rest of the way.

We enjoyed a coffee and a bit of shopping before heading to his house in Minburi to watch some TV and listen to music. Sean and Tracey arrived as they were staying with Steve and Fah before moving into their nearby new home. After a nap, it was time to head to the game.

We walked through the village to Sam Wa. My pals told me that there wasn’t much in the way of food at the stadium, so I topped up at the 7/11. The taxi driver knew the way to the 72nd Anniversary Stadium, which included going up the main Suwinthanong Road and doing a U-turn to reach Khum Klao Road. The driver dropped us at the back of the Main Stand.

From the outside, the white walls of the stand gave a very good first impression. The two club mascots were greeting fans. The junior Tero fans were giving the Glass rabbit some real stick and he couldn’t get away.

Stands were giving out and advertising sponsors' products and there was food everywhere. Much to the amusement of my friends! We wandered around the stand to the far side, giving me some great views of the two large stands through the fence.

Admission was 100 Baht with a free programme. More catering stands just before the entrance furnished fans. The popular choice seemed to be the beer that came in a club bucket. I stuck to a Coke. The facilities inside were the norm for a Thai stadium; they were pretty Spartan.

We found a seat around two-thirds up and level with the penalty area to take in the view. The Main Stand opposite us had a roof like a racing car spoiler over the central section and red seats. 

Our large open bank was made up of the usual wide and steep steps, which were perfect for sitting on. The Glass away supporters were further down the touchline. Neither end had any spectator accommodation. The pitch was surrounded by a running track.

The teams came out to a good ovation. Before kick off the Tero players came across to their massed support. I had been told in advance to wait for the club song. 

The fans sang a dirge that lasted far too long to the tune of ‘I am Sailing’. I suppose it could have been worse if Rod Stewart had turned up to sing it, but each to their own.

The home side was struggling towards the wrong end of the table and really needed something from the game. Glass were placed comfortably in fourth place but without a chance of lifting the title.

Tero’s fans certainly knew how to get behind their side, but they were silenced after just six minutes when BG’s Japanese forward Goshi Okubo finished well. 

Glass’s number 11, the Spaniard Toti was running things with his skill and clever passing. Fodé Diakité was doing his best to stem the flow at the back for Tero.

BEC were in the game but didn’t really look like scoring as the game reached the interval. Some young females a few rows down from us were giving the referee and opposing players plenty of abuse. Steve recognised the swearing!

Manuel Cajuda, the Tero manager obviously had words with his team at the break. They came out brighter and within five minutes they were level, thanks to a strike from the edge of the box from Rangsan Viwatchaichock. The place went berserk.

Glass looked dangerous on the break, but it was Tero who looked the most likely to grab a winner. They pressed on until the end, but it was not to come. A draw was probably the right result.

Before we went the home fans gave an encore of the dirge to their team who stood respectfully, and quite probably bored stiff. Both teams as customary applauded their opposing set of supporters.

It was now time to try and get back to Minburi. The massed crowds wandered round to the narrow long street that led up to Khum Klao Road. A small van took fans back to Minburi, but it was already packed. There was no sign of any taxis.

We started to walk up the main road when an open-back van with a couple of Tero fans sitting in the back stopped for us. All four of us jumped in the back with the tipsy fans. We held on tight over the speed bumps. It was an interesting way to leave a match. We jumped out at the junction with Suwinthanong Road.

Before too long we managed to hail down a cab. The driver was a bit grumpy about taking four of us, but on he went. My pals dropped me off in Minburi, on the main Sihaburanukit Road.

I was in two minds whether to go for a beer at my favourite local bar or head back into town. I thought about taking a bus straight to the end of the road where I was staying, but in the end I plumped for a cab ride straight down to Asoke to have a relaxing final drink of the evening and fish and chips on the way home.

It seemed a perfect way to end a long day, and I needed some energy for the boy’s day out in town on the final day of my holiday!

Click here to see my YouTube video from the match.

as Police Tero at Boonyachinda Stadium

Police Tero 0 Nakhon Ratchasima 1 (Sunday 16th January 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 779)

I had moved full-time to Minburi a couple of months earlier and the top two levels of Thai football had resumed after the mid-season break. I was determined to start clocking up some new venues where I hadn’t previously watched matches.

My knowledge of the Bangkok bus system was also coming on. I knew that the number 26 would take me somewhere within walking distance of Boonyachinda Stadium after alighting at Bang Bua BTS station on the light green line.

 

The walk took me through local areas full of smiling faces and vibrancy with Google Maps my buddy. The last ten minutes were saved as a Tero fan told me to get on the back of his motorbike.

While not a fan of such transport, I liked his friendliness and I’m always eager not to turn down such acts. Beers were enjoyed outside with new friends. A Scarborough couple who I know well, Tracey and Sean Newby support the home side.

Indeed, Sean and I travelled back from an away game with some of them from Nakhon Ratchasima in 2018 and on this occasion, it was the ease of social media that put us all in touch for a sociable gargle.

It was an easy decision to go in the home open section as I knew this was where the more vociferous fans would be. Indeed, there were a group of farang who stood at the front in the middle shouting non-stop. Admission was 100 Baht. 

My initial thoughts were that they were Eastern European and perhaps friends with one of the imported players, such was their strange shouting. The following week I found out that they were from the east of Scotland when I encountered them at Samut Prakan City.

The match itself proved to be a tight affair with Tero having plenty of attacks but found themselves up against the excellent English Swatcat defender Charlie Clough. The game would be settled by a penalty three minutes into first-half stoppage time. 

The ball was going away from goals near the edge of the box when a home defender made a daft and needless challenge. Ghanian forward Kwame Karikari stepped up to beat keeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool from the spot.

Tero overseas Brazilian striker Evandro Paulista led the line well, but he and his team could not force an equaliser after the break in what had been a decent enough watch for a neutral. I enjoyed the experience and wished Tero well. They were a good bunch.

On my walk back, another fan offered me a ride on a motorbike, but I quickly got off. I just didn’t feel safe enough. Instead, I enjoyed the stroll through the sort of area I had moved to Bangkok to explore before catching a bus home.

Police Tero 2 Port FC 1 (Wednesday 4^th May 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 1,217)

Andrew Charles, an old friend from the cricket was in town and eager to take in a Port game. Ideally, it would have been a home match, but this was better than nothing as it was the final match of the season and as the venue had an emotional pull as he related to me and my pal Steve who joined us.

Andrew is from New South Wales and set up rugby league in Thailand a decade or so earlier, with the nation playing its first full international at Boonyachinda Stadium. We were told a staggering story about how his excellent operation was usurped for funding by a rogue outfit and he moved on.

We met on Soi Nana and went on to have drinks along Sukhumvit Road as our friend explained that he was now the head coach of Chile rugby league and how they had a chance of qualification for the World Cup.

It was a grand old afternoon when time suddenly caught up on us. Eventually, a taxi was sourced from outside the Speakeasy bar on Soi 15. It would be touch and go whether we made it. Fortunately, a mixture of a good driver and former knowledge plonked us outside the away end as we heard the final strains of the King's Anthem. 

While I love my Thai football experiences, I thought 200 Baht was extreme in the corner away section, exactly double the price of the home fans. It was more or less the same policy at every top-flight stadium.

As usual, the Port fans travelled in decent numbers for a 6pm kick-off, even though the team had been on a shocking run of form since the turn of the year, funnily enough since I had arrived, a point made by some friends! I guess the 3-0 home win a few days earlier against Nongbua had raised spirits. 

Port had a poor record away to Tero and it would continue in a game that saw little in it between the sides, a bit like an old Woodhead’s meat pie as I said at the time, from my youth back in Scarborough. 

The hosts took the lead shortly before the half-hour mark through Teeratep Winothai and remained in front until the seventy-sixth minute. Sergio Saurez got on the end of a set-piece move to level things up.

It was muted that it might have been his last game for the club with fellow Spaniard David Rochela. Saurez had become frustrated throughout the campaign, not least I sensed with having the hopeless Nelson Bonella up front, an import so bad he didn’t even make the bench for the last few games.

I hoped Saurez would stay in a rejuvenated side the following season. Rochela was one of my favourites but I thought his legs had gone and would probably have released him, despite his length of service and previous quality and experience.

 

Sure enough, it would be the defence who let Port down when with two minutes of normal time remaining Evandro Paulista netted the winner. No problem. We had a good night. Andrew loved the fan's experience, especially hearing the Port female screamer at close quarters. What a voice that lady has, while a video of the Port fans at the game can be seen here.

Our walk back wasn’t exactly along the same route as my previous visit, but it was fascinating all the same. We ended up down little alleys and finally along the side of the Khlong as friendly locals said hello.

 

We left Andrew to catch the BTS back into the city, while we headed home to Minburi by bus. That was the end of Thai League 1 for the 2021-22 season.

Police Tero v Port FC (Sunday 4th September 2022) Thai League 1. (att: c3,000) Match abandoned at 1-0 after 39 minutes. 

Gary Griffiths, a friend from Scarborough who was now living in Buriram was in town for a weekend of football and socialising. We had already been to the afternoon League Cup game between Siam FC and AUU Inter Bangkok at the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi, the old home of Tero Sasana.

We picked Steve up near my condo and continued to arrive and park at Boonyachinda Stadium with time for a beer outside. I had come up with what I thought was a sensible plan as we were still in the rainy season. 

I didn’t wear any Port colours and suggested we go in the home seated stand under cover for 120 Baht. I received no arguments! We got a good view in what we thought an excellent attendance as the match kicked off in good conditions.

Port looked a good side, with Negueba pulling the strings in midfield and wing-back Thitathorn Aksornsri constantly foraging down the left wing in front of us. Visiting keeper Worawut Srisupha made a good save from a long shot at the other end.

A long low Port effort came back off the post before the referee was advised to go to the TV monitors having turned down what looked like a nailed-on penalty for the visitors. Incredibly he stuck with his original decision to the amazement of Lions players and fans alike.

Inevitably enough after Port domination the home side took the lead when Jeong Woo-geun pounced on a Srisupha following a low shot to fire home the rebound on the half-hour mark. This was after a VAR check for offside.

Yodsak Chaowana of Tero committed a high challenge which caught Negueba in the head. The referee initially showed a yellow card but was advised to head to the screen once again. He changed his decision to red, as the hosts were reduced to ten men.

At this point, the official led the teams from the field as the rain began. It got heavier and heavier and began coming in horizontally through the gap in the back of the stand. Within a few minutes, puddles were forming on the pitch and before much longer it was submerged.

It was pretty obvious that the game would be abandoned so we decided to bite the bullet and make a run for it. It was not straightforward as the road outside was not lit very well and it was underwater.

Steve was struggling with water in his glasses. I was in the water near my knees after failing to allow for a drop into the car park. I eventually grabbed my mate and assisted as we got back to Gary’s thankfully large motor. 

Our driver had a tough task negotiating some flooded roads back to Minburi, with some incredible driving from others to watch out for. It was a relief when we were greeted at my local by owner Teaw offering us umbrellas. It had been a proper experience.

The match was re-arranged for the last Wednesday of the month from where the game ended, so Tero would be 1-0 up but playing with ten men.

Police Tero 2 Nongbua Pitchaya 1 (Friday 28th October 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 984) 

A far less damp return was not too long in the offing, but only after Tero played a couple of home games up the road at the Thunderdome while the pitch recovered, including what ended in a 2-2 draw in the completed draw with Port.

The game with Nongbua was a special occasion, as I was to be joined by two German groundhopping friends, Thorsten, and Maren, who were on a two-week break and attending their first-ever Thai game. 

We met at Bang Bua BTS station and went on an interesting walk to Boonyachinda Stadium, without finding anywhere obviously selling alcohol. Instead, we continued to the arena for libation and enjoyed some freebie gifts and soft drinks from sponsors setting up outside.

Our drinks continued behind the main stand where I again guided guests. Once inside we grabbed excellent seats for what was a decent enough encounter. The hosts took the lead in twenty-seven minutes in a slightly scruffy fashion.

 

A cross was overhit, and then misfired low into the box from the other side by Ekkachai Sumrei to fortunately find Marc Landry Babo. The Ivory Coast forward made no mistake controlling and firing a low shot past keeper Kittikun Jamsuwan.

Islam Batran was denied for the visitors when a fizzing effort from the edge of the box was tipped over by Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool in the home net. Chanukun Karin came close to doubling Tero’s lead in the last action before halftime. 

A deflected Nongbua shot went narrowly wide once play resumed before they were rewarded when a powerful run with a trice of fortune along its way by Barros Tardeli with a return touch from Batran saw the Brazilian make it 1-1.

Two minutes later, with eighteen left on the clock, Tero regained the lead when a corner fell at the feet of skipper Issac Honey who made no mistake from seven yards. Lesley Ablorh went close to extending the lead when firing just over the bar.

 

I wasn’t exactly how Police Tero achieved it, but they were pulling off some excellent results. They certainly seemed difficult opponents and made the most of what they had, even if it isn’t always completely pretty to watch. Fair play to them.

At full time we went out to the main Vibhabadi Rangsit road where my friends jumped in a taxi back to their hotel in the city. I faffed about when I should have followed suit instead of crossing the roads and waiting ages for one back to Minburi to meet my friends in my local bar.