Thammasat Stadium is a multi-purpose arena opened in 1998 on the Rangsit campus of Thammasat University, north of Bangkok. The venue was originally built for the 1998 Asean Games but is now predominantly used for football.
The design of the stadium is a smaller version of Rajamangala National Stadium, albeit with cover on both sides. It was striking corner floodlights and a mini stadium behind the north end with a warm-up track for athletes.
PEA FC, Provincial Electric Authority, used the stadium as their home ground in the 2001-02 season for Asian Champions League games, before Police United arrived full-time from 2011 until 2014.
They moved south near to headquarters at Boonyachinda Stadium prior to Dome FC moving in from 2015 and then Bangkok United in 2016. The stadium is often used by the Thai FA for the semi-finals and finals of their cup competitions.
The stadium also staged matches in the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship, including the semi-final which saw South Korea defeat Saudi Arabia.
My visits
Insee Police United 0 Suphanburi 2 (Wednesday 27th March 2013) Thai Premier League
Click here to read about my first call to the stadium.
Dome FC 1 BCG 3 (Monday June 18th 2018) Thai League 4 Bangkok Region (att: 109)
An unplanned second visit is detailed here.
PT Prachuap 1 Chonburi 0 (Wednesday 25th May 2022) Thai League Cup semi-final (att: 1,877)
The Thai FA seemed keen to use Thammasat Stadium as a neutral venue once again after it had staged the FA Cup final the previous Sunday. As well as this League Cup last-four encounter it would also stage the final just four days later.
I’d baulked at the chance to visit earlier in the season when Bangkok United were in situ. There were far easier journeys to other matches. It really was a trek from Minburi, but my vanity sealed the deal on this occasion.
I’d met up with my Chonburi supporting pal Dale Farrington a couple of weeks earlier when his team played away to Ratchaburi. I’d enjoyed their attacking style, so when he asked me to compile the match report I’ve repeated below for his website, it was a no-brainer.
Wary of the distance I set off around 2.30pm, getting onboard a minivan at the terminus in Minburi. It was nearly 3pm before we set off on what was to be a laborious journey. Yes, we beat the school traffic to begin with but got horribly snarled up as we crawled down Ram Inthra Road.
It was painful stuff up Pahon Yothin Road, with all its turn-offs and side sois as the rush hour really kicked in with people leaving work. We really were getting back to normal post-Covid. I hopefully asked the driver if he went all the way to the University, but he ended up at Future Park Rangsit.
As in my trips to BG Pathum United, I alighted at Big C, opposite Zeer Rangsit and awaited the 510m bus for the remainder of the trip. Again, we got caught up in traffic. I jumped out at the Thailand Science Park inside the campus, only to see the bus continue towards the stadium.
Getting slightly lost near the mini stadium, which staged games in the Thailand Amateur League and then the site's tennis courts, I eventually headed around to the West Stand, which was divided in two between the two sides.
I had a pick of seats and height. The only area with any real population was down towards the front where the the ultras with megaphones and drums assembled. I have to say the stadium offers fantastic views.
Anyway. Onto my match report....
Prachuap advanced to face Buriram in the final of the League Cup with a goal after sixty-four minutes from Brazilian striker Willen Mota in a game of few chances before withstanding prolonged Chonburi pressure to see out the game.
The Killer Wasp’ had the brighter of the early exchanges with a low cross skimming along the six-yard line begging for a final touch before both teams began feeling each other out while looking for an opening in a relatively dull first half.
A Prachuap quick counter following a Sharks corner saw Soony Saad fire wide. A lapse from Chonburi’s Songchai Thongcham in his own box was cleaned up by a couple of defensive blocks prior to a low bending free kick at the other end from Gidi Kanyuk being well saved by keeper Jirunpong Thammasiha.
Both sides showed more attacking intent straight from the sound of the whistle at the start of the second half. A Sharks move down the left saw a low cross arrive just behind Yoo Byung-soo whose resultant volley was weak and wide.
Saad’s header was easily gathered by keeper Chanin Sae-ear as play went from end to end. The Sharks Dennis Murillo was doing a decent job leading the line, heading just over from a cross. His teammate Kritsada Kaman backed this up with a shot over the bar.
Prachuap should really have taken the lead just gone the hour mark when a superb cross from Saharat Pongsuwan picked out the free Apichart Denman on the back post, but his header missed the target.
Despite the small crowd rattling around Thammasat both sets of fans created a cacophony of noise with drums and chants underneath the large curving roof of the East Stand. It would be those clad in orange who would have cause to cheer when a simple through ball from Prasit Jantum found Mota who brushed aside the weak efforts of Prasit Jantum to finish calmly.
Prachuap’s players suddenly became more prone to requiring treatment from the physio. I can only assume referee Mongkolchai Pechsri put his foot down with a few words as it stopped after a couple of times in quick succession as the Sharks fans and players sounded their disapproval.
Kaman was doing his best to fire up his Chonburi troops and came close to capitalising on dithering defenders but could not get enough power behind his half-volley to really trouble custodian Thammasiha.
Sharks pressure mounted but in truth their crossing was woeful. The introduction of diminutive wideman Phitak Pimpae created a few problems, but the Killer Wasp backline was having a good night. A scuffed volley from Kaman summed up Chonburi’s frustrations.
Their best chance of levelling came when a superb cross-field diagonal pass from Noppanon Kachaplayuk was chested down by Murillo, but the big Brazilian sliced his left-footed effort badly wide. Despite a string of corners, the Prachuap defence held firm to set off wild scenes among their travelling support.
Now for a few personal thoughts to go with my report. I’m not sure either side deserved to win in 90 minutes. It was a tight affair lacking in quality. I was surprised when the goal went in. I thought we were certain of extra time and possibly penalties from an early stage.
Onto the venue. Now there’s no doubt that Thammasat is a superb stadium, despite its running track not being ideal for football fans. The stands are steep, and the views are good, but surely there had to have been a more suitable venue in Bangkok for both sets of fans and neutrals to reach. Especially for a 6pm kick-off.
Despite setting off at 3pm I got into the ground seven minutes before kick-off. The roads were gridlocked in places as returning schools from the previous Monday added to the mounting rush hour traffic. Not great panning from the FA.
The catering was fine outside the East Stand, aside from only one stall selling soft drinks. My chicken nuggets and fries were excellent. I didn’t see any alcohol available. The ticket prices were good, so fair play to the Thai FA on that.
My own fault but I decided to seek out the 510 bus after the game back to Rangsit and take a similar journey without the congestion. A huge electrical storm deluged the area, and no taxis were available. Fortunately, I had my poncho with me but still got a proper soaking before eventually flagging down a cab.
I eventually got home around 11.30pm after taking a bus from outside Major Cineplex Rangsit close to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat, from where I crossed the road for the 26 service back home. The air con didn’t do me many favours after being out in the rain!
It is not difficult to see why Bangkok United, good attractive tenants at Thammasat struggle so hard to attract crowds. Every match is an away fixture unless you live in Rangsit. But for all that, I’d certainly give it another go and try to suss out the return bus stops!
Bangkok United 2 Lamphun Warriors 0 (Sunday 6th November 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 1,307)
Read all about a home game for the resident club of the day.
Thailand 4 Philippines 0 (Monday 26th December 2022) AFF Championships Group A (att; 6,567)
Unlike the previous year, I was unable to find Christmas Day football in my new home, but I got second best. After contacting fellow Port expat Marco, I set about buying online tickets in advance for 250 Baht on the South Curve.
With plenty of time in hand, I set off at 3pm for the 7.30pm kick-off as the plan was to meet in a bar near the stadium that I had checked out on Google Maps. Well aware that it could be a troublesome journey, I wanted to give myself lots of time.
But there was to be no need for concern. The bus and Skytrain deposited me at Yaek Kor Por Aor BTS station. From there I anticipated another two buses, one to Zeer Rangsit before meeting up with the 510 into the university campus.
However, a 39 arrived displaying Thammasat on the front. The lovely air con modern vehicle made up great time, dropping me at Executive Dome. Last time I walked from there, but with time on my hands I waited a couple of minutes and hopped aboard the free Yellow Line service going around the grounds.
The stop by the Faculty of Engineering was a mere five minutes to the bar, translated as “Talk” on my app, across the busy Khlong Luang Road by a footbridge. It turned out to be an excellent find.
Unfortunately, the draught beer from Stone Brewing was not on, so it was large bottles of local stuff instead along with pad krapow. Marco joined me for an hour before we walked the ten minutes or so to our turnstiles.
There was an interesting moment when a steward tried to send me to leave my camera at a point outside before a more senior sensible colleague intervened. Pyros were being let off by the Ultras across the way as we went inside.
The beauty of our tickets was that we could sit where we wanted, so we headed high into the corner to grab an excellent view. The attendance was slightly disappointing but not surprising. Oh, for Rajamangala to have staged the match.
The hosts came out of the blocks quickly and went ahead in the third minute when a free kick from Theerathon Bunmathan was headed home majestically by man of the match Teerasil Dangda, who was outstanding all evening.
The game quickly turned into a procession of attack against defence as the Philippine goal led a charmed life through a mixture of luck, brave defending, desperate goalkeeping and bad finishing with Bordin Phala causing endless problems out wide.
Adisak Praikorn alongside Dangda was also in excellent form, as chances went begging. Kritsada Kaman had a goal chalked off for offside before Phala cut inside and smashed a shot against the bar with keeper Julian Schwarzer left grasping thin air.
Suphanan Bureerat couldn’t believe his luck as his volley from Dangda’s head down was pushed away by the custodian. Ekanit Panya somehow headed wide when free at the back post from close range as Thailand were rampant.
Praikorn was denied by the legs of Schwarzer before Panya was clumsily brought down in the area four minutes before the interval. Dangda smashed home the spot kick, prior to us having a wander and chat with a couple of Muang Thong Ultras at the break.
The away team stopper somehow scrambled a long shot round the post before a wonderful cross-field pass picked out Dangda whose first touch was exemplary as he then laid the ball square for Praikorn to slot home. It was a wonderful goal.
The pressure continued unabated as shots reigned in on goal. Phala ran through but was stopped as he was about to shoot, the loose ball falling to Bureerat who scored with ease. Head coach Mano Pölking had seen enough and decided to save the legs of the magnificent front three as he substituted them.
The game became a bit more like a contest afterwards, with a header from Oliver Bias of the Philippines forcing Kittipong Phoothawchuek to pull off a decent save. A header from sub, Channarong Promsrikaew forced Schwarzer into another decent save at the other end.
Another replacement, Poramet Arjvirai, intercepted a loose back pass and set up Sarach Yooyen who somehow contrived to blast over. Either side had a couple of efforts as the game petered out and away skipper Stephan Schröck continued whining at excellent Japanese referee Yudai Yamamoto.
We departed as stoppage time commenced by having the issue of how to find the bus back home. Two proved better than one, as we sussed out the stop for the 510 which took us to Zeer Rangsit, from where a couple more rides got me back to Minburi at just after 11pm.
An excellent home performance, against albeit wanting opposition, excellent company and a top few hours out. With a bonus of seamless travel, which is a rarity when commenting on Thammasat University.
Bangkok United 2 Port FC 2 (Sunday 7th April 2024) Thai League 1 (att: 3,876)
Another league game, which turned out to be an excellent encounter, which can be read about here.
