Ratchaburi

 

Ratchaburi FC is a football club based in the Thai city of the same name, which is located approximately seventy five miles south westerly from Bangkok. ‘The Dragons’ were formed in 2004, moving into the centrally located Ratchaburi Provincial Stadium.

The club started out life in the second tier Division 1, finishing bottom of Group B and being relegated to Group A of Division 2, with Ratchaburi ending in seventh spot. Head coach Somchai Maiwilai took over to lead the side to tenth in 2009 as the side competed in Division 2 Central-East

Prapol Pongpanich had a spell in charge in 2010 prior to the return of Maiwilai as the team replicated their previous season performance. The Nitikarnchana family took over ownership of the club, with investment paying off as the Dragons won their divisional title in 2011 with Pornchai Ardjinda rattling in the goals.

2012 saw a big change as sugar producer Mitr Phol sponsorship saw a change of club title to Ratchaburi Mitr Phol while investment to the playing squad saw the team lift the Division 1 title as Douglas top scored.

To add to the triumph Ratchaburi also reached the final of the League Cup but ended up losing 4-1 to Buriram United in farcical circumstances. Owing to the amount of ineligible loanees in the squad, the Dragons had a bare eleven players and so substitutes.

In their debut season in the Thai Premier League, The Dragons struggled as they finished the season in fifteenth place under Spanish manager Ivan Palanco. However, once again they reached the League Cup Final at Thammasat Stadium against Buriram United yet again. 

Previous home Ratchaburi Provincial Stadium

On this occasion United came from a goal down to break Dragons hearts with a 2-1 victory. In 2016 the club moved from municipally owned arena a few miles west outside the city to the village of Huai Phai to the brand new purpose built Mitr Pohl Stadium, which was owned by the club.

The 2016 campaign saw the team finish in sixth place and were announced as joint winners of the FA Cup along with three other semi-finalists as the season was truncated owing to the sad death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 

Brazilian striker Heberty finished as the top scorer for a third successive season prior to moving on. Marcel Essombé topped the scoring charts in 2017 as Ratchaburi finished in sixth place once again, under head coach Pacheta.

The Spaniard was replaced by former German international Christian Ziege for the 2018 season. However, he lasted just one month before being replaced by René Desaeyere. The team finished in twelfth position with Kang Soo-il top scoring.

Tunisian coach Lassaad Chabbi was in charge of the side before his departure when replaced by Manolo Márquez. The goals of Yannick Boli helped the side to eighth position in 2019 in an interesting season for the head coach’s position.

Francesc Bosch replaced Márquez, who was then followed by Marco Simone and then Nuengrutai Srathongvian. Despite the lack of stability, the Dragons reached the FA Cup final where they were defeated 1-0 by Port FC. 

Skipper, Philip Roller top scored in 2020-21 after the Thai season was changed to a European calendar with the side ending eighth again. It was another season with four head coaches as Chaitud Uamtham, Miloš Joksić, Bruno Pereira, and Somchai Maiwilai all had turns at the helm.

The 2022-23 campaign saw big changes at the club when Mitr Phol dropped their sponsorship with the stadium being renamed Dragon Solar Park as Xavi Moro took charge of the team. For a second successive season, Brazilian star Derley led the scoring charts as the team ended eighth.

Carlos Peña was appointed as Ratchaburi head coach in June 2023. The goals of Njiva Rakotoharimalala helped the side to continue to grow, with the performances of defender Jonathan Khemdee standing out. Surapong Kongthep became head coach in June 2024.

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

My visits

Monday 14th October 2013

It is fair to say that despite having a decent knowledge of football in ‘The Land of Smiles’, I was short on knowledge of Ratchaburi as a football club, or indeed the city. A visit wasn’t anywhere near my radar when I set out on my great two-week adventure, but like many times before I grabbed an opportunity when it was going begging.

My chance came about after staying in Samut Songkhram and wanting to return to Hua Hin as I’d enjoyed my three days there the previous week so much. My research told me that it was possible to catch a train to the resort if I somehow got to Ratchaburi. 

This was solved by way of a bus ride from Sam Song. Even the bus ride was fascinating as we drove along a highway familiar to me before we went straight on rather than heading south like the Hua Hin bus does. It was new scenery for me to take in. 

The fare was 25BHT and for that, we were treated to a Thai drama on the TV over the driver's seat. I hadn’t a clue what was happening on the screen, but it followed the usual pattern. The girl finds the boy and falls in love before they fall out and eventually make up with some storyline around it. 

What impressed me most was that it ended at exactly the same time as we entered Ratchaburi. Was this perfect timing from our driver, or had he delayed our journey so the few passengers remotely interested saw the end? I will never know.

Anyway, I had sketched out a rough route to the stadium from where I thought the bus station was. It’s strange how the simplest of walks on Google Earth turns into a logistical nightmare once in real life. In short, I got lost.

Salvation was at hand with a large tourist map at the side of a busy street. A young local astutely saw my expression and offered assistance. Before long I was traipsing down the hot streets getting nearer my target. My luggage consisted of a rucksack on my back and my laptop bag on my front. It was tiring work, but I would not be beaten.

Street cafes lay outside the grounds of Ratchaburi Stadium, which also had other facilities as well as the main arena. Just as I was going in I was passed by a couple of double-decker coaches, who were carrying Dragons supporters back from their team's 1-0 defeat at Chiangrai United the previous evening. It was now gone 1pm the next day.

Despite this, the young colourful fans seemed in reasonable spirits. It also gave me hope of access inside the stadium. I was struggling until I saw a club official. He kindly took me upstairs and opened a door into the VIP area as well as taking my photo.

Ratchaburi Stadium was like many other football venues in Thailand in that it had a running track surrounding the pitch. The vast majority consisted of open large steps, which fans usually sat on and one covered stand down the side with a few proper seats in the VIP area. All the steps were painted in the team's colour of orange, which gave it a nice look.

I thanked my new friend and walked around where many fans were being picked up to go home before really chancing my arm in the aid of saving time and energy.

Opposite the stadium was the city’s main hospital. Behind it was the road to the railway station. To go all the way around would have taken quite some time, so I decided to walk through the hospital grounds in the hope that there was an exit on the other side. After much smiling and “sawasdee’s” my punt paid off and I was heading down to the station.

I saw a couple of lovely places that I noted for refreshments if I had a wait. As I went into the booking office, the clerk serving asked where I was going? When I replied “Hua Hin” he ushered me and sold me my ticket for 23BHT (about 60p) and told me that the train was arriving in a couple of minutes!

The journey was another joy despite the train being packed as locals walked up and down the carriages selling their wares. It was certainly cheaper than back home and it made a refreshing change. I’d had another brilliant day and my luck was well and truly in! 

Ratchaburi Mitr Phol 2 Chonburi 2 (Saturday 30^th April 2022) Thai League 1 (att: 2,347) 

The previous week I had visited Kanchanaburi for a stopover to take in the Muangkan United v Navy contest as I wanted to see a bit of easily reached Thailand and tick off some new venues now that I had moved full-time to the Land of Smiles.

My decision to take in this game was influenced by the prospects of a cracking venue, what looked like an interesting town on my previous visit and the chance to catch up with a mate. Dale Farrington, a loyal Chonburi supporter was back over from the UK for a few weeks, but this outing offered a great opportunity.

 

My adventurous streak led to me taking a bus and then MRT to Hua Lamphong station to take the train to my destination. I had pre-booked a ticket online for the 12.30pm sleeper service that would be going all the way to Su-ngai Kolok, on the Malaysian border.

My fare was 87 Baht and my carriage had normal seating before converting to bunk beds long after I had alighted. Unfortunately, the conversion nature of the car meant little legroom which was exacerbated by a local stretching out to sleep opposite.

 

Arrival was late by over thirty minutes into Ratchaburi, taking three hours in total. It was just as well the match had a 6.15 kickoff. Using previous knowledge I cut through the grounds of the hospital, getting a few looks before heading to my digs for the night called My Room on Si Suriyawong.

It was a nice enough room as I settled for an hour’s nap prior to ordering a taxi on the Bolt app to Mitr Phol Stadium. The reasonable 110 Baht fare to the out of town venue went past Khao Kaen Chan, the highest mountain in the province which looked like a nice attraction.

My immediate impression of the stadium was very favourable, with a great dragon design brightening up the rear of the main West Stand. I know that the away section was around on the far side, but I didn’t realise that I had to purchase my 200 Baht ticket at the snazzy main office.

Time was fortunately on my side to wander back around and get in before the teams made their appearance on the excellent ground. The East Stand was especially impressive split between home and away fans and was most conducive to excellent acoustics with its high roof. 

There were some great views of the surrounding areas to be gleaned from the top of the steeply raked structure as the sun went down creating a dramatic backdrop. Dale arrived with his good lady Nui with friends Tim and Val.

We sat and had a good chat while watching a most enjoyable game of football. Both sides had efforts off target in the early exchanges before the hosts went ahead on seventeen minutes when Martiniquais forward Steeven Langil went on a good run down the left to feed the Brazilian, Derley who slotted home.

Neither defence was covering themselves in glory, and it was no shock when the equaliser came ten minutes later when a clever chip from Saharat Sontisawat found Gidi Kanyuk whose shot into the deck bounced out of reach of keeper Kampol Pathomakkakul after his run cleverly beat the offside trap.

The Sharks should have taken the lead when a fine move was wasted by the unmarked Kritsada Kaman at the back post. The game was being played in decent spirit, so it was a surprise when home man Kritsananon Srisuwan made a ridiculous late challenge on Dennis Murillo. A yellow card was a generous call from referee Songkran Bunmeekiart.

 

The offender then made another reckless late challenge and seemed somewhat surprised to be sent to the dressing rooms seven minutes later. Some players never seem to learn. Surely Chonburi would be favourites going into the second half.

But Ratchaburi had other ideas, coming out and retaking the lead four minutes after the restart. More excellent creativity from Langil set up Kasidech Wettayawong whose effort from the edge of the box seemingly wrongfooted the unsighted goalie Thatpicha Auksonsri.

Superb footwork from the Dragons Derley saw him flick a shot against the post after perplexing his marker and Auksonri. The scores were levelled up after sixty-seven minutes through a fine goal when a backheel from Kanuk put in Kaman to finish coolly.

It was as though both managers had told their teams to go out and have fun, with not too much riding on the result. It was a great watch for a neutral. The impressive Langil nearly set up Derley once again in the closing stages. 

At the other end, Kanuk offered substitute Phanthamit Praphanth a half chance to either finish or return the pass, but he did neither as he screwed wide. Then Sontisawat tested out Pathomakkakul as the visitors finished strongly.

A draw was about right. We hung around after the game while both teams went on their customary thank you to each set of supporters before home fans were allowed out onto the pitch to join their heroes.

Tim kindly gave me a ride back into town in the open back of the truck as Dale and I supped a can of beer. A proper way home from a match! I left my friends to go for a walk and try and find some bars by the riverside night market.

Nothing appeared to serve beers, so I ended up having a KFC and an early night before heading out early again the following morning for another walk and to try and find where the bus departed from back to Bangkok. 

It had been an excellent adventure that I captured on video, with it continuing all the way until I eventually found my transport and later met mates back in the capital to head to the match between Port FC and Nongbua Pitchaya.