Royal Thai Air Force

Royal Thai Air Force FC is a professional football club representing the Air Force, as the name implies. Previously, Air Force United FC were the team of the service. However, they were relocated to Uthai Thani in 2020, which can be read about here and here.

Breakdown in sponsorship and a change in government direction under the new Thai monarchy led to a withdrawal of state backing of the services’ professional sides. The new club had to start life in Thai League 3 in the 2020-21 season.

When the season was aborted early owing to the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, Air Force sat in eleventh position in the Bangkok Metropolitan region, which consisted of fourteen teams.

The team showed a slight improvement twelve months later when they ended the 2021-22 campaign in tenth place under head coach Narong Parachat. Jakkapong Polmart led the scoring twelve months later as Air Force narrowly avoided relegation by which point Montree Praepun had taken over as head coach.

 

The goals of Karam Idris and Peerawat Rarang led to a marked improvement in 2023-24, which saw Thanat Juntaya being given the position of head coach for the second half. The club was placed in the Thai League 3 Central for the 2024-25 campaign as coach Montree returned to the hotseat. 

Royal Thai Air Force FC will play in Thai League 3 Central in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

My other visits to Thupatemi Stadium can be read about here, which includes the previous incarnation of the Air Force club.

Royal Thai Air Force 0 STK Muangnont 1 (Saturday 8th January 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter (att: 265) 

The bottom tier of the Thai League had restarted over Christmas before taking a break for New Year while the national divisions were enjoying their winter sabatical. This was good for a groundhopper such as myself as I had choices three times a week.

On this occasion I had an evening overnight appointment in the city after the game. I headed downtown on the 113 bus but got badly snarled up in traffic on Ramkhamhaeng Road as I had forgotten to equate for it being a public holiday.

A taxi proved my salvation as my driver took me down Thong Lor to drop off my bag at my hotel before I headed up the steps of Phrom Phong station to catch the BTS skytrain on the extended section for the first time to Yæk Kor Por Aor.

Downstairs I soon located the park and ride bus stop and within minutes a bus was taking my further up 21 Phahon Yothin Road before I jumped out near by the nearest footbridge to the venue. 

After buying some provisions at a 7/11 I was soon at the stadium, now minus its livery on the stand wall from the old Air Force Central days. Admission was free, which was both pleasant and a surprise. I headed up the steps into the home section, with the game a couple of minutes old.

It turned out not to be a great spectacle with Air Force not the best side I had ever seen, to put it politely. They give lots of effort but were missing a cohesive plan and often resorted to strongarm tactics. A bit like when I played against the police team in my Sunday League back home.

Muangnot had some skill and tactics about them. A fellow watcher of this division had given me the heads up about them a few weeks earlier when we were at Grakcu Sai Mai. It was no surprise when they took the lead on ten minutes.

A low shot from outside the box was badly spilled by home keeper Wichanon Chomchuen as STK’s Gustavo Rebeiro pounced on the loose ball to head home. It is fair to say that gloveman Chomchuen was not inspiring me with confidence. 

A bad collision but unintentional collision between a couple of opposition players led to some over reactions and unnecessary badgering of referee Aidsara Gaedthai. Eiman Kaabi then saw an effort hot the top of the Air Force bar and go over.

While the action was taking place on the pitch a rather officious security guard was scrutinizing spectators if they removed their face covering or sat too close together for his liking. I thought him a little over the top.

Out of nowhere the home midfielder Rapeepat Nakphet went on a tremendous run before playing a one-two but then scuffing his shot badly when in on goal. Muangnont responded, going close on a couple of occasions.

Seenthong Vichean of Air Force stung the hands of visiting goalie Supazin Hnupichai who parried the rasping effort from outside the box. Back at the other end, desperate defensive blocking from the hosts denied STK.

Kaabi, along with partner Rebeiro were big units. It was the former who went very close with the last kick of the half. As spectators, we were entertained by some local indie rock music over the PA during halftime while the players refuelled downstairs.

The second half saw plenty of changes of personnel as the pace dropped on a hot afternoon while Muangmont still looked the more likely to score. Kaabi seemed especially keen to get into the ear of the referee throughout and his pace never relented in that department. 

We had a short melee and handbags with around fifteen minutes remaining as Air Force became frustrated. Panupong Wongpila could count himself unlucky as he went close with a fine lob for the visitors from out wide.

It was STK who continued creating half chances before over elaborating and either messing up or allowing the Air Force defenders to do their jobs. I dashed off at full time in search of a taxi as time was of the essence, not having any time to have a look inside the neat new club shop.

I hadn’t accounted for being on a dual carriageway, so I had a bit of a wait. Finally, a cab pulled over and took me back to the MRT. The drivers’ who’s first words on discovering I was English were "David Beckham"!

I retraced my journey on the train and had the added bonus of my meeting being put back by an hour so I had time to relax back at my room.

Bangkok FC

 

Bangkok FC is a professional football club from the Thai capital, that was formed in 1999 as Bangkok Bravo. The club entered national league football in 2007 as members of the second tier Thai Division 1 League, finishing in eleventh place.

Relegation to Thailand Division 2 League Group B didn’t help their cause as they again ended eleventh cast astray at the foot of the table. 2009 saw the club placed in Regional League Division 2 Bangkok Metropolitan Region and a change of name and location.

 

Bravo was dropped from the title as Bangkok FC under the new ownership of Natthaphol Teepsuwan. They moved to 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi from the far side of the city across the river where they had previously played at Chalerm Phrakiat Bang Mod Stadium, which also confusingly known as the 72nd Anniversary Stadium.

With new branding and logo sixth place was achieved which was backed up in 2010 with the league title being claimed after returning to Bang Mod to herald a return to the second tier Division 1 following progression through the playoffs.

A season of consolidation followed with Samuel Kwaku and Lee Tuck putting away the goals. Englishman Tuck would go on to be leading scorer the following two seasons, which saw the Fire Bulls and tenth and then just miss out on promotion in fourth spot in 2013 with the Swede Olof Hvidén-Watson also contributing to the goal tally.

Valci Júnior took up the scoring responsibilities in 2014, which again saw Bangkok miss out on promotion by one place with Radomir Đalović leading the line the following campaign which ended in a disappointing finish under head coach Miloš Joksić.

Sutee Suksomkit was put in charge of team affairs in 2016, when the side again struggled. A restructuring of Thai League football saw the division being retitled Thai League 2 in 2017 as Bangkok may as well have fitted a turnstile on the head coach’s door.

Supachart Manakij, Sarawut Treephan and Uthai Boonmoh all had spells in charge of the team that finished in the relegation places despite Brazilian forward João Paulo finishing as the second top scorer in the division.

2018 in their tier saw the club use the Mawin Stadium which is the training ground of Muangthong United. Jakarat Tonhongsa was initially in charge of the team prior to being replaced by Sean Sainsbury with the Fire Bulls ending in fifth place.

The performance was replicated in 2019 with Ibrahim Abou Dicko taking over from Poramet Arjvirai as top scorer as the team used SCG Stadium in Muang Thong Thani before another switch to Bangkok University Stadium for home games for the side coached by Zarko Djalovic. 

The new season also saw further league restructuring owing to Covid-19 and a switch to the European football calendar, which saw Bangkok end 2020-21 in third place in Thai League 3 Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Bunlue Thongkliang provided the goals for the side overseen by German coach Sebastien Neumann.

The 2021-22 campaign saw a welcome return to Bang Mod as Caíque Ribeiro and Somsak Musikaphan scored goals while Ratchaphon Namthong led the goalkeeping clean sheets chart as the team ended runners-up to qualify for the playoffs. 

A disastrous campaign not helped by a red card and three-year ban handed out to Aitsaret Noichaiboon for an assault against a North Bangkok University opponent, meant Bangkok remained in the third tier for another season. 

The goals of Bunlue Thongkliang helped the Fire Bulls to another second place in 2022-23 under head coach Kissakorn Krasaigoen. Again, the playoffs ended in disappointment, but the following season would tell a different story as Carlos Lima was added to the squad putting in outstanding performances alongside Seiya Kojima.

Bangkok FC romped to the Bangkok area title in T3 before also finishing top of their playoff ground to win promotion to Thai League 2 as crowds flocked to Bang Mod. The season was crowned with a dramatic 5-4 against Buriram United in the FA Cup with Wichaya Pornprasart also impressive.

The addition of forward Simon Dia strengthened the squad. The team played the first half of the 2024-25 season at the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi while their traditional home stadium was upgraded.

Bangkok FC will play in Thai League 2 in the 2024-25 season

My visit

Bangkok FC 3 Royal Thai Air Force 0 (Saturday 12th February 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok Perimeter (att: 250) 

Having enjoyed watching Bangkok in an away game earlier in the season at Nonthaburi, I decided it was time to visit a home match. I had intended to head out on Christmas Day, but the heavy traffic meant I had to settle on Chamchuri United that occasion.

On this occasion I gave myself extra time after a haircut to board the 113 bus all the way to Hua Lampong station. The journey saw a nice lass who could speak English wanting a chat, which killed time for a little while. 

Changing buses to the 75 service the journey took quite some time and went through a great area for food and drink options nearing my destination which served the students of nearby King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.

However, there was no time on this occasion. I paid my 100 Baht at the entrance gates to the grounds and walked by some sports facilities that could have done with an upgrade before finding the entrance to the home fans section of the covered stand.

The stadium was a traditional old bowl, horseshoe in shape with separate main grandstand, and showing signs of age. It had a running track around the bumpy playing surface, which didn’t assist flowing football. It was a bit of a cabbage patch if truth be told.

I had failed to read the warning signs of a couple of stalls outside the gate and home fans grabbing provisions, as there was nothing once inside. While Bangkok had been enjoyable when I saw them, their lowly opponents were anything but when I ventured to see them. They were not to let me down on a second look.

They gave away multiple free kicks for challenges while not dirty were those of players too slow or not good enough and it soon got the home fans ticking. Phootran Gingpan was tricky for the hosts from the outset and received his fair share of kicks.

The hosts should have taken the lead when a free kick from Caique Ribeiro was spilled by keeper Wichanon Chomchuen. Pakkaphon Phengsujay following up managed to blast over from three yards. 

Out of nowhere the visitors had a break and forced a save out of Ratchaphon Namthong. Aside from that it was all the home side who couldn’t quite believe that they hadn’t scored. Bunlue Thongkliang saw a shot deflected wide as the frustration grew.

The Air Force rearguard were finally breached halfway through the first period when a corner was nodded on at the near post to allow Phengsujay to apply the finishing touch at the back stick. They could have doubled their advantage if the linesman hadn’t somehow flagged the scorer offside. It was a shocking decision.

It was 2-0 on thirty-four minutes as a long throw from Banjong Phadungpattanodom was flicked on to Somsak Musikaphan who smashed home with the aid of a slight deflection. Meanwhile, the patience of referee Niruch Panjontuk was being pushed by the visitors as he seemed to signal that there was to be no more silly fouls.

It wasn’t the first time he had told them, but on this occasion, they seemed to listen. The Fire Bulls had another goal chalked out as half time approached from another dangerous long throw which seemed as good a tactic as any on such a poor pitch. 

It was nice to have the unusual sight of ball girls from a local sports school on duty around the track and enjoy a generally pleasant experience as my Hull City shirt got some curious glances from the locals. I thought it was appropriate with Bangkok playing in black and orange.

Their snazzy white, orange, and black away shirt had me considering whether to part with some cash, but I decided saving it for beer money later was a more prudent plan. After the interval the pace seemed to ease. Bangkok obviously realising the game was in the bag and not wanting to pick up injuries.

 

Ribeiro continued to show his silky skills running midfield alongside skipper Sakda Koomgun while Air Force retorted with two wild shots that flew harmlessly off target. Chomchuen, who didn’t fill me with much confidence, fumbled another free kick but his blushes were spared by an offside flag preventing a goal on the follow up.

To their credit Air Force kept going and had another shocking attempt on goal, but at least they didn’t give up. But my God, they were awful. It was 3-0 six minutes from time when substitute Moacir scored with a fine individual goal.

 

At full time I headed away having seen a far closer contest than it should have been. I had Tweeted at half time that I expected at least 5-0 and the visitors to be down to at least ten men by the end. But what do I know?

The same route and buses got me back to Minburi ready to pop across the road to meet up with my growing number of Thai friends for an evening of frivolity.