Samutsongkhram

Samutsongkhram FC was a football club from the town of the same name on the Mae Klong River in Thailand, which is located around fifty-seven miles southwest of Bangkok. ‘Pla-Too-Kha-Nong’ or the ‘Raging Mackerel’ in English were formed in 2005 and continued as a Thai League club until 2023 when they disappeared off the radar.

The club started out life in the Thailand Provincial League, finishing second and winning promotion to Division One at the first attempt. Another promotion came in 2006 to elevate Songkhram to the Thai Premier League. They soon adapted to life in the top flight with a series of mid-table finishes.

However, the 2013 season saw Samutsongkhram flirt with relegation before completing the season in sixteenth place under the stewardship of Somchai Chuayboonchum.

The 2014 season wasn't so kind to the club. They had to play home games at Ratchaburi as the Provincial Stadium was deemed unfit. The team were relegated after finishing bottom of the table.

The club were on the move for the 2015 season while work was carried out in their own stadium. They temporarily shared Bangkok-Thonburi University Stadium with Raj Pracha FC before returning home to build on a twelfth place finish in the 2015 campaign thanks to the goals of Marc Landry Babo.

The return home didn't go to plan as the team was relegated to the second tier at the end of the 2016 campaign. The club consolidated with a mid-table finish in Thai League 2, but bad news was to follow.

Samutsongkhram were refused a professional license for the 2018 season because of financial issues, with the club being placed in the Thai League 4 Western Region. The team ended the season in fourth position. Woraphot Somsang and Mirzajani Tafreshi Nima weighed in with the goals under head coach Wuttiya Yongant.

Sittichai Pankoo led the scoring in 2019 for the side which was coached by Niwet Wongwean at the season's end. The Thai League was restructured to follow the European calendar for 2020-21 with Samutsongkram being placed in T3 West. Phuwanart Saengsri was put in charge of the team that finished tenth.

The position was replicated in 2021-22 under the stewardship of Panupong Chimpook and then Chonlathid Groodtieng, with Amagwe Clement Nana and the Thakorn Wikayaphan putting away the goals. A vastly improved second place ensued in 2022-23.

The season also included a victory over Port FC in the League Cup as Jhonatan Bernardo led the line under head coach Jorg Steinebrunner. The team finished bottom of their Champions League playoff group before being demoted from the Thai League for failing to comply with licensing requirements.

My visit

Samut Songkhram 1 Army United 1 (Sunday 20th October 2013) Thai Premier League (att: approx 3,500)

My trip to Thailand was going tremendously well. Visits to Hua Hin and Krabi had gone to plan, and I was now really looking forward to visiting somewhere where I thought I’d be in a very small minority as a westerner.

After my flight from Krabi I took a bus and then the Skytrain to Wongwian Wai, before a walk round the corner to the railway station of the same name. Time was getting on as my plane had been slightly delayed so I was relieved to pay my 10THB (about 20p) for my ticket. 

The plan was that the first train would take me to Samut Sakhon, where I’d get the ferry across the Tha Chin river to join up with another train that would take me through the market in Samut Songkhram to the famous Maeklong terminus.

All seemed fine as I boarded my basic carriage with the windows down and fans hanging from the ceiling. The legroom was tight as I was surrounded by some aesthetically pleasing young ladies. The ride took us through the suburbs passing temples, housing and stalls built virtually on top of the tracks.

Many fields were waterlogged as we progressed into the country. The heavy rains from the previous couple of weeks were one of my two fears when I booked my hotel and made my plans. 

Obviously, I didn’t want the pitch to be unfit, while crowd disturbances at the relegation battle with Chiangrai United had led to the game being abandoned. Fortunately for me, the Thai FA fined the club rather than make them play home games elsewhere.

Around eighty minutes later, we arrived at the terminus of Mahachai Station. My research had told me that I only had a short time to meet the connecting train, although I expected several others to be doing the same thing and the connection to be well organised. How little I learned! I was in Thailand.

I rushed through the busy street, which doubled up as a Sunday Market, to the ferry. Just 3BHT got me across the river. Time was against me, so on the other side, I set off as fast as I could. Ban Laem station was not signposted until I went a hundred metres down another narrow street offering wares to the passing public.

A kind lady trader stopped me. She must have seen the scene of confused foreign tourists hundreds of times in the past, before breaking the news that there wasn’t a train. I was given an up-to-date timetable. The news wasn’t good. If I waited for the next service, I’d miss kick-off.

Fortunately, the lady and her younger assistant were able to offer me a solution. They suggested that I go back over the river and go to the main street where the buses ran from, so without further ado, I was back on the ferry. 

From the vessel, I could see the stadium of the Regional League Division Three club Samut Sakhon and was half tempted to go and have a look, but I decided to play it relatively safe. After all, I wasn’t sure if I could get to my destination yet!

All signs were written in Thai, which made reading impossible. I reverted to plan B and walked along the waiting buses, pointing and saying Samut Songkhram. Ideally, the drivers would either nod or shake their heads. It worked, and I was soon aboard an old vehicle waiting to depart.

Off we went, stopping at regular intervals. I had paid the driver my 25BHT before I got on, while a rather aggressive but strangely attractive young lady conductress collected the rest of the fares. 

The bus continued sounding its horn whenever anyone stood by the roadside, stopping where requested. There were no official stops and definitely no timetable, but it seemed to work fine.

After an hour, we entered Samut Songkhram. I was impressed to see banners hanging from the streetlights with their players on them. It was obviously a town that supported their club. I jumped out when reaching the bus station and quickly got into a tuk-tuk. 

The driver asked for 50BHT to take me to my hotel, which seemed good to me, even though the journeys seemed to be getting more expensive the shorter they became.

My lovely room at the Baan Amphawa Resort & Spa cost less than £25, but after a quick shower and change it was time to leave it. The resort was right on the Mae Klong and when I looked up towards town from the jetty, I could see the stadium’s floodlights. 

It reminded me a bit of Fulham! I decided that I would kill two birds with one stone by partaking in a bit of exercise by walking to the venue.

I took a wrong turn away from the main road and ended up in the back lanes, where plenty of warm smiles were exchanged. They were probably amused by a blatantly lost foreigner. Dogs howled so I was most relieved to get back on the main drag and into the town centre, soon finding the railway I wanted to see the following morning when the train arrived.

On the other side, a large open square was hosting a market. The sounds and smells were superb and justified my decision to do something different. After purchasing some snacks, I continued towards the stadium. 

A couple of lads in shirts were a dead giveaway, so I followed them and came out on the dual carriageway with the Samut Songkhram Stadium just over the footbridge.

I just love approaches to football grounds, especially ones where a crowd is gathering. Home and away fans bought from the various street traders selling food and drink. My purchase of three sticks with freshly griddled beef on them proved to be a winner. To wash it down I opted for a can of Leo. The total outlay was less than a quid.

The match ticket was purchased from one of two huts and cost 100BHT (just over £2). Guards were inspecting tickets at the gates in a courteous mood before I advanced onto the concourse behind the Main Stand. 

Once more, stalls sold their products, while I went under the stand into the club shop. Koolsport produced the club's kit, so I wasn’t too upset when they didn’t have a sky-blue top in my size. I went for a white baseball cap.

Experience told me that the best atmosphere at Thai stadiums tended to be on the opposite side of the main stands, so I set off around the goal. 

Samut Songkhram Stadium was not one of the best in the league. The Main Stand was raised above pitch level with the changing rooms underneath. There was nothing behind either goal apart from access paths. The pitch had a cinder running track surrounding it so even if there had been stands, they would have been a long way from the pitch. 

The far side was made up of semi-permanent open stands on scaffolding, not unlike what you see at golf tournaments. However, these were extremely steep, which offered a good view, but required some fitness to climb them. Although there were no seats as such, everyone sat down to watch.

The visiting Army fans were in the next block along. I would guess that around 500 had travelled down from Bangkok. As ever, a group of young ultras tried to lead the cheerleading at the front. They were joined by a brilliant older bloke wearing a Portugal away shirt. At first, I thought his dance on the little stage was for a laugh, but he carried on for the full first half.

The teams, as customary, stood for the King's Anthem before kick-off. All the locals were friendly towards me. Thais are well known for smiling, but the people of Samut Songkhram were breaking all kinds of records. They particularly seemed to like my struggle up the stand and my doing a few quick recordings of my surroundings.

The pitch was a real pudding and in awful condition in places. This must have made fluid play difficult. Army showed their quality in the early stages, but the home side was really putting in a shift as a defeat could have had disastrous consequences in their attempts at staying up.

The players had left the pitch, but out of nowhere, a big cheer went up. I looked down to see the hilarious sight of the heroic dancer having gone straight through the stage. His pals were trying to lift him out of the debris!

On full time I took my time to walk around and was most amused to hear the 1970’s classic, ‘Yellow River’ by Christie booming out over the PA. I decided to head back into the town centre hoping to find a bar with some home fans inside. However, it appeared that nightlife and Samut Songkhram didn’t appear to go hand in hand. 

The fag end of the market was still ongoing, but instead, I bought some toasties and drinks at the 7/11 before heading home for an early night to listen to the games from back in the UK, as well as taking a lovely seat on the waterfront to reflect on a classic day.

The Monday morning was another stunner. After I had my breakfast and said my farewells and once again decided to walk into town; only this time on the main road. Freshly caught fish from the river stood drying on hooks by the roadside and once again nobody was shy of a large smile.

I arrived by the level crossing at Maeklong station in decent time after walking through the packed indoor market that had stalls literally right up to the track. The sun was burning through and temperatures were around 30’. 

My luggage was becoming a pest, especially as huge crowds of tourists were gathering. I decided to ask a lady running a sweet and cake stall right by where I wanted to be if she’d look after my bags in return for 100BHT? 

Her assistant immediately recognised me as it transpired that I’d bought my snacks from her on the way to the match the night before. They agreed to help me but refused any money. It summed up the good folk of the town.

The train arrived a little late in true Thai style as the trader dismantled their stalls to allow it through. It was a little contrived, but still a tremendous spectacle and one I was delighted that I’d taken in.

To see my video of the market train, click here. I departed after saying my thank you to walk round to the bus station for my next adventure, which was a bus ride to Ratchaburi.

Port FC before June 2021

Port FC is a professional football club based in Khlong Toei district of central Bangkok in Thailand. The club was founded in 1967 as Port Authority of Thailand Football Club and they went on to win the national title in their first year in existence.

Singha Jao Ta (Port Lions) is one of the most successful Thai clubs having won both the King’s and Queen’s Cups on numerous occasions. After restructuring of the leagues they became founder members of the Premier League in 1996.

The club changed its name to Thai Port FC Ltd in 2009 under the new Football Association of Thailand regulations, that all teams in the top flight must be registered as limited companies. 

Port also made the extremely popular move to the PAT Stadium nearer their home support after years at stadiums around the city. Unfortunately, the crowds can be extremely volatile and this led to the stadium being shut for three games because of fans throwing missiles at the match officials. 

Stricter regulations regarding drinks inside the stadium were introduced to curb the problem.

For the 2010 season, the club played some of its home games elsewhere while the PAT Stadium was upgraded. They even played a home game in the AFC Cup against Wofoo Tai Po of Hong Kong in Phuket, in the south of the country. 

The 2012 season ended in disappointment as the team were relegated for the first time despite the goals of top scorer Olof Hvidén-Watson. At the end of the campaign the club changed their name to Singhtarua FC as new floodlights were installed at PAT Stadium and former Thai international Dusit Chalermsan was installed as head coach.

Singhtarua went on a fine run under the new head coach with Brazilian Leandro Oliveira fuelling the passion of the Khlong Toey Army with his mesmerising skill. The team won promotion in the runners-up spot at the end of the 2013 season to set off wild celebrations at the PAT Stadium.

The new 2014 season back in the top flight got off to a bang as Leandro continued to find form with his teammates. Port even went into top place for a couple of games, until Leandro was injured and missed several months of the campaign. 

The team finished in thirteenth place before changing their title to Port FC at the end of the campaign, while the club logo was also redesigned, with Leandro moving on and Somchai Chuayboonchum and then Paiboon Lertvimonrut having spells in charge of the team. 

Management of Port was been purchased by Nualphan Lamsam, a businesswoman also known by her nickname of Madame Pang. She signed an agreement for five years to control the club from the Port Authority of Thailand.

Gary Stevens came in for a short spell as team boss after a poor start to the 2015 season. He only lasted a few games before being replaced by Somchai Subpherm. The team struggled. Wuttichai Tathong ended top scorer with just six goals.

Port were relegated on the final day of the season, by which time Japanese coach Masahiro Wada had become the latest incumbent for the job. The only real positive was the signing of Spanish defender David Rochela from Buriram United.

The goals of Rodrigo Maranhão helped the team to third place and promotion at the end of the 2016 season. Wada had been replaced by Jadet Meelarp in mid-season, who in turn lasted until June 2017.

Legendary former Thai international star and national team manager, Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang took over at the PAT Stadium, but poor results led to the return of Meelarp within a few months.

Port finished the 2017 season in ninth place as Brazilian marksman Josimar finished as top scorer, before improving on that with third spot in 2018 thanks to the goals of Dragan Bošković and Sergio Suárez.

Suárez continued to star in 2019, with Port ending in third place, with the Spaniard scoring the solitary goal in the FA Cup final against Ratchaburi Mitr Pohl at Pathum Thani. Meelarp moved upstairs to be replaced by Pairoj Borwonwatanadilok.

Choketawee Promrut took over in charge of the side for the 2020-21 campaign but was soon replaced by Meelarp who in turn handed over to Sarawut Treephan. The team once again ended the season in third position.

Click here for history and my visits from June 2022

My visits

Monday 26th April 2010 

I had previously visited the Osatsapa Stadium when Port shared the venue and the Taura Stadium, as Pat Stadium was then called, was being originally prepared.

Osotsapa Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. It is currently used mostly for football matches and was the home stadium of Osotsapa FC at the time, PAT were currently joint tenants  The stadium holds 3,000 people. The club previously played at the Thai-Japanese Stadium.

On another blazing hot day,  I had the opportunity to visit the PAT Stadium. My extended stay owing to the erupting Icelandic volcano was to come to an end the following day, and as I was in the city I decided this was a good photo opportunity. 

I took the MRT (underground) to Khlong Toei. I had sketched down rough directions to the stadium and sure enough I soon saw the floodlights peering over the buildings after a ten-minute walk along Rama IV Road and then down Sunthon Kosa Road.

The area behind that end of the ground was still open at the time. The ground was mid-construction, so it was easy to gain access. I soon talked my way past a security guard who only seemed half interested and I was in a gap and onto the corner of the pitch. To my right stood the oldest stand, containing the VIP areas and changing rooms. 

Behind the nearest goal was a new stand which was still not fully constructed. A similar smaller structure stood behind the far end, topped with a huge advertisement and scoreboard. The far side had a stand with orange and blue bucket seats in the lower section. 

All three structures were on metal frames and not dissimilar to the structures found at the Withdean in Brighton and around the greens at major golf competitions. It was fairly obvious that football was taking off, hence the need for the construction of more stands. 

The capacity was intended to be 10,000 when completed. I could imagine the atmosphere to be very good because of the ground environs and there was no track around the pitch.

The surrounding district was obviously one of the poorer districts in the city. However, it was an excellent place to go for food or shopping at cheap markets. The stadium backed onto a pleasant public garden behind one of the goals. 

Singhtarua 1 BB-CU 2 (Sunday 7th April 2013) Thai League Division One (att: approx 7,000)

After returning victorious from the cricket at Chiang Mai once again, I wanted to see some Sunday football on my rest day in Bangkok. Originally I had planned two games around Minburi, but my good mate Steve Walker was out of town for the weekend.

Instead, I booked a central hotel for the evening and worked out two games nearer home. After taking in an hour of Globlex against Samut Sakon in the Regional League, I headed back to the main Rhampangpeng Road to flag down a taxi.

Thai taxi drivers, particularly those in Bangkok can have surprisingly little knowledge of their own city, and so it proved once more. My pilot was a wonderful smiley bloke, but he didn't have much of a clue, not helped by my total lack of any Thai words relating to football or stadiums.

However, between us, we managed to find PAT Stadium through a mixture of writing down names on my pad and drawing impromptu maps. The brand new towering floodlights and the Singhtarua fans on mopeds finally gave the destination away.

I alighted outside the club shop on Thanon Sunthon Kosa and had a look at the merchandise. Time was getting on, so I headed across the training pitch to the rear of the open terrace and looked for the ticket booth. 

Everyone stopped and stood to attention while the national anthem was played, but the atmosphere was bubbling. It reminded me of my day out at St Pauli in Hamburg, only considerably cheaper! I obtained a ticket for 100 Baht (around £2.20) and I was in down the side. 

I opted to go upstairs for a better view even if the atmosphere wasn't quite as intense. Many fans stood right against the railings at the front, so viewing wasn't as good as it could have been. Stewarding was generally non-existent, whereas the police looked like they were there to watch! 

The concourses behind the stands were heaving with fans of all ages, both men and women. Most wore the orange and blue shirts of their heroes. The PAT Stadium is located close to the docks, yet only ten minutes from the affluence of the tourism area of Sukhumvit Road.

Over the last few years the club had suffered as players were unpaid, the floodlights continually failed and hooliganism had found its way to the terraces. PAT had been closed with the team being forced to play at an alternative venue. 

An Aussie pal of mine, who lived locally, wanted to take his son down there, but his Thai wife wouldn’t let him. They have dubbed themselves as the 'Millwall of Bangkok'; no doubt with ex-pat assistance.

All kids were admitted free of charge. PAT Stadium was a proper football ground. Three sides had steep open metal terracing, with the home end slightly bigger than that reserved for visiting fans. 

The open side had two tiers, with nearly every view looking down on play. The final side was a raised seated stand, taking the total capacity to 12,000. I had visited the stadium a couple of years ago for pictures when it was being upgraded, but the final product really was impressive.

The noise was incredible inside the place, with drums and all manner of musical instruments blaring out. The locals really got behind their side, and it was soon obvious that BB-CU would have to show great resolve to get anything from the match. 

This was even more so when the near-side linesman buckled and flagged for a penalty for handball under great crowd and player pressure. Brazilian Leandro Luz slotted the ball home after a shoe was thrown from behind the goal at the visiting offender.

BB-CU equalised with an absolute beauty from Cameroon striker Bouba Abbo and gradually took the sting out of the home side, as Leandro and his pals whinged to anyone who’d listen about any decision. 

The referee was obviously getting sick of this ploy and gave them less and less. The 75 or so away fans; which I thought abysmal for a local derby, who played and sang full songs in tune were thoroughly enjoying their night out. I wished the England Band could have taken note.

At half-time, I mingled with home fans and a large number of ex-pats as I drank ice-cold cans of Leo beer for around 40p. For the second half, I went behind the goal in a fan group called The Flying Portman. 

BB-CU always looked more dangerous with Bouba Abbo superb in strength and power. It was no surprise when he scored what proved to be the winner. It was sad to hear a sporadic monkey chant from the terraces aimed in his direction.

If it wasn’t for the home keeper the margin would have been greater, and although Port had a few spells up the other end of their own, they didn’t really look like scoring. At full time I headed for the club shop and bought a Singhtarua team shirt for 660 baht (around £13.50). 

Yes, the club did appear to have problems in certain areas, but for the real atmosphere and a traditional stadium just a couple of stops on the metro or a ten-minute cab ride from the western bars, there was only one place to head for a football fix. It reminded me of why I fell in love with the game as a kid.

I retired for the evening after a welcome comforting McDonalds meal to relax and get a proper night's sleep so that I could fly down to Phuket the next morning full of life and ready for more fun.

To see my amateur footage video footage of the evening, please click here.

Singhtarua 3 Samut Songkhram 0 (Wednesday 26^th March 2014) Thai Premier League (att: approx 5,500)

A few weeks before heading to Thailand for the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes. I was checking out the football fixtures and trying to find additional fixtures through Facebook and Twitter. Ideally, I wanted a lower division or FA Cup game as an aperitif before an evening game, but it was not to be.

Steve Walker, my good mate in Bangkok, was keen to go to see Port as Singhtarua was formerly known. He’d been close to heading to Khlong Toey on a couple of occasions. As I was quite fond of the club and the atmosphere from my previous visits I was more than happy to head down once more.

After a couple of beers in The Crossbar with our old pal Gavin Shaw we headed initially for the underground before deciding to take a taxi. Our driver never particularly filled me with confidence over his navigational skills. 

I knew the PAT Stadium was at the bottom of Ratchadapisek Road so I told him it to the left. Unfortunately, he took a left a little early, leaving us snarled up in rush hour traffic and heading back to Ekamai. 

We bailed out as I led the way in what I thought was the correct direction. We went down an alley and over the Khlong into the back street market. This was a really down-to-earth and down-at-heel part of Bangkok. I marched on with a mixture of hope and confidence. I was most happy when we turned a final corner and saw the club shop ahead.

We marched over the practice pitch with kick-off looming. I left Steve to sort out a couple of beers while I went to purchase the 100 Baht (£2) tickets. We went in down the side nearest to the away end, standing to attention for the national anthem before taking up our position.

The Samut Songkhram fans numbered a couple of hundred and played their part in creating a fine atmosphere. Port were unbeaten, three games into their return to the top flight after the final match promotion and a huge party at the end of the previous campaign. 

I had pointed out Leandro in his number ten shirt to Steve, and he didn’t let us down as he was running the game from just behind his forward partner. However, the Flying Mackerel defence proved difficult to breach. 

It looked like the teams would go in scoreless at the interval before Singhtarua were awarded a very soft penalty close to the halftime whistle. Leandro put the ball away with aplomb.

We went downstairs at the break to purchase more beer and much-needed food. For around £2 I got a bag of fried chicken and barbequed pork, while Steve went for some top-class dim sung. For the second half, we went behind the goal close to the Main Stand.

It really was a family affair down at PAT Stadium with fans ages ranging from babies to pensioners. It took me back to my infancy watching the game, although it had to be said that I never got to see games under lights with temperatures in the thirties; more is the pity.

Singhtarua continued to pile forward in the second half as the visiting defence ran a merry dance. The young Thai international Krirkrit Thaweekarn made it 2-0 after fifty-seven minutes. Samut Songkhram had an occasional break forward, but it just wasn’t going to be their night.

Eventually, the mass pressure on the visiting goal paid dividends in injury time as the brilliant Leandro continued to turn the screw, which led to a third goal; this time it was Sarawut Kongjaroen who finished off the move.

We hung around as both teams took their deserved applause before suddenly the crowd went wild as the other results began to come in. We had an inkling that other rivals had done badly, and this was confirmed when we spoke to some ex-pats who told us that Port were top of the league for the first time in a lot of years.

We walked back to Khlong Toey station and then went to meet Chris Lamb and other arriving tourists on Soi Cowboy where we drank to a tremendous night out. If only every football experience could have been that good. 

Port FC 0 Army United 2 (Wednesday 28^th October 2015) Thai Premier League (att: 2,678)

The Beer Battered Seadogs touring party was gradually depleting after a great tour and relative success on the pitch during the Thailand International Cricket Sixes. We said goodbye to four of the boys, while Steve, Tony, Karl, Ron and I headed back up to Bangkok with the Wednesday night football in mind.

Four of us had a nice meal at the Penalty Spot bar around Sukhumvit 25 before taking the subway one stop to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre station. I was pretty sure of the way from there, but a young lad in a Port shirt was an additional help.

Khlong Toei market was still busy. The main Rama 3 road had stalls spilling out. We had a brief look as time was getting on. We crossed Rama IV and Sunthon Kosa Road by footbridge, with the floodlights looming into view.

We met Steve, along with new Bangkok residents Sean and Tracey by the fans park to sort out tickets and a beer. Most eyes and ears were on the sky, where a massive storm was brewing.

Some locals were most pleased to have met some farang Port fans. One took our photos for his online fanzine. Admission was 100 Baht, but no programmes were available. We opted to stand upstairs down the side.

The King’s Anthem was interrupted by heavy thunder and lightning, and within minutes the heavens opened. It was every man and woman for themselves as there was no cover in the stands.

I managed to get under the stand overhang at the back, despite a crazy local walking around on the steps using a chair as a hat while nearly taking several fans' eyes out. I met some of my pals down there.

Eventually, the storm subsided and we ventured back upstairs, where some had braved it out. The temperatures gradually warmed up again, which was just as well. We were drenched! Ron, Steve and Tracey reappeared in waterproof coats looking like three of the Telly Tubbies!

Meanwhile on the pitch, Port were doing their best in a game that they really needed something from. Their position in the last of the relegation places was looking perilous, and more worrying was the lack of bite up front.

At the interval, I ventured back down to the fans area, where all sorts of food and beverages were on offer. A can of Leo for 80 Baht (40p) won it for me. 

Nearly everyone at the game wore the orange and blue of their heroes. I was slightly shocked to see such a low official attendance, although it should be remembered that juniors did not pay.

After half time Port seemed to have stepped up a gear, but most of the attacks were marshalled comfortably by a very competent Army defensive unit. There was lots of lovely intricate passing without any shots being fired.

I mentioned to Steve that I could see a goal coming. I was right, but not how I wanted. A counterattack had broken up another set of passes going nowhere from Port and gone straight up to the other end. From this the Spanish defender Ernesto fired home from a resulting corner.

The Khlong Toei Army tried to rally their troops on the pitch. The game reverted to the same pattern with Hassan Sunny a mainly redundant figure in the United net. Most of Port’s constructive play was coming from lightweight Japanese forward Hironori Saruta and defender David Rochela.

With eight minutes remaining, another attack from Army caught Port’s players out of position. A pass was put into the space where the central defence should have been, for Thanakorn Danthong to send the 200 or so away fans behind the goal and in the seats into wild delight. 

The Army band were very impressive throughout the game, but they probably did it as a profession, as I noted at the time. Sunny was at last called into action in the closing stages, but it was far too little too late. 

The game fizzled out and with it Port’s real chances of Premier League football for the 2016 season. My pals were not impressed by them at all. As it was cynically noted at the time. Port would have struggled to score on Soi Cowboy.

Never mind. It wasn’t the first time one of my teams had disappointed, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. I went to the excellent club shop and bought a polo shirt so I could look smart at the Saturday away game to TOT.

We walked back through the narrow streets of the market, and I’m so glad we did. This was Bangkok’s poorest area, yet the smiles were as big as anywhere. 

Some of the seafood and fruit produce had to be seen to be believed. Tracey and Ron got stuck in, with Ron buying enough fruit to feed a cricket team. Tony bought local sweets for his mates at work.

We all took the train back to Sukhumvit and finished off with drinks in the Queen Victoria on Sukhumvit 23. The decent pub was happy to have a big crowd. Unfortunately because of the earlier soaking, I was suffering from the air conditioning and called it a night after a pint of cider.

It had been a good evening, spoiled slightly by the match. I wish I had a fiver for every time that had happened to me! 

Port FC 3 Air Force Central 1 (Wednesday 28^th March 2018) Thai League 1 (att: 3,470)

My holiday to Thailand, primarily for the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes was underway, and the chance of a home game at the PAT Stadium was one that I wasn’t going to overlook.

I’d had an evening down the coast with my host Steve, before we took a sangtheaw and then a bus to Bangkapi before catching the ferry into town and alighting at Nana. This inexpensive route was also just as quick as by taxi and kept us away from the pollution along the water.

Food and drinks were taken in Gullivers and then Speakeasy. I had another beer and a feet rub before we took the MRT subway to Khlong Toei in readiness for the 8pm kick-off. We saw three other lads ahead; one in a Port shirt. They followed us before I became concerned.

Unbelievably one of the lads worked with Steve many years previously and had just got into supporting Port. The others from Canada and Switzerland also loved the experience. We were actually heading in the wrong direction, but soon put ourselves right.

I’d considered buying a new team shirt but decided against it. There was time for another beer in the fans area for 70 Baht behind the stands before heading upstairs down the side. Tickets for the match on the three open sides were 100 Baht; around £2.25.

Port had got off to a very decent start to the season. I was keen to see new forward Dragan Bošković in action and whether he was a better option than Josimar; the Brazilian who I thought had real potential the previous season.

Both sides went on the front foot straight from the start, with the Air Force belying their position towards the foot of the table with the quality of their efforts. However, it was Port who took the initiative with Pakorn Prempak starring from the early stages.

He had an effort across goal before Nurul Sriyankem volleyed over when well-placed. Sriyankem crossed for Kim Sung-hwan who was denied at the near post with a tremendous defensive block halfway through the opening period.

Prempak came close with two free kicks, while Renan Marques offered a get out relief for Air Force with his hard work and intelligent runs. Port eventually broke the deadlock seven minutes before the break as Bošković rose majestically to head home a near post Prempak cross.

It was star man Prempak who doubled Port’s advantage as the half came to its conclusion with a tremendous fierce swerving shot, with gave Air Force keeper Kritsakorn Kerdpol no hope as the ball flashed into the near top corner.

At the break we had a wander about downstairs before deciding to go in the end Port would be attacking, near to the away fans section. The visitors from the north of Bangkok had a decent following, including musicians who never relented in their support for their heroes.

Air Force had certainly no intention of surrendering and came out of the changing rooms continuing to play decent football on the eye. Marquez reduced the arrears in fifty four minutes with a tremendous curling shot after being teed up by Yodsak Chaowana.

The two-goal advantage was restored a couple of minutes later when Prempak played a delightful one-two with Sriyankem before firing into the roof of the net past Kerdpol. It really was a tremendous goal on a night when nearly everything the scorer tried had come off.

Marquez went close again at the other end, with the ball staying in play as Leandro Assumpção was denied by a brilliant brave point plank save by Port goalie Worawut Srisupha. Chaowana missed an absolute sitter shortly after as he dragged his effort across the goal.

Prempak was denied by a fingertip save from Kerdpol; which the referee mysteriously overlooked. The sublime Sergio Suárez got a run out for the final ten minutes for the Port Lions as the game drifted out towards full-time.

Port had been well worth the win, but both sides had played their part. We didn’t much about at full time, taking a shortcut through the market and getting a timely reminder of what it looked like for people to really have to graft for a meagre wage.

The MRT from Queen Sirikit National Convention Center took us back to Sukhumvit and another world, as we met up with several friends over for the cricket along Soi Cowboy. An interesting few hours followed as we skipped from bar to bar in the company of Gavin Shaw.

Steve and I headed home in rather bedraggled states after plenty of drinks and I’d somehow attracted the local dancer in one establishment after she took a shine to me supporting the same team as her. Perhaps a hot date at the PAT Stadium was in store in the future?

To see the team celebrate with the fans, click here for this homemade video.