Prime Bangkok

 

Prime Bangkok FC is a professional football club that has a long and interesting history, at least in terms of Thai football. The club was originally formed in 2006 as Bangkok North Central ASSN, before being granted a place in the second tier Thailand Division 1 League the following year as members of Group B.

Their debut season ended in relegation to the third tier Division 2, again performing in Group B which ended in an approved performance with home games being played at North Bangkok University Stadium before the club was shifted to Division 2 Bangkok in 2009.

The club changed their title to North-Sarawitaya FC, finishing bottom of the table using Chaloem Phra Kiat Stadium, otherwise known as Khlong 6 Stadium, then later retitled Queen Sirikit's 60th Anniversary Stadium, followed by playing under the name of North-Central in 2010.

Home games were staged at 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi as the team finished joint bottom of the table. The club missed a season before returning in 2012 to the same competition this time as Central Lions when three home venues were used in a season that ended in relegation.

Widespread locations, RMUTR Stadium in Nakhon Pathom province, Thupatemi Stadium in Don Muang, and BEC Tero Sasana Nong Chok Stadium all staged games before the club dropped down to compete in Khǒr Royal Cup football.

2016 saw the club reform as Air Force Central Robinson playing at Ratchakram Stadium in Ayutthaya province as the goals of Patcharapon Usmali led to promotion after winning their section of the Thailand Amateur League in 2017. The reward was a place in Thai League 4 Bangkok in the restructured national competition setup.

Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium, a former home of Prime

The club moved into Thupatemi Stadium before moving to Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium near to Rajamangala in the capital in 2019. after Air Force had set up their own B team, with Somprat Inthaphut leading the scoring charts.

Further restructuring of Thai football saw a move to realign with the European calendar, with a place in Thai League 3 Bangkok Region being awarded. Moussa Abakar led the scoring for the club now called Prime Bangkok as they ended the 2020-21 season in fifth place.

Jatuporn Pramolbal had been appointed as head coach before stepping back into a role as the club manager and being succeeded by a short spell under Chaiporn Ngampravatdee and then later in the season Wajee Kertsombun. These were difficult times for Thai football’s lower reaches while dealing with Covid restrictions.

Prime played home games in 2021-22 behind closed doors, first at Kasem Bundit Stadium and then at Thai-Japanese Stadium, eventually finishing seventh with Japanese forward Omae So supplying the goals.

Thai Japanese Stadium, temporary refuge to Prime during COVID restrictions

Thidarat Wiwasuku took charge of the team in 2022-23 which saw an improved fourth-place finish, thanks to the goals of Tishan Tajahni Hanley despite having to play home games at Kasem Bundit and then Thonburi Stadium before Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium was available once more.

Thanyaphon Khlaykam took over as head coach at the start of the 2023-24 campaign before Jatuporn Pramolbal taking over at the mid-season break. The side finished sixth with Chawanwit Sealao top scoring.

The club changed location to Boonyachinda Stadium as tenants of Police Tero from the start of 2024-25, adopting the same kit as their landlords, while being placed in Thai League 3 Central Region as Thanyaphon Khlaykam returned to coach the side.

Prime Bangkok FC will play in Thai League 3 Central in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Prime Bangkok 3 Saraburi United 0 (Saturday 31^st August 2024) Thai League Cup 1st Round Qualifiers (att: 256)

It was my final day of the latest trip to stay at our condo north of Minburi in the capital and I was on the lookout for a game. The options were down to watching Prime in action in a home game for the first time or watching Customs United take on BFB Pattaya in the same competition.

Prime swung it for me with their 3pm kickoff, rather than 4.30 at Customs, and the fact that my mate Marco, another groundhopper from the UK was going to be in attendance. My original lunchtime appointment in Chachoengsao sealed it, especially as my wife offered to drop me near to Minburi monorail station.

After grabbing some food and putting my inexpensive mini cool bag to good use with some small cans of beer for later, I set off, slightly underestimating the time my journey would take. In hindsight it may have been ambitious walking from Lak Si station to the stadium in the hot weather.

The Tero team bus passed me as it headed off to their evening game at Ayutthaya United while I wandered round to the main stand, which was the only part of the ground which was opened and paid my 50 THB for a ticket. The teams were lined up observing the King’s Anthem as I walked up the steps.

My pal had chosen a good view near the back in the section I’d watched a couple of Tero games from in the past. While the view was fine, the drummers and rather portly and out of tune on the megaphone caused a real cacophony which made conversation difficult.

Saraburi took the initiative in the early stages, forcing Prime keeper Phijak Donwithai into a fine tip over, and then created another good half chance. I was expecting the visitors to win the game, on little more evidence than them being a bigger provincial club. How little I knew.

The hosts went 1-0 up just gone the half hour mark after growing into the game and threatening to take the lead. They did so through the extremely impressive Chawanit Saelao, who Marco commented had been the star man when he saw them in action the previous season.

At the interval we adjourned out the back after the man on the PA decided to outdo the volume of the fans by playing music at full blast. We nattered while finishing the beers before returning to see a polished home performance.

They were helped massively four minutes after the break when a weak back pass was pounced upon by Aekkaphong Phlmankasemsri to round goalie Ittikorn Kularb to roll the ball into the empty net. From then on it was aways going to be a struggle for Saraburi.

They thought they had got themselves back into the game when a header from giant forward Santiago Corral, who had been brought on as sub ricocheted off a combination of woodwork and keeper, with the linesman claiming that the ball stayed out. It’s fair to say that the Argentinian saw things differently.

That was as good as it would get for his side, with Chawanit adding the third twelve minutes from time with a fine finish. We didn’t hang around for the applause for both sides as with respect, we had more enjoyable plans to execute, which began with an entertaining walk through the communities to Bang Bua station.

I had suggested we say our farewells for a few months over a couple of beers. There were no arguments from Marco, but the issue as ever was finding a bar in the vicinity that had previously drawn up blanks. We crossed the busy main road but found nothing.

That was until we ventured down the narrow soi, Phahon Yothin 46 and spotted a bar down an alley and one that was open right on the corner with open fronts and wooden chairs and stools. It was my perfect kind of establishment, as we watched the bustling street life carrying on while we enjoyed cold beers.

It was certainly one to add for further reference, as it had a TV showing the early kickoff from the UK, great background music and a young and happy client base. When we had done, I grabbed some chicken from a stall for back home and headed off by a couple of sky trains and then a taxi before watching some football.

It had been another wonderful few hours of enjoyment seeing some new places and being entertained. My app said that I’d completed over 10km on foot, which certainly explained me sleeping so well before our ten-hour meandering journey back to Sisaket the following day.

North Bangkok University

 

North Bangkok University FC is a football club that is based in Pathum Thani to the north of the Thai capital. Upon formation in 2006 the club played at Bangkok University Stadium, competing in local and college competition.

In 2010 ‘The Horsemen’ joined the third tier Bangkok Metropolitan Region of the third tier national Regional League finishing just outside the championship pool places in their inaugural campaign.

Home matches were split between playing at the Infantry Department 11 Royal Guard ground, Thanarom Village Football Field, Bangkok University Stadium and the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi.

North Bangkok went one better the following season as they ended up as runners up in the table having moved into the North Bangkok University Stadium. This led to qualification for the Champions League promotion play-offs, where hopes of going up ended.

The 2012 season ended in sixth place, followed by eighth place finishes in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 North Bangkok weighed in with a disappointing eleventh place spot before improving to seventh place in 2016 as Robert Ghansah topped the club scoring chart.

Thai league football was restructured for the 2017 season with the club being placed in the new fourth tier Thai League 4 (T4) Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Sirichai Lamphuttha and Poomipat Kantanet scored the goals as North Bangkok raced to the league title.

The team were defeated by Marines Eureka in the Champions League play-offs to miss out once again on promotion. The club bounced back to secure their second consecutive title in 2018 as Joao Francisco scored the goals.

A second place in the Lower Group led to a further play off which was won 2-1 on aggregate against Muang Loei United to win promotion to the third tier for 2019. A fifth place finish ensued with Piyapong Homkhajohn putting away the goals.

The 2020-21 campaign saw Thai football realign its calendar to correspond with the European season with the competition reverting to three tiers. It was also one affected by the coronavirus pandemic with many games played behind closed doors. NBU didn't let this affect their form as they finished top of Thai League 3 Bangkok Region.

The goals of Chanotaj Pipatmongkonchai did the business but the team only came fifth out of six sides in the Lower Region playoff rounds. University regathered under their boss Damrongsak Boonmuang to end top again in the regular season of 2021-22.

ThitiwaThitinartaen ended as the top scorer before a dramatic last round of playoff games saw North Bangkok pipped for promotion in the last few seconds. The 2022-23 season saw the team finish top of the Bangkok region for the third consecutive season.

 

Célio and Veeraphong Aon-pean shared the goals which again saw NBU progress no further through the Champions League playoffs. In 2023-24 both Phitchanon Chanlung and Pheemphapob Viriyachanchai also got in on the goalscoring act as the side ended as runners-up in the regional title but went no further in their attempts to be promoted.

North Bangkok University FC will play in the Thai League 3 Bangkok Region in the 2022-23 season.

My visits

North Bangkok 1 Chamchuri United 2 (Sunday 6^th April 2014) Regional League Bangkok Region (att: approx 200)

My annual Sunday double header on the way back from the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes saw me get an early sighter of the stadium as we flew over it heading to land at Don Muang.

After checking into the Asia Airport Hotel, I went downstairs into the Zeer shopping mall for some desperately needed food after feeling rather under the weather for the previous thirty six hours. 

I crossed the pedestrian bridge that straddled the expressway and thankfully found a cab driver who understood my instructions. This was somewhat of a relief as my driver from the airport had seemed determined to take me on a tour of the city before he realised that I wasn’t a first time traveller.

The pleasant drive along the Rangsit Nakhon-Nayak Road took me past the many eateries and markets along the side of the khlong. The route was the same as I’d taken a hundred or so metres further on the previous year to take photos at the Bangkok Glass Leo Stadium.

My driver took me right through the campus and deposited me by the entrance to the Bangkok University Stadium. I paid my 60 Baht admission fee after taking a few photos looking into the stadium from outside. 

I found myself in the away section. Ironically, I had a Chamchuri United shirt from my visit in October, but it was with my mate Steve Walker as I’d dispatched unneeded luggage for the remainder of my stay.

The stadium basically consisted of two long low stands down one side with bench seating, which was linked in the centre by an area for press, cameras, and match officials. The players got changed in separate blocks at either end of the stands. 

The rest of the arena had no spectator facilities but was surrounded by wire fencing. The far side had a scoreboard on the halfway line. It had once been home to Bangkok United before they moved to the Thai Japanese Stadium nearer the city centre.

The weather was in the high thirties for a 4pm kick off, so I didn’t expect a fast paced encounter. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the tempo and action on a perfect pitch with Leo Stadium in the background. Amazingly the match kicked off bang on time, which I found to be a bit of a rarity in Thailand.

To see a clip of the emergence of the teams, click here.

On seven minutes North Bangkok had a good opportunity saved as they started off in good form. It was a fairly even encounter with the home side showing more creative prowess. Another decent chance was spurned just before the half hour.

The Horsemen were made to pay for their wastefulness as Chamchuri took the lead a couple of minutes before the interval.Number 19 brought down a cross at the back post a fired home to the joy of the fifty or so visiting fans including a little lad who led the chanting on his own!

The joy didn’t last too long as North Bangkok restored parity in stoppage time. They had a free kick charged down by a visiting hand before number 16 fired home the second attempt. At the interval I took a walk to the shop underneath the halls of residence behind the far goal as there was no catering at the ground. 

I purchased a key ring from the club shop before taking a seat in the home section for the second half while enjoying a gratefully received bottle of water and an ice cream. The home side continued to press, but Chamchuri looked mightily effective on the break.

The game appeared destined to end level until the visitors broke once more in stoppage time with number 10 finishing another counterattack. It was very nearly 3-1 as the ball once more entered the Bangkok net, but the goal was chalked off for offside.

It had been a decent encounter in general. I headed back on foot past the buildings in mid-construction and where a student was working on an old aeroplane fuselage. I walked over the footbridge over the busy road as the sun set over Pathum Thani to take a taxi to Muang Thong United for the north Bangkok derby against Bangkok Glass.

North Bangkok University 0 Nakhonsi United 0 (Saturday 19th March 2022) T3 Champions League Lower Region Playoffs (att: 520)

It was time for a long overdue revisit to the North Bangkok University Stadium, and with the team qualifying for the end of season group stage playoffs for promotion to the second tier I figured there was no better time.

The venue was one of those I considered was going to be awkward to get to while I dreamed of my new location while back in England. However, local knowledge was doing me well along with a couple of apps offering solutions. 

I took a bus to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat from Minburi, where I crossed the road to take a 39 service to Future Rangsit mall for food and a look around. A musical band played middle of the road Thai stuff as shoppers milled in increasing numbers.

When it came to time to find my bus along the main road in the direction of Nakhon Nayok I came unstuck. I couldn’t find my way to the bus stop which didn’t seem to correspond with Google Maps. In the end I jumped in a taxi with time getting on towards the 3.30pm start. 

It was immediately apparent that the visitors had travelled in great numbers for what was a long distance from the south in minivans. They had a stall set up selling souvenirs outside and some had set up an impromptu bar.

The security on the gate was a bit heavy but that might have to do with an incident in the previous home game where Bangkok FC player Aitsaret Noichaiboon attacked NBU man Supasan Ruangsuphanimit with a Muay Thai-style elbow and all hell had broken loose. 

Both sides cancelled each other out in this competitive clash. I viewed from among the superb away support. The German coach of the visitors, Jorg Steinebrunner, was animated at times but he seemed to get his message across

The hosts main tactic consisted of long throws into the box in the general direction of decent striker Sergey Tumasyan, and then falling over quite a lot. Fortunately, referee Thapakorn Thongkon was having none of it. 

While I couldn’t condone any attack on a player, I was quickly understanding how opponents could lose their rag against the mob representing the university. They were a piece of work and knew plenty of dark arts.

Both sides had won their first game 3-0 and were determined not to give anything away in this encounter on a poor playing surface. The heat wasn’t helping either, with drinks breaks being called midway through each half. 

At the break I walked to the shop at the far end for refreshments and an ice cream before settling back down. Ten minutes into the restart an excellent Nakhonsi move ended with a header going just wide, and that was about all to report on.

Both defences were the winner in an absolute stalemate. The courtesy campus bus gave us on foot a ride back to the main road, and on crossing the bridge a bus was soon with us to take me back to Zeer Rangsit, from where another couple of services delivered me back to Minburi.

North Bangkok University 0 Saruburi United 0 (Saturday 2nd April 2022) T3 Champions League Lower Region Playoffs (att: 200) 

If I thought I would see a better game on my return a couple of weeks later, I was to be disappointed. This one really stank the place out. Again, I went in with the away fans and enjoyed the same over the top security measures.

Tumasyan was missing from the Uni line up and were consequently even more lacking in forward invention with the strong wind at their backs in the first half. Saraburi opted for a shorter passing game that was more pleasing on the eye.

Both sides fired off speculative efforts in the early exchanges as those from Saraburi made me most welcome as they cheered on their heroes, while one of their defenders put in a last gasp challenge to avert the danger of a North Bangkok attempt.

Aboubacar Kone looked like a class act for the visitors in midfield dealing with the bumpy pitch. United took the ascendency as the half progressed. It said plenty that I enjoyed the performance of ref Kristin Saisombat as much as any player in what was a real contrast of styles. 

Saraburi continued to be the better side after the interval, but we still awaited an effort on goal from either side. The visitors skipper went down with what appeared to be a nasty injury but play continued. Fans were hysterical in their screaming before there was a long delay in play.

It fired up both teams with the home sides Piyaphong Homkhajohn taking some real abuse which he wasn’t slow in returning. While NBU were not high on my list of most watchable sides, their skipper Weerayut Jitkuntod was solid and excellent in general.

The closest either side came to goal arrived late on when Saraburi keeper Ritthikiat Yodsamut nearly palmed a long range shot into his own net, but the score remained blank until full time.

At which point I again jumped aboard the free shuttle bus and began my walk along the main road towards the BG Pathum United v Port game, when I was intercepted by a fan who turned out to be the father of an away team player who kindly gave me a lift.

 

Maraleina

Maraleina FC is a professional football club with a history of having different names and playing in several locations.  Its origins can be traced back to 2006 when they were based in Sisaket and were named Department of Science Service FC.

The club relocated to the capital and changed their title, playing in the FS (Friendly Soccer) League from 2009, of which they were crowned champions in 2010-11. The club became Kanjanapat FC is a professional football club, representing the Kanjanapat Group, who trade in the air conditioning industry.

Based at the Stadium of Bangkok University Rangsit Campus, Kanjanapat competed in the Thailand Amateur League in 2019. The team progressed to the Western Region final where they defeated Singha Rakhang Thong Muang Kan at Ayutthaya in the final 

The victory secured promotion to the extended Thai League 3 West for the 2020-21 campaign, in which they ended in eleventh. Sylla Sekou Nana had topped the scoring list as the team performed at Stadium of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, under head coach Ekkapong Midphol.

He was replaced by Uthai Ngamcharoen and then Tewet Kamolsin in a truncated season owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. This was prior to the side finishing eighth in 2021-22 with the goals being shared by Addison Alves and Alexis Vaiani after a move to North Bangkok University Stadium. Yossagorn Silaket led the side for owner and manager Winai Kanjanapat.

Nigerian Adebayo Gbadebo was appointed as head coach for the 2022-23 campaign following another relocation, this time to Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University Stadium, north of Rangsit. The team ended in tenth spot, before it was all change once again.

There had been rumours circulating around the local football scene that Kanjanapat may be tempted to sell their license. Maraleina had a couple of academies and wanted to have an adult pro side. They took over from Kanjanapat as Huahin Maraleina, to relocate to the seaside city.

However, they stayed out north of Rangsit for the 2023-24 season, finishing seventh as Chitsanuphong Phimpsang occasionally put away the goals with experienced coach Rene Desaeyere leading the side. 

An online image of Petchaburi Rajabhat Stadium

For the 2024-25 campaign, Marlaleina appeared to drop Huahin from their title but relocated halfway there when they moved into Phetchaburi Rajabhat University Stadium with Paisan Chanpraserd taking over as coach. 

Maraleina FC will play in Thai League 3 West in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Kanjanapat 0 Saraburi United 2 (Sunday 6^th November 2022) Thai League 3 West (att: 162) 

I had pondered the possibility of trying to get to see Kanjanapat for some time, I had been to the Kanjanapat Arena, used by Bangkok Premier League club Chibuna FC previously, but it appeared not up to scratch for professional football.

Now I had a perfect opportunity with my friends from Germany, Thorsten, and Maren across in Thailand on holiday. They were having a whale of a time groundhopping, with this fixture fitting in perfectly before we headed to Bangkok United v Lamphun Warriors in the evening.

 

They had seen games in Chiang Mai and then at Kasetsart the previous evening before meeting me at Yaek Kor Por Aor, the penultimate stop on the light green line BTS skytrain with plenty of time to sort a taxi on the Bolt app.

In no time we were being collected on a sticky warm afternoon for what was quite a drive which cost 240 Baht. We asked the driver to drop us outside the Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University as we were early to have a gander round the nearby Rong Kluea Market.

Maren and I were sorted with a beer each to take with us to the game, though it was quite a walk to the stadium through the academic grounds, meaning our drinks had lost a lot of their cool. Admission was 50 Baht each, which included a small carton of soft drink, the same as was being handed out when we had been to Police Tero nine days previously.

The stadium was different to Google Maps, with a new raised seated stand and athletic track. The floodlights on the nearside were perched on the roofs of the student accommodation outside the arena, which we had never seen before.

I had predicted an away win before kickoff, which looked a good call in the early stages. Saraburi went ahead on four minutes when a slide rule pass put in Natthawut Sukaram to slot away past keeper Sathaporn Yothee.

The second followed three minutes later following an exhibition of shambolic defending as Teerasak Phosrithong and Sitthipong Malai allowed Phadungkiat Artkitkarn to nip to steal the ball and extend the lead. 

The hosts had gargantuan defender Zady Moise trying but failing to sort out the mess. They tried to fight back with a decent move between Intouch Yamyindee and Christian Sacchini, but Yamyindee overran the ball allowing away goalie Patcharaphon Kaewkham to extinguish the danger.

Malai saw a shot deflected just wide as Kanjanapat tried to rally prior to a cross from star man Phosrithong was nodded down by Aba to Yamyindee who saw his shot saved. But it wouldn’t be long before the home defence was up to more antics.

This time Moise and Nuttaphol Boonpun decided to act like strangers and make a proper mess. Wongsakorn Saenluecha pounced but saw his shot tipped onto the bar by Yothee. The action then switched to the other end in what was a watchable contest.

A free kick from Phosrithong was flicked onto the bar and over by Kaewkham before the same two players drew a shot and save through a crowded area. We had a stretch and paid for some more cartons of drinks before seeing an improved Kanjanapat effort.

Whether this was owing to replacing Moise would be a harsh call, but they looked livelier but without really looking like scoring. In fact, the more they pressed the more gaps they left of their own.

The Warlords came close to benefitting when they broke with sub Chokanan Saima-in putting through Kim Junhyeon who timed his run from his own half perfectly but was denied by Yothee who did his best to keep his side hanging on by their fingernails.

 

In the final action, a fine reverse pass by Teerasak Tongkaew set up Red Eagles man Phosrithong who was once again denied by opposite custodian Kaewkham as the gloom descended in stoppage time.

My gloom was gathering after a Bolt driver had accepted our fare but then cancelled ten minutes later, with no other pilots available. We set off on the long walk to the main road when someone obviously realized that we were decent folk.

Each stadium must have a mandatory ambulance on duty on a matchday. The driver wound down the window and told us to jump inside. He took us to the main road right by a footbridge and told us to cross to have a better chance of a taxi to Thammasat University.

What a wonderful man, which epitomized one of many reasons I loved living in such a wonderful country.