Kanthararom United

Kanthararom United FC is an amateur football club, formed in 2017, that hails from the small town of the same name on the road between Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani. 

In 2017 and 2018, the team entered the Thailand Amateur League without any success, as well as the Thai FA Cup in 2018, when known as NBN Kanthararom United, they lost 3-0 to JL Chiangmai United, with the tie being played at SAT Sisaket Stadium in front of 240 fans.

The side returned to the FA Cup in 2022-23, going out 2-1 away to Khon Kaen in the first round with Jeerawat Thonglue in charge of the team. Fellow amateur club, Mahanakon Khon Kaen ended any hopes of progression in the competition in 2023-24 with a 3-1 victory in the Qualifying Round.

Kanthararom did not enter the following season, but returned in 2025-26, going out once again in the Qualifying Round 4-1 to Khon Kaen, with the game being switched to Sisaket Rajabhat University Stadium, as Jeerwat remained in charge of the team.

Despite playing in the national cup, Kanthararom do not play regular league football, with much of their activity centred around the small-sided NBN Arena pitch, on the main 226 Road, where local competition takes place.

My visit

Sisaket Rajabhat University Stadium

Kanthararom United 1 Khon Kaen 4 (Wednesday 24th September 2025) Thai FA Cup Qualifying Round (att: 200)

As the amateur team from my nearest town doesn’t have a suitable venue in Kanthararom, they switched the match to the Sisaket Rajabhat University Stadium, a few miles up the road.

They gave it a good go, too, against the pros from Thai League 3 Northeast. Quality and fitness were decisive factors in the end of an entertaining game played on a glue pot pitch in good spirits, which was sensibly refereed.

Khon Kaen went into a two-goal lead with efforts from the impressive Sakunchai Saenthopho in the second minute and then the excellent Charin Boodhad on the half-hour mark after he had earlier missed a penalty, as the rain teemed down before clearing near half-time. It looked like a large score was on the horizon.

This was before the hosts gradually got back into things and missed two easy chances, playing enterprising football at times despite being porous at the back. The second missed chance took some believing as a forward sliding in at the back post cleared the ball from a yard out.

The visiting coach brought on Brazilian forward Caio when Kanthararom looked like they might sneak a goal back. He was excellent, helping Charin to a second. The home team did score when a low cross was put away at the back post by Arnon Thongphanya, before the final kick of the match saw Caio put away a penalty. 

I’d met my mate John before the game for food and drink at Leo’s town, as we knew there should have only been half an hour before the second part of our extravaganza got underway. The weather certainly played a part in the Sisaket United v Padriew City game.

My Roving Report for A Thai Football Podcast

Sisaket Rajabhat University

 

The football club of Sisaket Rajabhat University represents the learning establishment of the same name. It is one of thirty-eight Rajabhat Universities located around Thailand which were originally set up for teacher training purposes.

Like all the others, the campus has magnificent facilities for their students to enjoy, which is like a large village. Included in it is the stadium, where Sisaket City FC played their home games in the Thai Semipro League.

 

SKKRU, to use their condensed title, play friendlies and compete in university football.

My visit

Sisaket Rajabhat University 1 Sisaket United 1 (Friday 28th June 2024) Friendly (att: c220)

It was somewhat of a surprise that this fixture appeared on sans pages of Sisaket United as well as that of the university side, but not on that of the visiting club. It was quickly apparent on arrival that it would be no more than a glorified training exercise.

The pitch, that was in good condition when we visited around six weeks previously, hadn’t been cut or been given markings. The touchlines were indicated by occasional training cones with the linesmen helping the ref.

United wore their numbered training kit while the hosts' players wore anything that they could find that was a predominantly yellow shirt. It didn’t look much of a spectacle, but it attracted quite a gathering, including mostly students who’d finished for the week around the 4pm kickoff time.

Some regular faces from Sisaket games were there to witness a game played in three periods of thirty minutes to give everyone a run. The pros fielded what we guessed would be trialists, youth players, and some regulars. New Korean defender Jeong Ja-in played but looked bored. 

United scored a simple goal in the first period, with the football being of a very average standard. We departed after an hour, missing the equaliser for SKKRU, as we’d seen enough. It was pretty underwhelming stuff, if truth be told.

Not that it spoiled the afternoon out in any way, which included the usual meet at Hong Kong Garden for a late lunch and drinks, followed by Leo’s after the match, from where my regular driver took me home for extended drinks on the veranda with my good lady. I’d endured many worse starts to a weekend over the years.