Pre-Season Friendlies. What do fans learn?

 Pre-Season Friendlies: What do supporters really learn from them?

 

Sisaket United 2 All Star 3

Wednesday 16th July 2025

Attendance: c100 – Admission Free

Last week, around the world, the pre-season friendlies began with a smattering of grand titles given to some of them to try and add to their prestige, with teams sometimes competing in smaller tournaments with absolutely nothing riding on them. Thailand is no different.

My attention was drawn to a thread on the excellent Non League Matters Forum entitled “What are friendlies telling you about the season ahead?”, wanting feedback from those who had already attended games. The general consensus being “very little”, with managers and clubs’ socials spun it in whichever way they think benefitted them.

A win would typically be described as an excellent morale booster with the new signings being a stroke of genius and a pointer of things to come, while defeat opined as being good to get some miles into the legs of players rather than just training. Much of which, of course, exists to satisfy supporters and help selling merchandise and tickets, while ensuring the optimism continues to build until reality strikes.

Anyway, with my local club Sisaket United having announced six friendlies, but only one at home, it seemed churlish not to go and meet my mate John and see what we could decipher. Here are some of the key things that I picked up.

• The match probably shouldn’t have gone ahead on a waterlogged mud bath. The pitch was heavily chewed up throughout, and while in a sensible world, at least a groundsman would use the opportunity to roll the surface and make advantage of the weather, it will be left to dry with divots going hard, ensuring the pitch will be equally hopeless when it dries.   
• It rains heavily in the wet season in Sisaket. Very heavily. So heavily that the storm five minutes before we were due to play golf abandoned our plans, rendering the course unsuitable, this two hours before the football in the stadium next door was to commence.
• Yorkshire bowled very well v Lancashire in the T20, which rerun from Friday, we watched in Hong Kong Garden instead of the golf, immediately putting a smile on my face. 
• The two-for-one pints on the promotion of Mahou in Leo’s post-match were excellent value, as was the standard of the bangers and mash.
• My wife and I have found an excellent place for food and coffee on the main road into town, on the forecourt of a Shell gas station, no less.
• The toilets have not been cleaned in the Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium since I first went in September 2022, and goodness knows how long before that, and counting. They smell like you can imagine, being frankly a disgrace, and quite possibly a health hazard.
• Ditto the seats in the stand. Yesterday we were given the option of sitting in puddles accrued in the bucket seats or choosing those at the back under the roof infested with bird droppings. Another disgrace, and something so simple for the club to sort out, even as tenants, by hiring a couple of locals to clean the seats and the toilets before each game.
• The bow-legged physio is still there, quite possibly the slowest in Thai football. A pleasant old boy, calling him a physio is akin to calling me a chef for preparing a cheese sandwich with a mug of tea after my siesta. He goes on with spray and water.
• Hardly any of the Sisaket team on display will feature in the first team squad, or at least I sincerely hope not. The young goalie who was replaced, coming off smiling after shipping in three goals I’d have fancied myself to save, should be particularly concerned about his career prospects, should they include professional footballer anywhere in the description. I suspect many were trialists whom the new coach decided to take a look at. One was withdrawn not with an injury, but what I would describe as avoiding further punishment, so bad and unfit was he.

And that’s probably about it. I shouldn’t really have expected too much more either. If I did, I was being naïve and suffering from amnesia, as it’s the same every season. At least there was a bit of intrigue surrounding this fixture, which had my imagination doing overtime on the drive into town.

During my many years assisting with the running of cricket events in this part of the world, we would sometimes need an extra team to assist with the logistics, so we would put together a hybrid side and call them “All Stars”. What they were, in effect, consisted of those who couldn’t get a game with the team they’d travelled with, solo attendees, and anyone else whom we could convince to play after a couple of beers.

It wasn’t unusual for a bloke to head out innocently for the evening with a lady in tow, for him to have to explain to her that she had a free couple of days because a set of blokes he’d never previously clapped eyes upon had convinced him that cricket was a great idea.

As it transpired, this All Star team originated from Paris, an Academy, according to one of the two coaches when I delved trying to find out some info from behind the benches at the first of two breaks. The game was being played in three periods of thirty minutes. The All Star group apparently also have a network in Thailand. In football, presumably, but one never knows for certain over here. The players and coaches spoke English or French, with some a bit of both. We thought we recognised one of the coaches, maybe from being previously an assistant at Bangkok FC.

All were available for hire should any club wish to negotiate with them. There was the Yasothon FC coach in attendance, and I wouldn’t be surprised if representatives of other clubs hadn’t gone along for a decko. Some of the players weren’t bad. Some were. They were physically stronger than the Sisaket lads and went into a 3-0 lead. We headed off after an hour and missed Sisaket scoring two in the final period.

All Star guns for hire. How many will get pro contracts?

The All Star mob played in a kit without numbers, only some of the Sisaket players had them, while the pitch had not been marked, with penalty areas, halfway and touchlines being designated by cones, some on the pitch. Not that it bothered the players, which in a way shows just how pampered some pros really are. We were ten minutes late starting, waiting for a linesman, allowing me to get my first "get on with it" of the season shout from the stand, which was pent up inside of me after watching the England v India Test match on TV.

We were soon perusing the menu in Leo’s and trying to work out what we had learned. Very little, although in a rare optimistic moment using plenty of guesswork, I suggested to my friend that Sisaket will be more than OK this season. And that is what pre-seasons friendlies are to supporters. Guesswork and something to fill a void.

The one thing that was for certain was that entering a football ground, having a chat with others, and watching the players do their thing at whatever level while discussing it, is still as magical as ever. Bring on the fixture announcements!

 

 

Sunday Bloody (Brilliant) Sunday

 Sunday Bloody (Brilliant) Sunday

Sisaket United 2 Nakhonsi United 1

Sunday 15th December 2014

Thai League 2

Attendance: 1,302

It had been a very cold period relatively speaking in the remote countryside of Sisaket by our home for a week or so. I had been feeling a bit under the weather with a cough and chest complaint. That could probably be put down to getting on in years and overdoing things for the previous month.

As the wind howled on Saturday night, I stayed indoors and watched some EPL action using the best-known cure to man. Some single malt Scotch whisky with cheese and biscuits. Well, it certainly worked for me over many years anyway. It helped me sleep and withdraw any thoughts of giving the match the next day a miss.

There was an extra special reason for me not to. I love my matchday, ensuring that I squeeze every last drop out of a few hours away from home. While I equally adore the peacefulness of our abode and having an occasional cycle ride and generally relaxing, it is important to have a chat in English as well as the one day of the week I eat predominantly western food. And of course, the football fills in a couple of hours of the adventure.

While I have no problem keeping myself entertained and going to a match alone, it is generally more enjoyable being in the company of others. It provides conversation and opinion, often pointing out things it’s so easy to miss while in a private cocoon. Indeed, it was while I was chatting to Peter, the amiable owner of Hong Kong Garden, my pre-match venue of choice, that he happened to mention expats he knew who never went anywhere and spent their lives in a room working online.

John, my friend and fellow Sisaket fan was away for the foreseeable future. I badly missed meeting him and going to games together. In the meantime, since his departure, I have attended matches with friends, some visiting the area who seemed to enjoy the experience of what is a special part of the world to me as well as what matchday brought. Indeed, it was friends visiting the previous week that would lead to me being introduced to a new ally.

The write-up of that day, for those who read my scribblings as they are released, will go online just before Christmas. Sort of apt for Thai football where one club decides and dictates when they play their matches throwing everything out of sync.

Anyway, it was in Leo’s after the match seven days previously that we came across Per, a passionate Arsenal supporter from Tromsø in Norway who lived in Sisaket. If that makes any sense. My only connection to his home city is remembering Chelsea playing there on a snow-covered pitch on TV. It broke the ice, so to speak, especially as Per spoke good English, as all his countrymen seemed to.

We became friends on Facebook, and I sent him a message leading up to the match. The amazing thing was that although Per loved football, he had no idea of any clubs or leagues in Thailand, which says everything about the potency of local marketing. He seemed astonished and equally delighted when I told him I went to most home games, even more so when he discovered that the city has a second stadium where Rasisalai United play in the third tier. He messaged me just as I alighted the train from Kathararom and headed for my food and beer.

He was waiting outside the Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium ahead of schedule a little later, as keen as mustard. We wandered around to the far side where I knew there would be a better atmosphere and settled down to beers, on a cold and windy night, served by the usual friendly ladies on the stall as he tried to take it all in.

He told me of his football experiences through work going to games in London, the expensive nature of it, and the wonderful people he had met along the way. It was great to meet someone else who was clearly enjoying the whole experience, even from an initial stage.

I often lament how I would love to find the same buzz once more as my initial taxi ride from Don Muang Airport in 2004 and seeing the incredible sights which grabbed my heartstrings followed by a night downtown. Then my first taste of Thai football in 2010. If someone could bottle those emotions, then surely, they’d be a millionaire. Seeing someone else getting similar enjoyment is not a bad second best.

We headed upstairs to watch the proceedings unfold. His first comment was the state of the pitch, saying he thought it resembled The Dell, from Southampton’s old home. He knew his stuff, quickly sussing out that the ref could be easily manipulated. The hosts, pushing towards the playoff places, went ahead through Caique Ribeiro in the early exchanges.

Fellow Brazilian Danilo then missed a chance that I would have been upset to fluff. Per thought it wonderful that this previously unknown competition had Brazilians playing in it. Danilo was impressive every week with his strength and game management. If only he could finish with the same aplomb that he is said to display when polishing off meals in certain local establishments. But then again, we wouldn’t be watching him ply his trade in the second tier of Thai football if he was highly competent in front of goal.

Nakhonsi had been on an awful run of form. Despite this, they played with a surprising amount of confidence, with some clever flicks and smart passing movements. They brought around twenty fans with them, showing some real dedication travelling nineteen hours by road. My friend was bang on the money when he said it was not fair to give them the worst view in the entire ground. He couldn’t believe it when I explained that they were also charged more for the privilege.

The hosts were made to pay for missing their opportunity when Bianor Neto headed home from a narrow angle from a corner with Sisaket goalie Adisak flapping like a loosely fitted letterbox as was his norm. It was soon after that referee Piyapong Thonkhain and his nearside official got in on the act, or at least they should have done.

Wongsakorn was fouled by a visiting defender, with the offence clearly inside the box. The official gave a free kick outside the area. His assistant offered no assistance. It was as well that the bloke behind me from the previous week was missing or he’d have required hospital treatment. Astonishing stuff, but highly entertaining for those without too much skin in the game.

However, it was the ref who in the end decided the game in the second half when he gave Sisaket a penalty for an offence that seemed to be making up for his previous error of judgement. The crowd certainly played their part in helping him make up his mind. They can be a feisty bunch once they’ve had a beer or two. Danilo slotted home the resulting spot kick with eleven minutes remaining on the clock.

The Lamduan saw out the rest of the game for another three points with another unconvincing performance. We wandered around back to where I was to get a lift and where Per had parked his motorbike. By the open gap below the away section, a farang was applauding the Nakhonsi side who’d gone to acknowledge the magnificent support that they had received. We joined him.

Danilo nets the winner from the spot

I commended him on his loyalty, making such a journey only for him to reveal he was a Sisaket fan who lived an hour north of the city. Si was originally from south Wales but had become a Hull City fan, the larger team I cheer for in England, after he studied at the university there. It seemed inconceivable that our paths hadn’t previously crossed.

He told us where he sat for home games, so hopefully, that would lead to another friendship being created by attending Thai football. What a splendid day. I was so overcome with emotion my wife had to recall my driver after I left my phone in the back of his car after he had dispatched me before I recalled most of the day to her. Often repeating myself. What a lucky lady.

For reasons of which I have no idea, she went to bed and didn’t want to watch the Brighton v Crystal Palace game with me, so I made the best of the company of the remaining whisky and snacks before they bid farewell. I contemplated that this could well have been the last live game that I attended in 2024.

Unless I lost my sanity and headed to Ubon v Suranaree Black Cat in the League 3 Cup the following Wednesday…..

 

The Crusher Tribute Act

Stars on Sunday

A Tribute Act to my mate Crusher from the Bloke Behind Me

 

Sisaket United 2 Chanthaburi 1

Thai League 2

Sunday 8th December 2024

Attendance: 1,311

December has always been a strange month for me. I have never really enjoyed Christmas, and all the fuss connected to it, which at times in my adult life affected me mentally. I’ve no idea why. Perhaps spending so many years as a single person or the emotion involved along with drinking too much possibly lowered my resolve. It has admittedly become easier since 2021 through my move to Thailand, being in a relationship, and a place where it’s not heavily celebrated.

A few days before Santa was getting ready to dish out gifts in 2020 it was the height of lockdown during Covid and a miserable time without seeing friends with pubs shut down and no sport to attend. I had bought lots of food and beer and returned to my home of the time in Northwest London and started drinking when I received the awful news that my good friend Crusher had passed away. I drank an awful lot that night.

David Johnson, to give Crusher his Christened name, and I had become friends in the early part of the 1987-88 football season. I had been aware of him at Scarborough matches, this big bloke a couple of years older than me who appeared to be permanently angry during a game. By then I had begun to work as a Postman with Crusher’s dad, George. He was another of whom the term “does not suffer fools gladly” was invented. Like his son, he was extremely honest and loyal.

Sunday League teammates

I initially invited Crusher to join us in a car to a midweek away game at Hereford, and a friendship was born. We had plenty in common, be it beer, pubs, playing local football, or going to Scarborough FC as well as cricket. Our views on life were around the same as well as our political beliefs. 

We ended up going all over together supporting Boro and England, both football and cricket, as well as visiting Europe and Australia and becoming teammates and drinking partners for British Gas FC while also frequenting the town's pubs together. I'm sad, that like my parents, Crusher didn't get the chance to see me enjoying life overseas as a married man, especially after all the support he gave me.

From Crusher With Love

Those who never met him are much the poorer. He was there to listen, remaining calm, offering a solution, but only if asked, and generally being a rock. He loved laughing and living life and was immensely popular, being able to also tell great stories. If he had a pint, a newspaper, predominantly to do the puzzles, and some music he was happy, particularly sitting at the bar in The Cask pub. It says it all that old mates run an annual coach to a Scarborough Athletic away game each season in tribute and to remember him.

It was in the Cask establishment that many a quiet couple got to hear Crusher if they happened to be sitting anywhere near a TV when Liverpool, his other love, were playing. His range of profanities towards the referee and several opposition players was as good as any I’ve yet to hear and formed entertainment of its own. It was repeated watching Scarborough from the terraces. 

The match officials certainly knew he was in attendance. Certain opponents got extra special treatment. I’m not sure what Russ Wilcox ever did wrong when he wore various opponents' shirts against us, but I swear his first move after running onto the pitch was to look across and listen for the first bit of feedback from the big man which would continue for the following ninety minutes.

Among his classics include the beauty delivered to Paolo Maldini. “You’re only in the team because your dad is the manager”. Any Aussie cricketer, particularly Ricky Ponting, yet except anyone playing as an overseas signing for Yorkshire, received special attention. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a happier man when we celebrated an Ashes win together on his birthday at Sydney Cricket Ground.

I didn’t think I would ever meet anyone rattier during a game who supports a team in Thailand. There is a large lady who shouts incessantly at Port FC in the top corner of B Zone. I wouldn’t dare be late home if I lived with her, but she is more of an encouraging nature. I think. And of course, some lead the orchestrated cheering while using a megaphone. Astonishingly, clubs can be fined for audible chanting accusations of cheating towards the officials or the administrators in Thailand. Good luck ever introducing that elsewhere.

I’m different to most fans in Thailand. While I cheer for Port FC when in Bangkok and Sisaket United when at home in Northeast Thailand, I attend any game I can and don’t get upset by the results. To me, the match is to be enjoyed as a part of my weekly day out. I generally find those ex-pats who get too involved become frustrated, somehow expecting the same experience and levels of organisation and structure as when watching football in their western home country. That will never happen.

I find it far more fun to go along, have a few beers, have a cheer and then go home and look forward to the next game. I love it and it plays a big part in my life. On Sunday 8th December 2024, I met someone probably more animated than Crusher. It might yet even change the way I support Sisaket United.

Like anywhere, it is usually better when attending something with friends. Ben from Denmark, along with Noi who lives in Bangkok as well as my wife Taew were with me on the final day of what had been a heavy month of socialising in many different locations around the country. The match at Sri Lamduan Stadium against Chanthaburi was the ideal opportunity to round things off with a hotel stay in town with the game sandwiched between a late lunch, lots of beers and then a pub at fulltime. Perfect.

Our guests had been to the home game with Khon Kaen the previous year with my Danish pal being impressed with the vitriol shown towards the referee with comments from the main stand suggesting that his wife was from the same city as the visitors. In Bachman-Turner Overdrive mode, “He Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”.

It was my suggestion that we watched from the uncovered far side where the more vociferous fans assembled with no danger of rain on this occasion. It proved to be an inspired decision. We went upstairs after beers and snacks outside in the fan zone enjoying the whole occasion as it should be.

I let Taew decide where to sit and she came up trumps. The hosts went ahead within a minute when a long throw from skipper Pongsak Boontod was flicked on at the near post by Caíque Ribeiro and put away by top scorer Danilo. The big Brazilian was outstanding all evening while assisted by fellow countrymen Caique and Abner.

As ever, the Thais filled in, which often saw Danilo becoming exasperated by some of the poor game management and lack of skills around him from the natives. The tactics of coach, Narongthanaphorn, who could be negative in the extreme, probably not a huge help.

Fans in Sisaket can be extremely passionate. It was noticeable that crowds would build throughout the game after they got away from work, with the volume increasing as beer was being consumed at regular intervals. It could go up on the dial if the opponents employed ways to frustrate or the officials were deemed to be against the home team. Enter my new hero.

Within minutes, a Chanthaburi defender was not penalised, probably correctly. It led to some pushing and shoving between players on both sides, which ignited a tinder box. The bloke behind me, probably in his thirties was going berserk. He had a booming voice, which he used for the rest of the game with very few stops for breath as he abused anyone belonging to Chanthaburi as well as the match officials.

Next to him was a slender lady who never spoke a word. Was it a first date on which he was trying to impress or perhaps she enjoyed it as much as the rest of us did? I was at a loss what he was shouting, but Taew’s facial expressions suggested there was lots of abuse with a hint of humour. What I’d have given to sit Crusher next to him.

The away side scored a lovely goal to restore parity which was finished by Tongan international Ata Inia. While the Wild Rabbits were not very good, they looked dangerous going forward led by another Brazilian, Tiago Chulapa. All three supporters in the distant away zone seemed happy.

They had been charged double the money for the experience, one thing I dislike about Thai football. Crusher would have certainly had views about it, especially if he had been plonked in there.

You could have heard a pin drop. However, it was soon back to normal. I had noticed the previous week that Chanthaburi had lost a tempestuous battle away to league leaders Phrae United in which Irish defender Clyde O'Connell had been given his marching orders. That journey by road was eleven hours, compared to less than eight to Sisaket. And people wonder why clubs struggle financially.

Not that the bloke behind me showed any sympathy for the travel or cost incurred. His abusive lexicon was continually impressive in a country famed for its hospitality.

Just past the half-hour mark, Abner made the most of finding a way to tumble in the box as he ran into an opponent. Referee Nasri Tamat pointed to the spot, a decision undoubtedly swayed by crowd pressure. Quite reasonably the visiting team players were extremely angry. Danilo kept his cool, stepped up and slotted the penalty past the generally dodgy goalkeeper Chaloempat Ploywanratta.

The second half followed the pattern of many Lamduan home games. Sisaket decided to try and hang on to their lead. It was a tactic they consistently used in the three seasons I had become a regular. The times that they are caught out, especially since being promoted to the second tier, are surely worthy of a change of thought. Unbelievably in the closing stages, previously unambitious Thai home players turned adventurous making shocking decisions. I was wondering whether Danilo or the bloke behind me would pop first.

I turned around when the full-time whistle was blown to shake hands. I would have asked him for a photo but didn’t want him to think I was taking the piss. Many locals were laughing at their fellow fan and me thanking him and vowing to meet again the following week.

Uan, our one-legged driver, a story of his own, was waiting behind the main stand to drive us to Leo’s, a wonderful bar and restaurant to see out the rest of the night. They had an offer on Guinness of buy one and get one free, while Australian striploin steaks had a big reduction in price.

There was still time to make acquaintance with Per for the first time, a Norwegian who it transpired lived in town and was doing his pieces while cheering on Arsenal and seeing them have two goals chalked off through VAR on TV. He was unaware of Sisaket having a professional team, the news of which seemed to make his evening as contact details were exchanged between us, hopefully, to introduce him to a life-changing experience.

A grand day out, with England starting it by winning the Test in New Zealand. It was full of fun, and laughter surrounded by great company as beer flowed in excellent venues soaked up with delicious food, and a rare home win too. But most of all, the bloke behind me, topped it off by doing his Crusher tribute act. I hope he was the same value in a bar and in life in general.

RIP Crusher. Happy Christmas everyone.

Yasothon

Yasothon FC is a professional football club representing the province of the same name in northeast Thailand. Originally formed as Yasothon United in 2010, they were placed in the third tier Regional League Division 2 North Eastern Region as an expansion club.

Playing home games at Yasothon Province Stadium, the side ended in a credible third place, which was backed up by fourth position in 2011. A midtable and then lowly position ensued before the club dropped out of the league at the end of the 2013 season. 

They returned, minus the United moniker, after a two-year break and ended the 2016 season in eleventh place. Restructuring of the Thai League saw ‘The Rockets’ placed in Thai League 4 Northeast in 2017, ending in ninth spot.

Attendances were encouraging as supporters cheered the goals of Ousmanou Mohamadou. The Cameroon forward was replaced at the top of the scoring chart by Guinea forward Diop Badara Aly for a couple of seasons, as Yasothon finished third and then eleventh in the table. 

Thai football was once again remodelled to follow the European calendar for the 2020-21 season with changes to the league structure following. Phakhawat Poonachang ended as leading scorer for the Rockets, as they ended third in T3 Northeast under head coach Jakkapob Kattiwong.

Ninth and then tenth place finishes followed as first Pongsak Boontos led the goals chart in 2021-22 and then Amronphun Homduang twelve months later. Tanut Pattaramanee took over as head coach for the 2023-24 season. He, and then Prachumpong Kongchandee, led the side to another lowly finish as Sutthipong Duangthungsa put away the chances.

Jakkapob returned to the role of head coach at the start of the 2024-25 season.

Yasothon FC will play in Thai League 3 Northeast in the 2025-26 season.

My visits

Yasothon 2 Rasisalai United 1 (Sunday 1st October 2023) Thai League 3 Northeastern (att:400) 

This was a proper explorer’s day out without the aid of the safety belt, diving into the semi-unknown for which I was rewarded with a cracking finish to a game not particularly high in standards of quality on a gluepot of a pitch in deepest the northeast Isan region of Thailand.

I’d done a little research relating to the game, as I do videos as things unfold for our weekly Thai football podcast, and noticed gates at Yasothon had dropped off a cliff since Covid, which perhaps explained the free admission to try and entice fans back, as well as selling club shirts for just 399 Baht (8.90) 

Judging by the noise at full-time, most may well return. Their team, ‘The Rockets’ named as this is the area home to the annual big-money rocket festivals, were second best for long periods in thought and pace.

Before kick-off, the King’s Anthem sounded like it was being played by a brass band from West Yorkshire, which immediately gave me a boost. The gent on the PA did his bit throughout to build the atmosphere in a voice making his sound like a Thai Michael O’Hehir.

Visiting skipper Thitiphong Photumptha put his side ahead after twenty-four minutes when keeper Surakiad Kratumkhan flapped at and missed a corner. The initial header came back off the post before the rebound was headed home by the same player.

The legs of Surakiad denied Nattapon Yongsakool who really should have doubled the advantage. Rasisalai, who must have thought I was stalking them as this was the fourth week in succession I’d watched them, were made to pay in first-half stoppage time.

My video report was submitted to A Thai Football Podcast, which was played during Episode 15

It is available to listen to on Spotify, Facebook, and YouTube

Ratthaphum Sophasing glanced home a header from a free kick to send both teams level down the tunnel. I went for a walk hopeful of spotting some kind of transport back to the bus station while exchanging smiles with lots of new friends.

The away side again dominated attacking possession after the restart on what really was a poor playing surface, which again would probably have seen a postponement elsewhere around the world.

 

It was a relief to see a huge storm skirt around town in the distance, as the lightning flashed. Yasothon were forced to change keepers owing to injury. The replacement Jetsada Bunrueng was stocky and short, but surprisingly hardly tested.

The pitch inevitably aided poorly timed challenges often caused by mis-control of the ball, which some players made the most of, leaving referee Rutratchapoom Moolpong to try and decipher a huge game of Call my Bluff. Players really don’t help themselves, but it appears to be seen as an occupational hazard out here if it means getting an opponent into bother.

It generally ends in one side being depleted. This time it was Jumnong Pitchayang of Yasothon who left his mates in the lurch, receiving his second yellow card midway through the second half. However, home coach Saranuwat Nasartsang had an ace up his sleeve when introducing forward Jetsada Artyatha just before the dismissal.

Jetsada was like a bull in a China shop. He was slow but he put his body on the line and most importantly, he got the crowd going and enthused his teammates as he got stuck into opponents and started to make things happen. Fans are the same around the world. They love a trier, especially one that engages with them, and this fella immediately got them on his side.

The away side was still more likely to grab a winner, but the home side was forcing them back. I didn’t think that they had the wherewithal or pace to create a clear chance. I’d moved around behind the goal for the last few minutes, as time was tight at full-time.

Jetsada made a smart run to stay onside and collect a good pass. Keeper Banhan Thubthong advanced and tried to make a diving block, but the ball was dinked over him and crawled over the line in the final of the six additional minutes.

The place went berserk, including those maybe unaware of the free admission who watched from behind the perimeter railings, with some enjoying a boozy tailgate party. Seconds later it was all over.

I had tried to convince a young fella to drive me back to the bus station in his tuk-tuk, but it turned out it was a company vehicle rather than being for hire. It meant a second fifty-five-minute walk of the day avoiding several ratty soi dogs as I proceeded.

And that’s where the exploring part comes into the equation. Thailand and public transport is something of a lottery, especially out in the provinces. I waited for ninety minutes in Kanthararom in the morning for a van service to Ubon Ratchathani.

The first was full and the fella at the ticket desk just shrugged his shoulders when I asked when the next one was due. It certainly makes me smile when I think back to customers haranguing me on the tube if the next train was fifteen minutes away.

From Ubon, I had a forty-five-minute wait for the bus to Yasothon. Thankfully, things are more organised at the bigger bus terminals. The fare was 116 Baht for the 100km journey. However, now lagging time-wise meant I had to forego a visit to a museum on a lake I wanted to see.

The only form of public transport was a motorbike taxi which I’m petrified of. No conventional taxis, buses or tuk-tuks. Grab and Bolt had not yet heard of in the province. It is your own transport or Shanks’ Pony time.

I managed to walk back after the game just in time if the 18.20 service had been punctual. Of course, it was not, which left things tight at Ubon to get across town to catch the last 20.30 train as all buses towards Sisaket stop at 18.00.

Google Maps said it was a nineteen-minute journey to the station. The train left in sixteen minutes. I got on board with two to spare, which offered an indication as to how fast my taxi driver went. Then on reaching Kanthararom, I discovered my good lady had crashed out at home with no Grab available. She rose from her slumbers and brought me a beer. 

A day that I’m unlikely to forget in a hurry. It was magical to encounter met with smiles and genuine curiosity throughout and watching a red full moon rise as I watched the Ryder Cup on my phone in the middle of nowhere. What an incredible world we live in.

Yasothon 0 Sisaket United 1 (Saturday 6th January 2024) Thai League 3 Northeast (att: 300)

An away trip to kick off 2024, as my friend John offered to drive us the 120km north for the match, which pitted the side sitting third from the bottom of the table against the leaders, who were backed by around fifty visiting fans. What we got was a shocker of a match on a terribly hard, bumpy pitch.

Both sides overplayed passes continually with play scrappy and disjointed, and quite often tetchy. Damian of Sisaket continually played the aggressor, often for no reason apart from wanting to try and show off how hard he was. It gets dull week after week. As does the one-paced build of play his side continually produced.

 

If there is a less entertaining side in the country, then I dread to see them, but despite this, they don’t let goals in. I can only imagine coach Narongthanaphorn must get some kind of guilty pleasure in collecting clean sheets and hanging onto narrow victories against sides that other teams simply batter to one side.

Make no mistake, Yasothon were awful, and surely only the free admittance sees them attract any support. They are a club going through the motions. You can’t get a beer, and there is no sign of any souvenir stall, which is rare. It’s a shame, as they have potential and a great catchment area. 

Danilo missed a free header from five yards for United while Matias Panigazzi saw his headed effort superbly turned around by the otherwise erratic home keeper Suriya Singkhubit. The only goal came four minutes before the break. An overhit pass hit a bump and stood up for Danilo. 

The keeper was on the edge of his box, assuming the ball would reach him. The big Brazilian lobbed him, but the bounce saw his effort come back off the bottom of the bar. Pazigazzi followed up to stoop and head home. 

The Argentinian was the best player at Sisaket by a country mile and put in everything he had week after week. His fellow overseas players should have bought his meals after matches because they are frankly getting away with it. Without him, they would have been even more inept.

The second half was awful. Ineptitude was in evidence all around. There were more petty arguments, mainly involving the two African home forwards and Sisaket’s Brazilian duo. The half was probably best summed up in stoppage time as the visitors invited more pressure towards their own goal. 

The hosts were awarded a free kick just outside the box. They took an age to take it, with the effort eventually being fired twenty yards over the bar. Still, the table says it was three more points for the table toppers.

We had arrived just short of a couple of hours before the 3.30pm kick-off and settled for pre-match food at Hug Restaurant in the old town. What a find it was too, with excellent Italian food made by the Thai owner who had probably served me pizza near Asoke station in Bangkok in the past. 

He and his wife spoke great English and were most amiable. He had a reasonable beer selection and an amazing wine cellar. He told us he would show us his distillery if we called again, which might be in May. 

Yasothon hosts an annual rocket festival which is extremely popular in that part of NE Thailand and sees huge crowds as well as illegal gambling around lots of eating and drinking, two of my favourite hobbies. I might treat my good lady to an overnight stop. 

On our return to Sisaket, we headed to Hong Kong Garden for food and drinks, and to watch the Sunderland v Newcastle Cup tie. A fine day out meeting nice people, which included a Russian and his Thai girlfriend who had ridden 90km on the motorbike to Yasothon for the match. 

John as ever was excellent company along with Peter at his fine establishment before my regular Grab taxi arrived to take me home at 10pm.

My video report for A Thai Football Podcast, which was played during Episode 29