Lopburi City

A Potted History of Lopburi City

Early Years

The professional Thai football club of Lopburi City was formed in 2022, in the city of the same name, known for the wild monkeys that live there. Previously, another club, Lopburi FC, nicknamed the Fire Wan, represented the province from 1980 until 2016.

The new club, ‘Hanumans’, successfully entered the Thailand Amateur League in 2022, creating a pathway to professional football under coach Sanong Taengngam. They won their group, progressing to the final of the West Region competition after beating Khoksamrong City and Pakchong SCK.

The main stand at Phra Ramesuan Stadium

Promotion to Thai League 3

Kanchanaburi City proved too strong in the area final, coming out on top 1-0 at Jifah Stadium, but the job was done. Lopburi were placed in Thai League 3 West, with their home games to be played at Phra Ramesuan Stadium, otherwise known as Lopburi Provincial Stadium.

They finished eleventh in their debut season, as Ahmadou Tidjani and Noppadon Kasaen scored the goals, with Kaveepan Taveebut appointed as the new coach for the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.

Phra Ramesuan Stadium

Regional Success

Top scorer Dzama Bata helped the team to fifth place the following season, with Achira Thongjerm in charge of playing matters. Alex Mermoz was the star man in 2024-25, scoring the goals to take the team to the regional title, after they had been moved to Thai League 3 Central.

In the playoffs, Lopburi finished second in Group A before Mermoz headed to Nongbua Pitchaya. During the title-winning season, Nirut Sarasaeng began it as head coach, before a 4-1 away defeat in October saw the appointment of Panithan Munprathes.

Recent Changes

Sakon Saenharn replaced Panithan a year after he had been given the job, as Lopburi finished in a disappointing league position despite the goals of Eric Kumi.

Lopburi City FC will play in Thai League 3 Central in the 2025-26 season.

My visit

Lopburi City 0 Hua Hin City 2 

Saturday 29th October 2022

Thai League 3 West 

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 250 🎟️ 80 THB (£1.80)

Studying the fixtures for Thai football matches was my general habit during the week, as I tried to combine a game with visiting somewhere of interest at the same time. It was always more than just ninety minutes of football to me.

Lopburi had caught my attention a few months earlier, when I passed through it on the train on the way to Phitsanulok. It looked like a fascinating place, with traces of Ayutthaya in the ruins by the side of the tracks, with a level crossing across the main road adding to its features.

Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat

The trains fitted in nicely with my plans, so off I set to Lak Si station to take the service north with plenty of time to spare before the 3.30 pm kick off. Or so I thought. Inevitably enough, the service ran a little late, before I headed out of yet another immaculate station, with the usual old steam engine on a roundabout outside.

My eyes were met by the ruins of Wat Bandai Hin to my left and Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat straight ahead, which was even more impressive. So much so that I paid the admission fee to have a look around. Who’d have thought that on a football away day?

Monkeying Around at Phra Prang Sam Yot

Normal service was soon resumed after wandering around the atmospheric local streets to a café bar that I had found during research. However, it was closed when I arrived. Not to worry, as Noom Guest House & Restaurant was exactly what I was looking for in the way of some Western comfort food and a cold beer.

Pie, chips, and gravy, along with a couple of Leo’s later, I headed to Phra Prang Sam Yot, where the monkeys were running wild. I was most careful to keep hold of my phone while taking photos. Crossing the railway, I hailed a passing songthaew that I knew was heading in the right direction.

My homemade postcard of the day

I alighted at Si Suriyothai Circle, walking around to the entrance of the zoo. There was something deeply ironic in knowing that inside animals were confined, while up the road, monkeys were running free. I’ll never fully understand us humans.

It was a fair old hike from there to Phra Ramesuan Stadium. Certainly, further than I estimated in the heat. There wasn’t much happening as I walked through the gates and past the communal exercise equipment. I was directed around to the far side, where a couple of temporary stalls were set up to buy water.

Match Ticket

It was a decent arena, with both sides having raised covered seated stands, with the pitch having a running track around it. There was a scoreboard behind one goal. Further along was a steep, uncovered seating area in the corner, ideal for looking down the sprint track when athletic meetings were being held. 

Soon into the game, I wished I had the excitement of some track and field events to keep me entertained, as there was very little quality being exhibited on the pitch, the surface of which was also poor.

At least the locals were friendly, as they had been all day, despite their team giving them little to shout about, with several aping professional footballers. Opponents Hua Hin were no great shakes either. They didn’t need to be, going on to take the spoils with two goals a minute apart midway through the second half.

Chitsanuphong Phimpsang and substitute, Ndiogou Ba, were the scorers to send the handful of away supporters home happy. I wasn’t upset either way, having had a pleasant afternoon somewhere I’d not been to before.

At the end, I crossed the road and hailed a songthaew, which took me back to the area near the station, where a night market was in full swing. It was the ideal place to purchase some snacks for the train ride home, which required me to show my passport and book a seat on the express service.

Taew had opened her place back in Minburi, where some of our Thai friends had arrived having won on the lottery. I got my skates on when the train arrived at Lak Si, found a taxi, and was soon joining them for food and drink to round off a wonderful day out in the heat.

If you have enjoyed reading this article, you may wish to visit my YouTube Channel, where there are numerous homemade Thai football videos to watch, as well as a huge range covering all aspects of life in the Land of Smiles. 

The video I made during my day in Lopburi can be watched here.

Trat

Trat FC is a professional club that was formed in 2012, representing the town and province of the same name. The White Elephants, as the club is nicknamed, were admitted to the 2011 Regional League Division 2 Central & Eastern Region division.

This was the third-tier competition of the time, with the team reaching the play-offs in their debut season as Rattaporn Saetan put away the goals that led to promotion to the second-level Division 1. Harnarong Chunhakunakorn came in as head coach as the side consolidated with help from the goals of Woukoue Mefire Raymond and Seiya Sugishita.

Krit Singha-preecha was given the coach’s role, as Trat were relegated to Division 2 Eastern at the end of the 2015 season, where Erivaldo top scored as the side won the title a year later after Praphan Narkpong had taken charge of on-field affairs.

Barros Tardeli became the goalscoring hero at the Trat Province Stadium, as Somkiat Fongpech, Worakorn Wichanarong, and Dusit Chalermsan all had spells as head coach. A runners-up finish in 2018 elevated Trat to the elite level of Thai League 1.

Lonsana Doumbouya scored the goals in 2019 after the arrival of new head coach Phayong Khunnaen, as the team settled in its elevated environment, before being relegated in the 2020-21 season, despite the goals of Ricardo Santos.

Somchai Chuayboonchum was at the helm the following season as Paulo Conrado scored regularly to take Trat to the playoffs, where they defeated Phrae United before losing the final on away goals to Lamphun Warriors. Coach Harnarong returned for a second spell to oversee the 2022-23 campaign.

Ferreira dos Santos finished the chances as Trat won promotion as runners-up, before the appointment of Santi Chaiyaphuak as head coach. Lidor Cohen’s goals weren’t enough to keep Trat up a year later, as Krongpol Daorueang arrived to take charge of the relegated club.

His spell lasted just a few months before he was replaced by Somchai Makmool, who in turn was succeeded by Phayong Khunnaen during the mid-season break. Phillerson top-scored as the side finished near the wrong end of the table. Santi Chaiyaphuak was appointed as the Trat head coach on January 1, 2026.

Trat FC will play in the Thai League 2 in the 2025-26 season.

My visit

Wednesday 21st August 2024

My wife and I were heading to the Koh Chang Beach Cricket Tournament and decided to make the journey easier by having her drive us to Trat to discover what the town was all about, before taking the ferry over in time for lunch the next day.

A visit to a rather underwhelming but welcoming local museum was followed by a visit to the stadium, which was being cleaned up and readied in time for a local event. I was extremely impressed with what I saw, as rather than a simple generic province stadium, it had some individuality and pride put into it.

Once I’d taken plenty of photos, we checked into our hotel, the excellent BaanRimNam Resort and had a rest before discovering what Trat had to offer on a Wednesday evening. In truth, not a lot, though I quite liked sitting watching the world go by at the open-fronted Lao Leu Music & Restaurant.

Mrs Rob was not quite as enamoured, so after a look at the basic night market, we took beers home before thoroughly enjoying the ride in a boat on the Nam Chiao to see Wat Jai Bridge. We then headed to the ferry and then lunch in the consistently magnificent Tidlom Seafood Restaurant at Salak Khok on Koh Chang.

Kamphaengphet

Kamphaengphet FC is a professional football club that was formed in 2009 to represent the Thai province of Kamphaeng Phet in the upper central region of the country. 

The club took up immediate residence at the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) Stadium, otherwise known as Chakangrao Central Stadium in the centre of town, becoming members of the third-tier Regional League Division 2 Northern Region.

In their first three seasons, the ‘Cha Kung Rao Warriors’ finished in the lower reaches of the division before ending in sixth place in 2012, before slipping back down the table over the following three campaigns.

A runners-up finish in 2016 earned the club a place in the Champions League playoffs, in which they saw off Ayutthaya Warrior before falling to Surat Thani. When the Thai football league structure was amended in 2017, Kamphaengphet were placed in Thai League 3 Upper Region.

Otsu Kazutaka top-scored as the side ended in eleventh place. This performance was repeated a year later with Badar Al-Alawi topping the goals charts. Kawin Nuanthat then became the fans' favourite forward for a couple of seasons.

The first ended in eighth place before the Thai League was again restructured with the calendar following that of Europe. 2020-21 in Thai League 3 North saw the side finish ninth under coach Saksan Siripong.

Sakdinan Makmuang was put in charge of the team the following season, which again ended in a lowly position, with Punyaphat Autha top scoring. A third consecutive ninth place ensued in 2022-23. The goals were supplied by Kaung Htet Soe and Khwanchai Bunprakhom as former coach Saksan returned.

Natthaphon Yueayai led the way up front in 2023-24 before Khwanchai found his old touch in 2024-25, as the team completed a remarkable fifth consecutive ninth-place finish. He continued his scoring run the following season, first under Saksan Siripong and then Sakdinan Makmuang as Kamphaengphet finished one place above relegation.

Kamphaengphet FC will play in Thai League 3 North in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Monday 7th April 2025

Never being one to miss an opportunity, a visit to see friends in Kamphaeng Phet saw an early arrival in the town after a wonderful previous day and following morning in Sukhothai as part of our road trip from Chiang Mai to Sisaket.

 

The reason that Kamphaeng Phet was chosen was that an old journalist friend, Alan Parkhouse, who had been of great assistance when I covered cricket media duties at various tournaments in Thailand, was now living there. Even better, he and his good lady, Phung, had got married a few days earlier.

The historic park and area around the city shrine provided an immediate positive impression, as did the Chakangrao Central Stadium. It was positioned just over the road from the Ping River, offering a great location. 

Inside the arena, I was most impressed with how the original raised main stand had two large, covered extensions on either side of it, making it stand out from many other such provincial municipal venues that also have running tracks.

Opposite stood an open, raised terrace, while an unusually large detached block occupied one corner, as was also the case when I visited Phitsanulok. That end of the venue had a High School behind it, providing an enclosed feel.

Happy with my photography and making a clip towards my YouTube video of the adventure, I rejoined my ever-obliging wife, Taew, for the short drive, which entailed crossing the river and finding the majestic Mango House Resort & Café, our refuge for the night.

A quality lunch and then catch up with food with Alan and Phung ensued before we caught up with them at their place the following morning, which will see their steakhouse open in a pleasant area near the golf course. Hopefully, a return was being planned by the ladies, which would include me seeing a football game!

Uttaradit

Uttaradit FC, or TPF Uttaradit FC to give them their sponsored name, is a professional football club from the Thai city of the same name in the north of the country. The club was formed in 2009, playing their home games at Uttaradit Province Stadium.

The ‘Fighting Cocks’, as they were originally nicknamed, joined the Regional League Division 2 Northern Region with Atithep Yoosawad appointed as coach, finishing fourth in their debut campaign. 

That was repeated in 2011, after a season playing at Uttaradit Rajabhat University Stadium, before returning to their original venue. Twelve months later, playing under the name Uttaradit-Morseng, the team finished in seventh position. Finishing third bottom was considered a disappointment in 2013.

Three more midtable endings were then accumulated, with Noh Hyeong-cheol top scoring in 2016. The South Korean continued his scoring form in 2017, which saw Uttaradit compete in Thai League 4 North following league restructuring, finishing fourth in the table. 

Diarra Aboubacar Sidick, the Ivorian striker, would lead Uttaradit to the regional title in 2018. However, the side fared badly in the Champions League playoffs. They regrouped under head coach Vorrakorn Vijannarong in 2019 with the goals of Giuberty Silva Neves helping the team retain their title.

Again, the playoffs ended in disappointment for the ‘Broken Sword’. After another reorganisation of the lower tiers, Uttaradit were placed in Thai League 3 North in 2020-21, with the playing calendar being aligned with that in Europe. The team ended in fourth position.

 

Chatchai Narkwijit put away the chances in 2021-22 as Uttaradit Saksiam, as they were known under a sponsorship deal, finished seventh after Chumnan Pharkunthud had been appointed as head coach during the season.

Chaiwat Puengsiri took charge of the side at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, as the goals of Phufah Chuenkomrak helped the side to a runners-up finish. The playoffs ended in disappointment. The TPF backing of the club was put in place before the 2024-25 season, as Nitipong Saiyasit was named as head coach.

He was replaced by Sorrasak Ratson for the following campaign before Theerawekin Seehawong took over in January 2026. Within a few matches, however, Anucha Chaiwong was appointed as Uttaradit reached the playoffs.

Uttaradit FC will play in Thai League 3 North in the 2025-26 season. 

My visit

Tuesday 25th March 2025

The opportunity to visit the Province Stadium in Uttaradit came about as my wife Taew and I were staying at the far side of the town on our final stop of a four-day road adventure from Sisaket to Chiang Mai.

We’d already enjoyed the delights of an overnight stop in Loei, where I took in the Saturday night match against Surin City, before a wonderful two nights in Chiang Khan, which offered lots of fun and relaxation.

The road to our strategic destination for the evening was dramatic at times, with plenty of mountainous roads being travelled along. The scenery in parts was not unlike deepest Wales or the Highlands of Scotland. Good for me, but undoubtedly more testing for my good lady behind the wheel.

The stadium impressed me when we turned into the complex off the main road. The main stand was better than most, boosted by smart individual seats on its raised deck. The raised open area opposite was more in keeping with other similar venues. The trees that surrounded the arena gave it an enclosed feel.

Once I had completed my videoing and photography, we headed to check in at our resort before taking in some local attractions. Food was obtained at a quaint department store to take back as we enjoyed a relaxed evening before the final leg of our trip the following morning.

FC Yala

FC Yala is a professional football club from the southern Thai city of the same name. The club has evolved through several identities, including Yara United and Jalor City, before becoming FC Yala. The present club was formed in August 2018, as Jalor City FC, going on to win the Thailand Amateur League South at the first attempt to win promotion to the Thai League. 

2009–2016 early years

The new club sensed their opportunity following the demise of Yara United FC, a club formed in 2009, that played in the Regional League Division 2 Southern Region. Yala Province Stadium was their initial home ground, where fifth place was achieved in 2013. 

They moved to Jura Stadium, also known as Yala City Municipality Stadium, the following year. Their best performance came in 2015 when they finished third, before being allocated a place in Thai League 4 in 2017 when they ended in seventh spot with Pithak Abdulraman topping the scoring.

2017–2022 restructuring period

United failed to meet the club licensing regulations and were banned from playing in the Thai League for two seasons. They didn’t reappear to take the opportunity to try and win promotion through the Amateur League when their suspension ended. 

By this time, Jalor had finished their debut 2019 season at Jaru Stadium in fifth place with Suttichai Doungead and Muhammadsalfadee Jehteh finishing as joint top scorers. The Thai League was restructured ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, with it reverting to a European playing calendar.

Ayu Lateh topped the scoring while Firhan Masae remained reliable in goal as the side finished seventh in the extended Thai League 3 South under head coach Muklis Tahetasae. Home games in the 2021-22 campaign were played at The Thai National Sports University Yala Campus, which can be viewed by clicking here.

The season ended again in mid-table for Jalor with former United forward Pithak putting away the goals for the “Jigsaw”. They remained at the same venue, which ended up in a disappointing finish, third from the bottom of the table in 2022-23, as Sakeereen Teekasom played his part playing up front. 

2023 - Rebrand + growth

Jalor City FC were renamed FC Yala before the 2023-24 season. With the name change came a new coach, with Wirat Kaeyihwa appointed. Home games were played at Yala Rajabhat University in a new stadium devoid of a full-sized running track. Attendances grew enormously, showing the potential of a successful club in the city. 

This was despite the team only ending in eighth position, with Abdelaziz Said El Shaer and Jehhanafee Mamah sharing the goals. Nirun Assawapakdee was given the coach's role for 2024-25 before he was replaced by Adul Muensaman as Yala pushed for a place in the playoffs.

Pattakrit Mahavijit was given the job of head coach for the following season, before being replaced soon into the second leg by Prajak Weangsong, as Yala ended one point outside the playoffs.

FC Yala will play in Thai League 3 South in the 2026-27 season.

My visits

Jaru Stadium

Friday 3rd January 2025

I was conscious of the sensitivities around travelling in Thailand’s southern provinces as my wife and I joined her cousin and his family on the drive down to Betong, near the Malaysian border, during our latest road trip through Laos and Thailand. 

We had made a compromise. While it looked unlikely that I’d be venturing alone to football when visiting relatives in Hat Yai, we agreed that driver Q would stop if the venues were on our route. Fortunately, he was delivering coffee in Pattani and Yala, so at least I’d get some photo opportunities.

The internet is only as good as those who update it. And if a person cannot find out the right information, then they will be prone to errors. This was certainly the case regarding Jaru Stadium, which, according to Wikipedia, had a capacity of 25,000. 

It is fair to say that when we rolled into the car park, I was more than a little underwhelmed. The venue only had one raised stand with the rest open standing, with no access around three sides alongside the running track.

There was little wonder that Jalor City, as FC Yala were called when they used the venue, looked for somewhere else. Its location wasn’t very convenient for the city centre, and it was extremely basic. 

There was a junior match just about to kick off on the artificial pitch when we arrived. Indeed, the gents outside thought that we had gone to watch. They were most welcoming as I wandered about to get my snaps.

Later research by checking social media showed that FC Yala still used it for training and some friendly matches. We headed off through the city, me slightly disappointed that we didn’t go to see the new stadium, but that would have to wait.

Rajabhat University Stadium

Saturday 4th January

The wait was just one day as we made our return towards Hat Yai. Q wanted to visit a shop in the city where he had ordered some sweets for us to try before we cut across in the direction of Rajabhat University. 

Before that, we arrived outside the gates of The Thai National Sports University Yala Campus, which had been the home of FC Yala and, more recently, Yala City FC. A description and photos of the stadium can be seen by clicking here.

The new stadium was just across Tesaban Soi 5, in an area very much geared up for students, with lots of coffee shops, street food, and restaurants. There was plenty of signage on the back of the stand that ran the full length of the pitch, so nobody was in doubt as to who played there. 

I thought that my luck was going to be out as the gates at the rear of the stand were locked, despite hearing activity inside on the pitch. Thankfully, a gate in another corner was open so I could pop inside while the team trained.

The stand was extremely impressive, while the rest of the ground had an enclosed feel with high fences, university buildings, and housing surrounding it. It was the perfect size for a Thai League 3 club. 

Once done, I met up with the rest of the carload who’d been shopping before we headed back to our base in time for Q to take me downtown in Hat Yai, which was another excellent experience.

 

Chira Nakhon Stadium (Hat Yai)

The Chira Nakhon Stadium in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, was built in 1944 and has long served as the city’s main sporting venue. Before the arrival of structured national leagues around the turn of the millennium, it regularly hosted football and other events.

The first Hat Yai club to compete in national competition was Hatyai FC, who entered the Regional League Division 2 Southern Region in 2010 as an expansion side, finishing twelfth in their debut season.

A strong improvement followed as the ‘Red Eagles’ climbed to fourth the next year, before slipping to eighth in 2012. After a brief hiatus, they returned in 2014 but struggled near the bottom of the table, eventually stepping away again.

Hatyai FC returned once more in 2016, finishing tenth, before improving to fifth in 2017 and third in 2018, with Akkarapol Meesawat leading the scoring during their spell at Muang Lak Southern Stadium.

 

By this stage, a second club had emerged in the city. Hatyai City won the Thailand Amateur League South in 2017 and joined the restructured Thai League system, initially sharing Chira Nakhon Stadium with their rivals.

They achieved mid-table finishes in their early seasons, with Teerawat Durnee and later Apdussalam Saman among the key scorers, before relocating to Southern Major City Stadium.

After the pandemic and further restructuring, the club rebranded as Young Singh Hatyai United, returning to Chira Nakhon Stadium for a period. Despite a strong 2021–22 season, off-field issues saw them fail licensing requirements and exit the league system.

As of early 2024, there has been no successful revival of a Hat Yai-based club in the national structure.

My visit

Wednesday 1st January 2025

Many times, in the past, I have celebrated the start of the New Year by heading off to football to blow the cobwebs away and enjoy the cold air and a few beers. It would have been remiss of me not to fit in some football even while in a new city to me.

My wife and I were in Hat Yai with her cousin and family on the latest leg of our tour of Laos and Thailand. The countdown to midnight had been celebrated with Q as he showed me downtown and then on to a late bar with other friends and relatives.

I was certainly in need of cobwebs being blown away and desperately wanted to find a store selling tea bags, having made the schoolboy error of forgetting to pack any at the start of our jaunt. I had mentioned that I would walk to the stadium to get my steps count in the following morning with some exercise. 

However, our hosts said it was a long way, and we could kill two birds with one stone. Well, three as it transpired, as we were also treated to a sightseeing tour of the city and that of Songkhla before dining at an amazing restaurant that had a museum.

The stadium was not unlike many other provincial venues around the country. Where the Chira Nakhon Stadium differed was that it had an uninterrupted horseshoe open bowl and then a main stand that stood alone. All the seats were blue and green.

Compared to many venues still hosting Thai League football, it was in marvellous condition and well-maintained. One wondered why a sustainable club in such a large cosmopolitan city failed to take off. No doubt, being badly run saw off the previous two Hat Yai clubs, as could Songkhla FC, as the province’s major outfit.

Once I had enjoyed my little dalliance, I was taken to a large store near the railway station to buy tea bags, some mature cheddar cheese, and crackers. While I love Thai food, I sometimes need some comfort eating and drinking.