The Remarkable Rise of Rasisalai United

 

The Remarkable Rise of Rasisalai United

My tribute as a regular attendee to Rasisalai United, a club that has achieved great things in a relatively short time. 

Written April 2026

When Nuchanart (Nuch) Jaruwongsatian set about forming Rasisalai United as a youth side back in 2019, I don’t suppose she thought that, realistically, seven years later, her little club would be playing in the top tier of Thai football against the likes of Buriram United, BG Pathum United and Port FC.

But that’s the reality. It’s an amazing story which shows that staying loyal to local players with a real affinity to the club and their teammates, and then astute foreign signings, can make a world of difference and elevate a well-run side all the way to the summit.

It’s even more astonishing a story when considering that for their first two years, football was severely disrupted by the pandemic. However, the Thailand Amateur League, which was shoehorned into the middle months of 2022, offered a sense of what success felt like to the Monkey Kings, as Rasi are nicknamed.

A 3-0 win against Roi-Et 2018 on their opponents' home pitch sent Rasisalai into the Thai League 3 for the following season. Momentum continued to build, as they then defeated Kongkrilas United, Warship United, and Muang Trang United in the final to become national amateur champions.

Sisaket SAT Stadium under the lights

Their home leg in the showpiece was played at Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium, home of province neighbours, Sisaket United, before the club became tenants at the SAT Stadium, once among the provincial ranks.

I have used the word, neighbours advisedly, as Sisaket is somewhat of a throwback to how football used to be in many English cities where two clubs existed. Rasi do not have a sufficient venue in their hometown, around 40-minutes away on the banks of the River Mun, meaning that they play in the capital of the province, with football fans going to watch whoever is at home.

While segregation is in place at the derby games, there is little need for it as everyone gets on, with many cheering for the side on the other side of the fence the following week.

In their debut season in the league, Rasi finished third and dashed the title hopes of Sisaket with a 1-0 home win. Sisaket went on to win T3 Northeast in 2023-24, along with promotion, while Rasi ended in a disappointing eighth place. Just 69 fans attended their home match on a Wednesday afternoon against Muang Loei United, with many of those attending leaving at the interval to watch Sisaket take on Khon Kaen Mordingdang in the later kick-off.

Action under the Tower. It sure beats Blackpool

Nuch made a superb appointment ahead of the 2024-25 campaign when coach Arnon Bandasak was brought in. He signed his former star from his time at Phitsanulok, the veteran forward, Gilberto Macena. Defender Ramon Mesquita, another player with vast experience, was signed to skipper the side, while fellow Brazilian Alberto Gouvea smashed away the goals.

We met Alberto as a fellow spectator at the opening Sisaket match of the season, and he pronounced he would score lots of goals. He wasn’t joking. Rasisalai simply blew away opponent after opponent with their fast-attacking play. Some of their matches were truly brilliant, including an amazing win against Pattani in the playoffs, which went a long way to securing promotion before the T3 national title was secured against Songkhla.

The atmosphere at the two derby games and the crowds of over 4,000 were simply breathtaking, with a real party atmosphere and superb action on the pitch. There is little wonder that interest continued to develop throughout the season as to what was going on in the northeast.

The team bus

One of the great joys of watching Rasisalai is their vulnerability at the back, which means they attack even more. The incredible 2025-26 season has seen them promoted with four games to spare. Teams simply have no answer despite often scoring and being on top for parts of a game. The only times that Rasi have looked vulnerable have been in the derby against Sisaket, with Ramon missing in the away defeat, and when injuries have depleted important areas.

The real key behind their success, alongside the astute foreign signings and veteran goalkeeper Sakkongpop Sukprasert, is the midfield twins of Nattapon and Natchanon Yongsakool. Indeed, when studying the teamsheet from the Amateur final of 2022, it is interesting to note that six of the side are still regulars, having gone through the divisions and learned together as friends. 

Bids were turned down for the twins, who have both missed games through injury when the only slight wobble occurred. They are dynamic, skilful, dangerous from set pieces and a joy to watch from a very special vantage position.

My friend John, who I watch Sisaket and Rasi, is a member of the gym where the Rasisalai players train. He's got to know them and coach Arnon, as well as the partners of some of the team and their offspring. In T3, we would simply choose the best seat in the main stand, which happened to be in the VIP area, with no questions asked, because stewarding wasn't required. We've continued to sit there around the dignitaries and those connected with the club, including Arnon when he served a touchline ban.

We sit somewhere in there

While I'm no fan of corporate seating as I prefer to be candid, have a good drink, and enjoy a match without watching my P's and Q's, it has been fun watching a season play out among those who have a far greater interest. Sure, I am delighted that Rasi have gone up, but I would have preferred Sisaket to pip them to the title. Whether Sisaket will join Rasisalai in the top-flight next season hangs in the balance as I pen this piece.

Huge credit too must go to Nuch. It’s fair to say that she can become emotional at times and will serve a ban until the end of the season for her antics against Pattaya United. But she has created a club with a lovely atmosphere that appeals to more youngsters than traditionalists. And she certainly cares. She is friendly to everyone who attends and will be sure to get plenty of attention next season.

The club sells lots of merchandise. The adoption of green and white hoops as an away kit has seen unprecedented sales. Ticket prices have remained at 60 Baht since winning promotion to T3, which has seen crowds grow with the entertainment on show offering outstanding value for money.

How will Rasi cope in T1? It’s difficult to assess, as one potential pointer is unavailable, as the club didn’t enter either domestic cup this season. As the quarter finals of the League Cup have shown, there is a massive gulf between T2 and the top-flight, with three sides around the playoffs being well beaten by higher-grade opposition.

Will there be enough money to sign the seven foreigners allowed in T1, and who will be doing the recruiting? Again, these are unknowns that we’ll have to wait to find out. What is for sure is that the meteoric rise of Rasisalai has been wonderful to watch, and there’ll be more fun yet to come.

 

APD United

All About APD United

APD United is an amateur or non-league football club based in the eastern Bangkok suburb of Minburi that was formed in 2016. Since then, the club has mainly competed in local competitions and established a partnership with Triamundomsuksa Suwinthawong School.

By the 2020-21 season, the clubs' first team was members of Division 1 of the Bangkok Premier League, playing games at Nong Chok Stadium, which was the former home of BEC Tero Sasana in the Thai Premier League.

Chasing a Place in Thai League 3

In 2022, APD competed in the Thailand Amateur League, failing to progress from their initial group. In 2023-24, the side went out at the first stage of the Thai FA Cup on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Romklao United, with the game being played at Thupatemi Stadium.

It was around this time that the club moved into the former CK Stadium east of Minburi and renamed it APD Football Arena, with its main pitch and a smaller one behind being ideal for developing players.

They also transferred, like many clubs, to the Thonburi League for the 2025 season, where they were placed in Zone D.

APD United will play in the Thonburi League Zone D in the 2026 season.

My visit

APD United 2 BSL United 2 (Sunday 26th January 2025) Thonburi League Zone D (att: c25)

Still at our Minburi condo following an extensive tour of Thailand, I wanted some football further down the food chain after attending Port v Ratchaburi on Friday night to start the weekend in fine style.

If truth be known, I had a bee in my bonnet about a video on YouTube that I’d been alerted to, proclaiming that Thai League 3 was non-league, and had started setting about making a video to offer a true account of the state of things.

Ideally, I would find a non-league game and do some filming at it, covering the whole experience. In a perfect world, at a venue I hadn’t previously visited. When APD replied to my message and sent me a location of their ground, my mind was set.

I was slightly disappointed to an extent that they didn’t tell me they were still playing at the old Nong Chok stadium with its big stand that I was still to tick off my ground list, but naturally happy that they had a venue that would allow them to develop as a club.

Setting off from home, I took a songthaew to Minburi Market, bought a selfie stick to help with my filming, found a nice location by the San Seap Canal, had a coffee and then caught the 526 bus towards the ground for the afternoon’s entertainment.

A lady already onboard told me I was on the right service, confused as I was when we went into the market and out again. She spoke good English and told me all about her job working at a hotel in the city, and how she wanted to retire.

We arrived at the stop I required, opposite Ploychompoo Village on Thanon Rat Uthit, on the road to Nong Chok, which required me to cross the footbridge over heavy traffic. I can only put it down to the hot sun and not being able to see my Google Maps screen clearly, that I wandered down the wrong lane.

It would have been around ten to fifteen minutes down the correct road, but this error could mean that making kick-off time at 3pm would be tight. However, a local man driving to go fishing saw my predicament, stopped and told me to get into the back of his car.

He assumed I was looking for the indoor Bangkok Arena at Nong Chok, so he was somewhat surprised when I asked him to stop so I could walk back along Soi 56 to the ground, which was visible a couple of hundred metres up. 

It was complete negligence on my part to make such an error, as I had walked down Soi 56 previously with my mate Steve in the hope of seeing a game in the Bangkok Premier League at the then CK Stadium.

We were within the sound of the players who were warming up and the referee's whistle, but the road was badly flooded. My pal said under no circumstances was he taking his shoes and socks off to wade through, in fear of snakes from the open fields on either side. Some folks have no commitment whatsoever.

Fortunately, that day, Vaughan was also joining us in his car and could drive us elsewhere for our Sunday fix. Back to the present, on a scorching hot afternoon, I was immediately taken by the APD Arena.

Sure, the pitch seemed extremely narrow, but there was a viewing balcony behind the far goal above the changing rooms, which would be ideal for watching the action from. Team dugouts and a camera gantry were squeezed along the side of the pitch by the road.

Nong Chok’s population is 90% Moslem, so it was no surprise that while the venue had a shop selling snacks and a small kitchen that was knocking out traditional Thai food, it did not sell beer. It ended up being a water and bags of crisps day.

The youngsters of the club, still too young for adult action, had turned up to cheer on ADP. The coach of the visiting side arrived late in a fluster and told his players not to enter the pitch on time, with there being just ten minutes before the appointed start.

He had “coach” emblazoned on his back just so everyone knew how important he was. As it transpired, the game started just a few minutes late. The BSL team had prepared better than their mentor and were in the ascendancy from the start.

They went ahead after around seventeen minutes when what seemed like a run-of-the-mill free kick was put towards the six-yard box, where young goalie Nattawup came out, misjudged its flight and allowed it to go over his head into an empty net.

It’s as well that the pilots up above had better flight judgment, as a plane every minute or so began to descend above us on its way to landing at Suvarnabhumi. APD defender Suradet dropped a massive clanger, trying to get past visiting forward 24, who dispossessed him before advancing to score.

The young lads who had been enthusiastic and had earlier banged their drum had the wind taken out of their sails before their side regrouped. As the interval approached, they grabbed a goal back in what was becoming an increasingly feisty encounter.

It seemed a bit crazy for players to warm up at the interval in 35-degree temperatures, but that’s what some did, while a couple cooled down by entering the lake behind the far goal to retrieve the footballs put there with stray shots.

APD came back out with real intent, making a couple of notable changes in the form of two African forwards. 27 was big and menacing, suddenly causing the BSL rearguard some real issues. They were tested as much as the referee, who I thought handled proceedings pretty well.

Small pitches and big blokes, naturally, lead to more incidents in my experience. It was tense anyway in the heat, when Suradet and the visiting number 9 were involved in an altercation off the ball, which I didn’t see.

My Roving Report for A Thai Football Podcast

The coach was incandescent. He really was having a grumpy day, screaming at the ref to issue a red card and not the yellow, which he probably got right. Neither player looked for revenge, which is often the case if an injustice is served, so it seemed about right to me.

The other APD sub, A Wisdom, was tripped in the box. I thought it was a penalty, but the official waved away the claims, most likely sick of some players, particularly the many non-Tais on show, trying to referee the game themselves. A clear dive from the inappropriately named Wisdom, at least on this showing, was also ignored.

The home side had built up a head of steam and equalised when a free kick wide on the edge of the box was headed in by 19, despite an attempted clearance off the line. The home fans were jubilant, swinging on netting high above the goal.

The game could have gone either way after that, as attempts went in on both goals. Perhaps the best chance was missed by 69 of BSL, who was played in but blazed his shot across the goal. In the end, 2-2 was about the right result.

An ice cream man arrived with perfect timing, offering cool refreshments to eat while walking along the lane, whose memories came flooding back to me, though not literally on this occasion, as I headed back to the main road.

My good lady wanted food to be bought on the way home, so I tried without luck to order a Grab taxi. A ridiculously packed songthaew took me to Minburi, where I jumped out on Ramkhamhaeng Road, spotting Chomran Boat Noodles Restaurant opposite.

A cold beer was in order while I finished filming the last bits for my video production before a Grab was finally secured, driven by a nice young chap from Surin. He dropped me off at Five Star Chicken near home, which was apt as he was applying for a job with the company.

A fine day indeed, including passing a snooker cue factory in Minburi which supplies some of the world's stars, including Ronnie O’Sullivan, a good game at a decent venue, and then top food with some EPL action on TV.

Thonburi Stadium (Bangkok)

An Insight into Thonburi Stadium

Thonburi Stadium is a venue in the Bang Phai district of Thonburi, in the east of the Thai capital of Bangkok. It is predominantly used as the home stadium of Thonburi United in the Thai League.

Some of its funding and maintenance was paid for by the Thai FA, who use the venue to stage neutral games.

My visits

Thonburi United 1 North Bangkok University 1

Monday 10th January 2022

Thai League 3 Bangkok 

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c200 

To read a description of a rare Monday afternoon fixture with a history of Thonburi United FC, click here.

Heartbreak for my Friends in the Final

Samutsakhon City 1 FC Bangsaotong 0

Saturday 4th June 2022 

Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Perimeter Final 

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c350 🎟️ Free

I had earlier visited this fine venue for a Thonburi United home game, but this occasion had considerably more resting on it than on that occasion. The victors would be promoted to the professional ranks for the following season as a Thai League 3 club.

A Fair Trek By Public Transport

I had prepared in fine style, having met up with a friend, a former New Zealand Test cricketer, the previous evening and enjoyed a very sociable few hours around Sukhumvit in the capital. To head to the game after breakfast, I took the MRT right around the final stop at Bang Khae, where I had a break in the air-conditioned mall, being ahead of schedule.

A bus took me to the Nongkhaem District Office, from where I crossed the road and bought some beers at the 7/11 for the match. I then took the walk, which was longer than I estimated, along Soi Phet Kasem 110. I wasn’t upset to see the floodlights as I turned the final bend.

In the main stand, I sat next to a fellow Englishman whose son was on the bench for FCB. Samutsakhon were backed by a couple of busloads of supporters and had the more experienced side, with some former T3 players in their ranks and were coached by Chanyut Pongpanomwet. 

Certainly Not a Neutral for this Match

I had skin in the game as I’d followed FCB through the course of the competition and was friends with their coach, Jamie Clarke. His side always played lots of nice football, but could sometimes over-elaborate. They were a young outfit, and their lack of nous would prove to be one of their weaknesses on the big occasion.

Their keeper, Chaiyasit Phetrangsee, seemed to have caught a case of the nerves, while the forwards, including Kuatrakul Kwankua, normally a star player, didn’t really get going. City goalie Wichan Manmueang hardly had a shot to save despite FCB having plenty of the ball in the final third of the pitch.

A Controversial Way to Lose a Final

The goal was highly contentious, to say the least. Even more so after watching replays of the game online later. A low shot from just outside the box was touched onto the post by Chaiyasit. Plchet Inbang followed up to put the ball away. Images would later reveal he was clearly offside.

Samutsakhon’s elder and more experienced players knew how to close the game out. Their custodian, Wichan, had to go off with an injury soon into the second half. His deputy, Aekkachai Srisaengchan, coped well and was protected by his defence. In the end, just one goal was enough to win promotion. 

An Unfair Advantage?

The Samutsakhon City players quite rightly celebrated in style with supporters on the pitch after the final whistle and trophy presentation. Bangsatong’s boys were in pieces. It was really sad to experience. They all seemed good lads, with their dreams of being pros for their team written off.

It was widely speculated that Samutsakhon had been heavily backed by their local authority, one of which was connected to the Thai FA. As someone in an official capacity at FCB said, there was no way City were going to be beaten. It’s not a great way to secure promotion. 

Picking Up the Pieces with Friends

Jamie had some beers with me and was understandably as dejected as his players. One of whom, Adam Mather, went back in the taxi with us. Jamie’s regular driver obligingly stopped at a 7/11 for cans before depositing us at the Sportsman on Sukhumvit 13.

Some other lads who played for FCB in the Bangkok Premier League were in there celebrating after playing for Siam Celtic, who had won their Bangkok Casuals League final. No foreigners had been allowed to play in the Thailand Amateur League. 

After a couple of beers, I got a message from Taew at her restaurant in Minburi telling me Thai friends had arrived and wanted to drink with me. The price of fame! I said my farewells, caught a taxi, and left the others to it, while reflecting on the sadness of the defeat in the days that followed.

 

Rangsit University Stadium (Bangkok)

All About Rangsit University Stadium

Rangsit University Stadium is a multi-purpose venue on the campus serving its educational establishment, with its main use staging football matches. It was the home of Rangsit University FC, which was used for Thai League football.

It carried on staging University matches while the club changed their name to the iCon RSU, which instead used Bangkok University Stadium to play its home games when they returned to Thai League 3 in 2023-24.  

My visit

Minburi City 3 Krungthep FC 1 

Friday 29th April 2022 

Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Perimeter Group E 

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 150 🎟️ Free

Cheering On My Local Team

I’d grown an attachment to my local team, Minburi City, who were well organised off the pitch, if sometimes lacking in ability on it. The Thailand Amateur League offered a long-winded chance of promotion to the professional ranks, and I was delighted to head along to support the team.

Explaining the Thailand Amateur League

It was the start for most of the seventy-five regional groups containing three or four teams. Round-robin games were to be played in each group, with the winners then progressing to the knockout rounds. I received the usual excellent information before setting out on my trip.

 

The games in the competition were being played at neutral venues, quite often with two games on the same day, offering plenty of entertainment to anyone who wanted to watch and take advantage of free entry and lots of enthusiasm.

It was a combination of local transport and then a taxi that delivered me to Rangsit University Stadium, of which my previous experiences can be read about here. I was on time for kick-off, wearing my Minburi City replica shirt. As I sat down in the stand, a young lady approached me bearing gifts. 

Gifts from Minburi City

I was given a face covering, scarf, and baseball cap, all with the club logo on them, which I found to be extremely generous and made me cheer the team even more. Especially as they were going to need all the help that they could receive over the next ninety minutes.

It looked like it was going to be an extremely tough ask after Krungthep went ahead after twenty-seven minutes through centre-forward Sorrowat Srichompoo. However, Minuri had strengthened their squad and had added experience in the shape of Manop Klaykaew, who was to have a huge effect on the contest. 

Minburi equalised from the penalty spot

He levelled things up from the penalty spot eight minutes before the interval. However, his enthusiasm got the better of him five minutes later when he put in a rash challenge in an attacking position. Referee Danai Yommool decided that a red card was the correct decision. I thought it was extremely harsh.

The player came and sat in the stand and didn’t seem too perturbed, which probably gave the game away. It was going to be a long second half in extreme heat. I went to the nearby 7/11 at the interval to restock with refreshments before returning to my concrete pew. 

Minburi’s task was assisted when Sornsiri Proaybumrung of Krungthep was dismissed. Back with equal numbers, my local team grew in strength and began to forge some chances. Manit Saengchanput them ahead before substitute, Natee Thongkaew, rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.

I was delighted for owner Neti and coach Narinsak Norin. The players celebrated by jumping into wheelie bins full of ice and water to cool down. I had my photo taken by the club on the track. 

The Journey Home

It had been an excellent game, and I set about getting a taxi, which I initially directed to Rangsit Market by mistake, when I wanted Future Mall. A minivan taking the shortest route took me back to my condo for a shower and change before going to have food and drinks with friends, including my wife-to-be, even though neither of us knew it at the time.