The Remarkable Rise of Rasisalai United

 

The Remarkable Rise of Rasisalai United

The story of the rise of Rasisalai United, a club formed in a small town in Sisaket province in the northeast of Thailand, is a remarkable story. Here is my tribute as a regular attendee to home matches of a club that has achieved great things in a relatively short time. 

Humble Beginnings

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.

Promotion to the ProfessionalRanks

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 they 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

Local Rivalry

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.

Local Togetherness

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

New Players and Head Coach

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

Great Entertainment

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.

Investment in Youth

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.

Family Atmosphere

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. 

No questions were 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

Battle for Promotion

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.

Smart Ownership

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.

Next Season

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.

Article Published April 2026

 

APD United

APD United FC

Ground: Tameside Stadium

Capacity: 200

Club Founded: 2016

League: Thonburi League (current level)

APD United are a fine example of several amateur clubs around Bangkok connected to football academies, offering youngsters education as well as extending their skills.

Club Background

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 Promotion

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.

Recent Times

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

My visit

APD United 2 BSL United 2

Thonburi League Zone D - Sunday 26th January 2025

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c25 🎟️ Free

Pre-Match Planning

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.

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

I had done some filming towards the latest video for my YouTube Channel at the Port game, while the Sunday match offered me a chance to go to a place and competition that few others cover. 

I was slightly disappointed that they weren't still playing at the old Nong Chok stadium with its big stand, as I still needed to tick off my ground list. It had previously been used by BEC Tero Sasana, and I had visited it after an AUU Dream Team home game on the pitches next to it.

Getting to ADP United

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, which is why I wandered down the wrong lane.

A Kind Local

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.

Club Location

Flooded Road Mishap

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.

Local Demographics

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.

The Match

The visitors 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.

Returning Home

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.

Phuket Andaman

 

Phuket Andaman FC

Ground: Surakul Stadium
Capacity: 15,000
Club Founded: 2019
League: Thai League 3 South (current level)

Phuket is not the first tourist destination around the world to struggle to attract crowds and rise up their national league system. The Thai island has seen its football clubs involved in closure, with Phuket Andaman the latest to try to find success.

Phuket FC

The first club to enter the national system on the island was Phuket FC, which was founded 2009. They were placed in the Regional Division 2 South, playing at Surakul Stadium. The goals of Diarra Ali took them to the title in 2010 and promotion to the Thai Division 1 League, which was the second tier at the time. 

The club lasted five seasons at that level as the likes of Adama Koné, Dudu, and Berlin Ndebe-Nlome topped the scoring for the Southern Sea Kirins. The owners pumped considerable sums into the club, launching a substantial marketing campaign before withdrawing their finances. Some players' were left with their contracts unpaid.

In their final two seasons, Phuket FC were relegated from the Regional League Division 2 South. They ended the 2017 season as runners-up in Thai League 4 South as Nattapoom Maya top-scored. The club was then dissolved over the license being denied owing to unpaid contracts. 

Phuket City FC

In 2018 and 2019, the owners of the newly formed Phuket City FC managed to move Banbueng FC, who competed in Thai League 3 Lower, to Sarakhul Stadium and changed their name accordingly, while a legal battle commenced. In 2020, they returned to Chonburi to resume under their previous title.

Meanwhile, in 2019, Patong City began life in the Thailand Amateur League, where a second place in the South region was enough to win promotion to Thai League 3 South through proper means. Walit Jitboonchuen installed as head coach.

Phuket Andaman FC

Yodwong Misen led the scoring for the following two seasons. Adirek Bintuan arrived as head coach but was later replaced by Nipont Chanarwut during the disappointing 2021-22 campaign before the club took the title of Phuket Andaman.

This saw a much improved sixth place being achieved under the leadership of Jarupong Sangpong. Vilson James Dos Santos was appointed as head coach for the 2023-24 campaign. The club was then bought by foreign owners, Higher Sports Co. 

The group already had academy set-ups in other countries and wanted to introduce the same in Phuket, when Andaman became available to buy. Chairman Russ Horsley began the task of putting down foundations by appointing the returning Jarupong as coach.

The relationship didn't materialise as expected, leading to him being replaced by Phuwanart Saengsri, as the club looked to put a turbulent few months behind them. The side plummeted down the table, with Andaman having to relocate to Phang Nga POA Stadium for the second half of the season.

The final game of the season saw a ninety-fifth-minute penalty converted by Puttipong Chanchaemsri away to Yala FC, saving Andaman from relegation. The club were told that they would have to remain in Phang Nga for the first half of the following season as work redeveloping Sarakhul Stadium continued.

Jarupong Sangpong was given the job of head coach ahead of the 2025-26 campaign after the club ownership changed. Andaman returned home during the second leg, going on to finish in seventh place.

My visit

Stadium Visit - Wednesday 13th April 2016

It was time for my annual visit to Phuket ahead of the Sixes Cricket tournaments that I was involved in. With the first event starting the following day, I decided to take myself off and enjoy some quality time, and head across the island from my hotel in Karon. 

My pal dropped me near Karon Roundabout, where I knew a songthaew service went up over the hill and towards Phuket Town, but no idea how often they ran. I'm not sure those in charge did either. After what seemed like ages in the heat, I clambered aboard and off we went.

As soon as we reached the outskirts of the town, my eyes were peeled looking out for the floodlights. This was in the days before I had an internet connection running on my iPhone to source Google Maps. It was just a couple of hundred metres along Vichitsongkram Road when I pressed the bell for the driver to stop. 

Thankfully, the gates were open, and I had access to take photos of what had a horseshoe-shaped continual terrace around the running track. One side had seats with a roof, and opposite them were open to the elements. The road end had no spectator accommodation as such.

Once complete, I continued to the old town. I had alighted there on a bus from Bangkok on my first-ever Thailand adventure, but saw little of it. This time I had a nice look around, including a taxi ride down to the waterfront at Saphan Hin. It was extremely pleasant, as I seem to recall. 

The songthaew took me back, jumping out so that I could wander down Taina Road to visit AllStar Aussie Bar, one of the cricket sponsors, to enjoy a good few drinks with Gary, the friendly host.

Later during the stay, a second cricket tournament was played at the Republic Ground, where at the close of play in the cricket, the footballers of Phuket FC arrived for their training sessions.

 

Thonburi Stadium (Bangkok)

Ground: Thonburi Stadium

Capacity: 1,500

Opened: c2018

Club: Thonburi United (Current Tenant)

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.

Getting There

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. 

Skin in the Game

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.

Controversy

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)

Ground: Rangsit University Stadium

Capacity: 3,000

Opened: Unknown

Clubs: Rangsit University 

There are over forty universities in Bangkok and its surrounding metropolitan area. Most have a stadium as part of the campus, with many having football teams that use it for their home games as well as inter-university events. Rangsit University Stadium is a typical example.

Stadium Details

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

My Local Team and the Thailand Amateur League

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.

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. 

The Match

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.

AES Moonlight

 

AES Moonlight FC

Ground: ESP Stadium (Grakcu United Stadium)
Capacity: 2,000
Club Founded: 2000
League: Pending (current level)

Bangkok has no shortage of amateur football clubs, some of whom play in local competition, some just in friendlies. Others, such as AES Moonlight, enter the Thai FA Cup.

Who are AES Moonlight?

AES Moonlight FC is an amateur football club in the Thai capital of Bangkok, which was originally formed as Lucid Dreams AES in 2020. They played home games at Airport Stadium in Division 5 of the Bangkok Premier League.

AES is a Bangkok-based engineering company that sponsored the club, which then became part of the Thonburi City FC club, playing as a second side in Division 3 of the same competition. In July 2022, the club changed its title from Thonburi City AES to AES Moonlight. 

Owner Sorawit Pop Sueyouyong decided that they should become independent once again, with many home games shifted to Grakcu Stadium in Sai Mai as the club competed in the Thai FA Cup in the 2021-22 season, hammering TK Academy in the Qualifying Round.

The club continued to play in the Bangkok Premier League until the end of the 2023-24 season. From September 2024, they played in the Greenfield Super League.

My visits

Camp 1001/Greenkeeper

As Thonburi City SEA

Thonburi City SEA 4 SPA Srongpol 0 

Sunday 24th April 2022 

Bangkok Premier League Division 3 

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 c25 🎟️ Free

A 6pm fixture up Hathai Rat Road, a fifteen-minute taxi ride from Minburi, was just the job for my mate Steve and me to watch some football after I had dropped off my laptop for repairs at Fashion Island Mall. Once nourished with some food, we commandeered a taxi.

The match was played at the home ground of Srongpol, which AES also used, with the main issue at night of Camp 1001 being the number of mosquitoes. This was because it was located by greenery and water. We made sure that we applied plenty of repellent on a hot, sticky night.

A Warm Welcome and a Decent Game

We received the usual friendly welcome from the Srongpol guys, who were the first team I had seen in action after moving full-time to Bangkok when they gave me a training shirt as a welcome gift. Not something I can imagine happening in England.

We were treated to a reasonable game at a tightly enclosed venue I had grown to like. To be honest, we expected an easy AES victory after seeing SPA take a proper drubbing in Nong Chok against AUU Dream Team earlier in the month.

As it transpired, Srongpol had become more organised and put up a decent show, though goals from Panupong Chanhom, Metha Sirisuwansit, Kittipong Sunarak, and Phumiphat Exists made the 4-0 score about right.

Post-Match Beers

Post-match, we decided to seek out The Craft House, for which I had been given a tip when visiting a bar on Seri Thai Road. Craft beer was indeed available in cans and bottles with a decent range to choose from.

It was a sensible visit on this occasion, with prices being at the higher end of the scale, but we vowed to return to the establishment on Thai Raman Alley, which we did after a game a mile or so north, a few weeks later. Now that was a long and expensive do!

FA Cup action after a name change to AES Moonlight

Grakcu Stadium

AES Moonlight 6 TK Academy 2

Wednesday 28th September 2022 

Thai FA Cup Qualification Round

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 50 🎟️ Free 

The early stages of the FA Cup threw up some interesting ties spread over two consecutive Wednesdays. Having looked through my options, while being aware that I was picking my pal Jarvo up from Suvarnabhumi that evening, I wanted something relatively local.

This game at Grakcu Stadium, hired by Moonlight for the occasion, fitted the bill perfectly. I had seen Moonlight in action a few weeks earlier at Alpine Football Camp Training but didn’t realise at the time that they were previously known as Thonburi City AES. 

Getting to the Stadium

My van driver from the Minburi terminus was a bit on the tetchy side, so I ended up getting out far too early along Ram Inthra, necessitating a walk to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat BTS station, where a free sky train ride took me to Saphan Mai.

A songthaew took me in the right direction, thanks to the advice of helpful locals. I got out and walked the final mile, arriving as the teams were ready to take the pitch. Admission was free, and I took up a place in the far stand with the visiting entourage from Nakhon Ratchasima. 

Tricky Surface

The pitch was boggy from the outset and cut up badly as the match proceeded, leading to plenty of errors from both sides and an entertaining encounter. In the early exchanges, the “home” player Kittiiphong Areerak had a shot easily saved by Chanayut Tosanthia.

Manuchet Wansa looked strong down the right for AES from the off, as did Damrong Aiemdang up front. Areerak set up Wansa, who should have scored but fired over in a good position. Despite their good start, it was TK Academy who took the lead.

An FA Cup Shock?

An innocuous free kick from skipper Kritsada Phinsanthia found Teerapong JomKor at the back post, who controlled and scored with his shot, taking a slight deflection on the way past custodian Kittin Uttsan on eleven minutes.

Moonlight responded as Sathian Rairat saw his shot from long range saved. The young academy lads were holding a good defensive line but were lacking in physical strength, which would be their undoing when Wansa was too quick and strong as he latched onto a through ball to restore parity after swapping to the left, in a game-changing move.

Normal Order Restored

He put his side ahead a couple of minutes later, before the half-hour mark, when his strong low shot was too powerful for Tosanthia. A fine move extended the lead when a crossfield ball by Wansa picked out Rairat, who fed Komin Samadpattanakit, whose low cross was controlled and smashed home by Aiemdang.

The generally unconvincing Tosanthia made a decent save to deny Samadpattanakit before TK responded with both Apichart Chinsranot and Annop Meephu with a free kick. At the interval, I popped to the Grakcu shop for a beer, where their academy coaches were preparing to welcome graduates on the second pitch. 

Wansa completed his hat-trick three minutes after the restart when too strong for his marker before finishing coolly. The Academy contingent around me seemed resigned to their fate, but I guess they could take pride in competing in the competition.

Referee Thapana Thaworn played an excellent advantage to allow a move to continue, with Samadpattanakit being denied by the feet of Tosanthia. Senior visitor Phinsanthia saw a free kick pushed onto the angle of the post and bar by Uttsan as his side continued to rally.

A Rout

It became 5-1 when more good football ended in a cutback from Areerak for Wansa to smash home his fourth of the afternoon in the gloom after sixty-seven minutes. Aiemdang hit the frame of the goal with Wansa seeing his shot saved from the rebound as the pressure continued.

The sixth Moonlight goal was an absolute belter from all of thirty yards when a dipping, swerving thunderbolt from Rairat beat Tosanthia all ends up. TK gained a consolation eight minutes from time through a fine JomKor effort. 

Big Night Beckons

At full time, I somehow managed to squeeze onto a songthaew out on the main road back to the BTS before chaos ensued when I alighted. There was a queue for the bus, so when a 95 arrived, I was happy to get on board. Only to realise it didn’t go to Minburi, but it cut off down Nawamin Road.

A taxi took me the rest of the way through murderous traffic, leaving me time for a quick change and shower, a beer at my favourite local bar, before taking a taxi to the airport to greet my friend and then get stuck into a proper session. A grand day out.