Thonburi United

 

Thonburi United FC is a professional football club formed in 2016, representing the district on the west bank of the Chao Phraya in the Thai capital of Bangkok. The club started out life as Thonburi University FC, playing in the Thailand Amateur League at Thonburi Stadium.

In 2018 the team was crowned as champions of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region to gain promotion to Thai League 4 Bangkok Metropolitan Region. In their 2019 debut season ‘The Thonburi Side Warhorse’ finished fourth.  

A change of title to Thonburi United for the 2020-21 season ended with the side playing in League 3 of the same region after restructuring of the Thai League. For the second successive season Piyaphong Phrueksupee finished top scorer as United ended in eighth place.

A disappointing eleventh spot ensued in 2021-22 despite United attracting the third-highest average attendance in the division to watch the side coached by Poramin Chaichalerm. Chatturong Longsriphum top scored for a second successive disappointing season in 2022-23.

A much improved fourth spot ensued in 2023-24 as Nigerian striker Bright Friday led the scoring charts. T3 was realigned geographically for 2024-25 with Thonburi being placed in the West region as Autsada Traiperm was appointed as head coach.

Thonburi United FC will play in Thai League 3 West in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Thonburi United 1 North Bangkok University 1 (Monday 10th January 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok (att: c200)

 

Most games in Thai League kick off at 3.30pm, so spotting a rare Monday fixture I was keen to set out on another exploration in my early days as a Bangkok resident. I double checked online to confirm the game, such is the scarcity of Monday football.

My usual track of bus to Bangkapi, followed by boat down the Saen Saep to Asoke saw me change to the MRT to its terminus stop at Bang Khae. My plan from there was to go the rest of the way by bus. 

This is where I came slightly unstuck. I got off where I thought I needed at Sakhon Kasem Intersection from where it was my intention to catch a bus along Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road. However, after a short wait I got anxious and hailed down a taxi.

Fortunately, Google maps sorted me out so I could help the driver on a rather convoluted route down some narrow lanes, this after the first driver had declined the fare. I was more than happy to see that there was no admission fee as I headed upstairs into the home fans area of the solitary raised seated grandstand.

 

The surroundings looked most pleasant on this beautiful afternoon. The toilets were pristine, but the stadium was lacking in catering facilities. The United supporters were friendly, with the louder ultras at the rear drinking beers that they’d brought with them.

The early stages of the game were scrappy, with referee Wisarut Kantawong looking to let plenty go so play had a chance to flow. It did indeed gradually improve as North Bangkok’s Russian forward Sergei Tumasyan missing a good opportunity with a free header.

The refs’ patience finally gave way when he produced the first of what would finally amass to seven yellow cards in the thirty-fourth minute. University’s Passakorn Khumthared had been offending consistently and could have no complaints.

Thonburi’s support wasn’t huge in numbers, but it was loud, proud and passionate. Their side produced a half chance that flew across the face of goal before a poor challenge in the box gave the official no alternative but to award a penalty to the visiting ‘Horsemen’.

Tumasyan stepped forward with a stuttering run as home keeper Thitikorn Wiyawattana was sent the wrong way to put North Bangkok 1-0 up a minute before the half time break. More challenges were flying in before the teams headed up the tunnel for a rest.

While they recovered and received their briefings, I headed for a little walk to the nearby convenience store in the corner of the car park to top up on snacks and refreshments. I was wishing I had advanced local knowledge and had taken some beers.

 

The match was entertaining an even in the second period. Seven minutes in the hosts restored parity. North Bangkok’s goalkeeper Sanan Amkerd badly scuffed a clearance. United substitute Narathip Kruearanya made no mistake firing into an empty net.

Home forward Taiga Matsunaga seemed a clever footballer and wasn’t shy to demonstrate his tricks on the ball as he tried to find a winner for his side. The away team responded with a fine move which resulted in a low cross which Naphawit Tonyim’s side footed effort hit goalie Wiyawattana.

Despite the best efforts of both sides, the game petered out into a draw, which on reflection was probably about the right result. Now it was time for me to put in some exercise of my own to find the best way home.

I had uploaded the Bolt taxi App onto my phone and decided to give it a go. A cab arrived within fifteen minutes. The driver on this occasion Liverpool FC daft and desperate to try and have a conversation about the glory days John Barnes, Kenny Dalglish and co.

The pleasant fella dropped me at Bang Khae MRT station and on this occasion, I used my improving knowledge to take the train all the way to Lad Phrao station where the number 96 bus took some time to get me all the way home. But time was never going to be an issue.

A fine day out was completed with a meal and a few drinks at my new favourite local bar where I resolved a slight misunderstanding on my bill from the previous evening. Everything in the world was good!

Samutsakhon City 1 FC Bangsaotong 0 (Saturday 4^th June 2022) Thailand Amateur League Bangkok Perimeter Final (att: c350)

Read here to read about my visit when Thonburi Stadium was used as a neutral venue for a Thailand Amateur League regional final.

AUU Inter Bangkok

 

AUU Inter Bangkok is a professional football club based in the western district of Minburi in the Thai capital. The club was formed in 2015 under the name Bangkok University Deffo and playing at Bangkok University Stadium in Rangsit.

The team was placed in the third tier Division 2 Bangkok Metropolitan Region where they finished third from bottom of the table. Improvement came in 2016 with a third place, which gained a place in the retitled Thailand League 3 Lower where the performance was replicated as Anusak Laosangthai put away the goals.

However, the side was relegated in 2018 in bottom spot as Deffo FC and playing at TOT Stadium in Chaeng Watthana, dropping down to Thai League 4 Bangkok Metropolitan Region when the title was changed again, this time to Rangsit United, and playing home games at Queen Sirikit 60th Anniversary Stadium in Pathum Thani.

The Thai League system was changed for the 2020-21 season, with the calendar matching that of Europe, and also reverting to three tiers. Inter Bangkok came into being relocating to 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi with the club being attached to the Inter youth academy.

 

The change of name failed to change fortunes for the side coached at the end of the campaign by Daniel Melo as they finished bottom of the table despite the goalscoring efforts of the Brazilian, Caio Da Conceicao Silva.

Fortunately, for Inter owing to the Covid pandemic there was no relegation, as they retained their league status. Intouch Yamyindee netted as the side improved by two places in 2021-22 under coaches Kantameth Rodprasidh before he was replaced by Sunti Songte.

A link up with AUU, who little is known, aside from being connected to Bangkok Premier League club AUU Dream Team, saw a tinkering with the club title for the 2022-23 campaign, with Chaitud Uamtham taking up the role as head coach and overseeing a stark improvement.

The new moniker and restructuring paid dividends as the side ended in tenth place Aphiwat Charoenlai topping the scoring charts. A season later the side finished a place lower as Kamron Samranphan took over as coach midway through the campaign.

Santichai Anusim took over team affairs for the 2024-25 season as Inter with placed in the Central Region. He was gone a third of the way through to be replaced by Aphirak Sriarun.

AUU Inter Bangkok will play in Thai League 3 Central in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Inter Bangkok 0 North Bangkok University 9 (Sunday 20^th February 2022) Thai League 3 Bangkok Region (att: 60)

I set out to my football in melancholy mood, with the news of someone I used to play against and have an occasional drink with back home of a similar age, had died. It was certainly a jolt and a reminder to enjoy every day. In the end I gave myself a shake and headed to the local market.

From here I knew that a bus went reeasonably close to the cavernous 72nd Anniversary Stadium. There was no sign of a service, so I decided to set off walking along Sihaburanukit Road and grab a taxi if all else failed.

As it happened a bus did arrive, and the conductor was most helpful telling me the nearest stop when we approached. From there it was a further thirty minute walk down Thanon Khum Klao and then the approach Khum Klao Alley to the stadium on a very warm day.

Taking on water as I walked, I started to feel a bit more upbeat, noticing how the area had developed since I visited the arena when BEC Tero Sasana were the host club. However, it was a different story at the stadium. 

Thai Honda took on residency to displace Tero who merged with Police United. The whole place looked scruffy and pain peeling and rust appearing. Lots of seats had been removed from the main side, which was the only one open. Admission was free with an absence of club officials noticeable.

While I thought things were a bit tardy off the pitch, I hadn’t seen anything yet. Inter’s home performance was simply shambolic. As North Bangkok were pushing for a play-off spot, it was definitely not a good day to be off it, as it were.

 

The audible groans that accompanied the opening goal from Veeraphong Aon-pean after a defensive howler was a prelude of what was to come. The classy Russian forward, Sergey Tumasyan made it 2-0 with a tap in halfway through the first period. Home defender Jefferson Rico then put through his own net.

Tumasyan extended the lead with a fantastic goal before Assanee Panwang gave the smattering of home fans a moment of rest bite when he shot wide in a rare attack before another effort produced a great save from visiting keeper Sanan Amkoed.

Tumasyan added a couple more before the period ended, the second from the penalty spot right on half time as his team went down the tunnel 6-0 ahead, with what I thought could be many more to come.

As there was no possibility of any refreshments I remained in my seat at the break, noticing some not unattractive WAGS had decided to offer their hapless Inter partners some support. Several descending flights heading to Suvarnabhumi offered alternative entertainment. An unusual feature was girls carrying out the ball retrieving duties.

Home coach Sunti Songte hooked defender Pittaya Nuchkrasae at the break after previously sparing Nopphon Phon-Udom who must have been chuffed to bits to avoid further punishment. To be fair Inter improved after the interval, not that they could have got any worse.

It was that man Tumasyan again just past the hour mark who hooked in at the near post prior to heading for an early shower following a job well done. He was replaced by Tanat Wongsupaluk who would have a say later in proceedings.

A couple of away fans tried to create an atmosphere with a continual out of tune duet and accompanying drum. I could only think that ref Sila Jinnigorn felt sorry for the home team as he awarded them a penalty. Amkoed predictable saved Rico’s effort. What a day he enjoyed!

Wongsupaluk made it 8-0 when his header was cleared from behind the line. NBU missed a guilt edged chance when the overworked keeper Natthawut Kiakhuntod managed to make a decent stop and tip a downward header over the bar.

 

However, he was helpless when Wongsupaluk was given the freedom of the park to waltz through and complete the rout. I headed back to Suwinthawong Road where I hailed a taxi. It had been a tough day, and I had a peaceful quiet night at home.

I’d like to think Daz Brining, who had died suddenly in Scarborough, would have appreciated my choice of match, as he played in better contests. RIP fella.

AUU Inter Bangkok 2 Thonburi United 5 (Sunday 3rd September 2023) Thai League Cup 1st Qualifying Round (att: 151)

The third-tier sides competed in the first couple of qualifying rounds of the competition before their league season got underway a couple of weeks later. Therefore, this could well have been a useful pointer to where the corresponding teams would end in the following February.

The visitors put in a good strong display against game hosts who lacked in some important departments. Thonburi, run by their local University, went ahead on four minutes when Kittipong Seanphong was given a free header from a corner which he made no mistake from. 

Inter, with a good youth set up and training ground near the venue. that looked a far better outfit in general should have levelled but Otis somehow put it wide. A sitter on the dock of the goal if you will. He wasn't going to be the talk of the town anytime soon on this showing.

However, parity was soon restored Siriwat Sinturak smashed home after a header was cleared off the line. The home side showed great promise at this stage but six minutes from the break Teerawat Wongsa clumsily fouled Suradech Klankham in the box. 

Argentinian forward, Ramiro Lizaso sent the keeper the wrong way to score from the spot. The lead was extended further, as Inter had clearly not learned from their earlier poor marking as Seanphong scored in repeat fashion before the sides trotted down the tunnel while I had a walk round the far side.

The hosts returned with increased intent after the interval and saw a shot cannon back off the underside of the bar, before United went 4-1 ahead when the muscly Nigerian forward Bright Friday went on a surging run, cut inside, and delivered a low shot into the corner of the net before firing over a guilt edged opportunity.

Thonburi keeper Pattarapong Patcharoon was keen on the theatrical side of his art, but he made a tremendous fingertip save before Friday made it 5-1. A stoppage time goal from sub Tanasorn Janthrakhot added some respectability to the fulltime score.

Both sets of fans did their best to create an atmosphere with chants and drums in the 10,000-capacity arena and is far too big and located the middle of nowhere in the farthest east of Minburi district. The indoor hall next door played home to BTS in the Thai Futsal League.

At least the pitch was in decent nick, being helped, by Siam FC not sharing it since their relegation to allow the turf extra recovery time. However, the arena was in a state of decay, underused and under loved 

It was good to see small numbers of the public using the amenities with other activities taking place in the bowels of each stand including the Thai game of takraw, which is like the western game of head tennis only with a smaller harder ball made of rattan or durable plastic.

I went via the 131 bus, then a walk to get there from the main Suwinthawong Road. Fortunately, someone stopped and offered a lift for the last ten minutes as it was extremely hot. I took my own refreshments as there is nothing at the stadium. Admission cost 50 Baht.

I was offered some beers by an Argentinian among the away fans cheering on his compatriot, but I declined on this rare occasion. I was home in in 15 minutes by Grab taxi ready to watch some football on TV from the UK.