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.
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| The main stand at Phra Ramesuan 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.
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| 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
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.
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| 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?
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
