Chira Nakhon Stadium (Hat Yai)

The Chira Nakhon Stadium in the southern Thai city of Hat Yai was constructed in 1944. As the major arena in the province at the time, it hosted many sporting events. Football was played there over many years long before Thailand became organised and set up national leagues around the turn of the millennium.

The first club from the city to play in a national competition was Hatyai FC. They partook in Regional League Division 2 Southern Region in 2010 as an expansion club, finishing their debut season in a disappointing twelfth spot. 

A huge improvement saw the ‘Red Eagles’ end in fourth place the following year, backed up by eighth in 2012. The club took a year out before returning in 2014 to finish towards the bottom of the table. Another season sabbatical then ensued.

Back in 2016, Hat Yai finished tenth. There then followed fifth position in 2017 and then third a year later as Akkarapol Meesawat led the scoring in both campaigns while playing at Muang Lak Southern Stadium.

 

However, by this time another club in the city had been formed who took up tenancy at Chira Nakhon Stadium. Hatyai City won the Thailand Amateur League South title in 2017, gaining promotion to Thai League 4 South to join their neighbours Hatyai FC in the restructured Thai League.           

Teerawat Durnee top scored in 2018, as his side ended in fifth position. This was improved upon by one place twelve months later. This time it was Apdussalam Saman who put away the goals. By then the club had moved to Southern Major City Stadium to play their home games.

The worldwide pandemic interrupted Thai football, which again opted for another restructure and adopted the European calendar. Hatyai City also underwent big changes as it became Young Singh Hatyai United.

Nuttakorn Khunjarern led the scoring as they ended in ninth spot in 2020-21, before finishing third a year later, after the club moved back into Chira Nakhon Stadium as Congolese striker Burnel Okana-Stazi put away the chances. Unfortunately, not all was well behind the scenes.

 

They failed to meet the licensing requirements and were thrown out of the Thai League. As of February 2024, there have been no signs of them reforming or another Hat Yai based club trying to win promotion via the Thai Semi-pro League.

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 a long tour of Thailand and Laos. 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. I love Thai food but sometimes some comfort eating and drinking is required.

Betong Stadium

Betong Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the town of the same name, which is Thailand’s southernmost point, located in Yala Province. Information is scarce as to if any team is a tenant of the stadium.

There is a Facebook page for Betong FC, which develops children and youth first. They appear mainly to promote Futsal. No club representing the town, it would seem, has entered any regional or national competition as an 11-a-side outfit. 

Further delving reveals that the Betong District Cup, played between six different teams was staged at the stadium, as the local authority looked to promote the values of using free time beneficially, to stay away from drugs and all vices. It also stages other community activities.

My visit

Saturday 4th January 2025

We were at the southernmost point of Thailand as my wife, and I travelled with her cousin and his family who were based in Hat Yai. A fantastic journey all told and Betong lived up to anywhere else with a decent bar suitable for families being enjoyed at the end of a sightseeing Friday. 

I had hinted that I would walk to the stadium and take photos on Saturday morning. It is nestled below Sud Siam Park, the highest point in the town. I had tried to see if the floodlights were being used to save a second trip when we were wandering around the night market.

However, there was no need to worry. I always try to gather information about the places that I visit, and Betong City Museum was also nearby, and worth calling by, so I convinced my fellow travellers anyway. Q, our driver took us up the extremely steep hill to save a lot of hassle. 

I wandered off to take my snaps while they relaxed in the park. I was delighted to have got the opportunity as previous snaps I’d seen of it came to life. And what a beautiful thing I thought it was.

It immediately put me in mind of Estádio Nacional, which I went to when in Lisbon several years previously. It moulded into the hill on two sides with white stonework, or possibly concrete painted white, looking wonderful. 

The near end had a large grass bank with several tiers cut into it, while the far end, had arches and columns to give it a grandeur that made it stand above so many other provincial stadiums around Thailand.

It seemed a shame that no club in the town looked to enter the Thai League while based there, but I guess the journey and costs would play a significant part in any such decision. Not that away sides would be disappointed in having to stay in Betong on a weekend evening.

It was one of those stadiums I wanted to keep turning around and take another look at, but it was time to head off towards more fascinating places on the way back and some more football venues in Yala.

Should Betong ever decide to make the step up and enter a competition or if a tournament is being played when we revisit our relatives, I would try my best to fit a game at this wonderful venue into my itinerary.

Pattani

Pattani FC is a professional football club from the Thai southern city of the same name. The ‘Queen Cannons’ were formed in 2009, being admitted into Regional League Division 2 Southern Region playing home games at Pattani Municipal Stadium.

The side finished fourth in their debut season, and then one place higher in 2011. A runners-up spot ensued in 2012 with Al hadji Adamou putting away the goals. Ahmed Toota and then Ahmed Kodmany thrilled the home fans before Elvis Job became the top scorer for two seasons.

That helped Pattani to another second place in 2015. The Thai League system was reorganised for the 2017 season, with the club being placed in Thai League 4 South. Ibrahim Dicko led the scoring chart which ended in second place. Any chance of promotion was ended in the playoffs by Grakcu Sai Mai United.

Another second regional finish and Champions League playoffs followed in 2019 which ended in promotion partly through the goals of Georgi Tsimakuridze, leading a place in Thai League 3, However, COVID-19 would then intervene.

Again, the Thai League decided to restructure and follow the European football calendar for the 2020-21 campaign. Chakris Tiaiadyo would lead the scoring for the next two seasons as Pattani found themselves competing in Thai League 3 South.

A couple of disappointing seasons ensued, with the side being led by Maka Hoprasartsuk before he was replaced in the summer of 2021 by Banpot Chaichanadet. Sathot Bensoh was appointed ahead of the 2022-23 season before the arrival of Teeratada Chamrus after the midseason break. 

The goals of Pithak Abdulrahman helped the Gunners to the fourth spot before they improved by one place a year later under head coach Damian Bellon as Natan Oliveira scored twenty goals. By now, improvements and a name change saw the Rainbow Stadium being rechristened.

A trio of Brazilians looked to push Pattani towards the playoff places in 2024-25. Pattarapol Naprasart was put in charge of the team before he was replaced by Nirun Assawapakdee at the halfway mark of the season.

My visit

Friday 3rd January 2025

A tour of Thailand and Laos with my wife and her cousin and his family provided me with an opportunity to call into the Rainbow Stadium to take some photos. It wasn’t in the plans when we set out in the car heading towards Betong but things changed thanks to a conversation.

I happened to mention if we stayed with the relatives again in Hat Yai, I would take the train and watch a game at Pattani. However, Taew had different thoughts on the matter, as she said it was still too risky to visit alone without knowing the local situation.

The south of Thailand had been embroiled in tensions for a couple of decades or more with bombings and terrorist attacks still taking place. We therefore made a compromise, with Q our guide driving me to the venue.

It was quite a nice venue, even if similar to many province stadia around the country. It is amazing what some paintwork can do to an open bowl. One side had a roof over the seats, with the rest being open to the elements.

Once done we continued sightseeing on our way to the Malaysian border town and enjoying plenty of interesting things along the way including plenty of military checkpoints along the road.

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 were 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.

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 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 2025 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 sonthaew 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 busy 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 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 their 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 ascendency 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 the pilots up above had better flight judgement 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 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 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 stars including Ronnie O’Sullivan, a good game at a decent venue, and then top food with some EPL action on TV.