Suphanburi

 

Suphanburi FC
Ground: Suphan Buri Provincial Stadium
Capacity: 15,000
Club Founded: 1997
League: Thai League 3 West (current level)
 
Suphanburi FC had a spell as one of Thailand’s football big hitters before investment ran out and the club was left to rebuild, relying on its loyal fan base.

 
Suphanburi FC Club History
 
The Early Years
 
Formed in 1997, the War Elephants joined the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) run Thailand Provincial League the following year. They finished as runners-up in their debut season before becoming champions twice, which saw the club progress from the regional competition to play in the Thai Premier League (TPL) in 2006.
 
Despite being reprieved from relegation in their debut season, Suphanburi went down twelve months later. The team competed in the second tier, Thailand League Division 1, for four mediocre seasons before winning promotion in 2012 after Worrawoot Srimaka was appointed head coach and Pipat Thonkanya top-scored.

 
The Glory Years
 
Phayong Khunnaen led the team to fourth place in the TPL in 2013. Dragan Boškovic led the scoring in a talented side that defied the odds. They improved on that performance by finishing third a couple of seasons later under head coach Worrawoot Srimaka, when Sergio van Dijk finished as top scorer.
 
That meant that Suphanburi qualified for the 2016 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off rounds. However, because of AFC club-licensing requirements, the club was prevented from taking their place, as Suphan Buri Provincial Stadium failed to meet the criteria.

The Decline
 
Dellatorre scored regularly for a couple of seasons, as Suphanburi finished just below mid-table following the disappointment. Rômulo, Cleiton Silva, and Leandro Assumpção were the next forwards to excite the home crowd, while head coaches came and went regularly.
 
In 2021-22, the War Elephants lost in the FA Cup semi-final against Buriram United. Their cup form didn’t translate to the league, as the team was relegated despite Danilo Alves’s goals under Adebayo Gbadebo, who spent many years in various roles with the club.

Down to the Third Tier
 
Douglas Tardin’s goals helped the team reach the playoffs the following season in Thai League 2, but Uthai Thani proved too strong. Oege-Sietse van Lingen was outstanding when joining in the second leg of the 2024-25 season, but his efforts weren’t enough to save Suphanburi from relegation.
 
Bamrung Boonprom was appointed to coach the team in Thai League 3 West.

My visit

Suphanburi 0 Hua Hin City 0

Thai League 3 West - Saturday 19th September 2026

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 3,275 🎟️ Free

Suphanburi was somewhere I'd wanted to visit for some time. I knew about its football history, and the town had a tower, ticking two boxes for me. I grabbed my chance to visit as part of a 6-day solo tour using public transport and to attend one of my five matches.

I'd already been to matches in Chainat and Chanthaburi before arriving in Ayutthaya for their match against Uthai Thani the night before. The fixtures were perfect, allowing me to visit venues where I hadn't seen games before. 

I caught a minibus on Naresuan Road in Ayutthaya. The rather convoluted route took nearly two hours and cost me 100 THB. I noticed that the driver charged Thais 20 baht less. Once we reached the Bus Terminal, it was too early to check into my hotel, so I left my backpack. 

This gave me a chance to explore the town on foot, with the tower being the main attraction. I was impressed with the immaculate gardens and the views from the top, which cost 30 THB. I continued through the market to the Tha Chin River and ate noodles after checking out Wat Phra Rup.

Despite being jaded, I walked back to the hotel, where the kind young fella at reception had already turned on my air con. After a siesta, I booked a Grab taxi to drop me at Suphanburi Stadium, several kilometres out of town. I was surprised at the size of the crowd outside.

The club was offering free admission, which was a welcome surprise. They had a big kit launch a few days earlier at a store in town. At least two-thirds of those at the game were wearing the replica shirt. It looked to me like the club was making a big effort to get Suphanburi back on the football map. 

I found a seat in the busy main stand next to a friendly chap who spoke a bit of English. The game was a damp squib; literally, as it went on. Suphanburi's Iranian centre forward, Mohammad Ousani, was involved in a battle royal with Hua Hin's Nigerian defender Richest Abuzor.

At half-time I walked around the far side to see if there were any other food stalls. Because of the large crowds, the vendors where I was were overrun. The kind couple sitting behind me kept an eye on my day bag, which I placed on my seat so no one sat in it before I came back. While I was away, it had begun to pour down.

Our seats weren't protected. The wind blew the rain in and the roof leaked. The couple, who were now sheltering at the back, had my bag. Within a few minutes, the ref took the teams off after thunder and lightning. A tragedy a few months earlier in southern Thailand had seen a player killed by lightning, so stricter regulations were now in force.

The weather brought out the mosquitoes. I was not alone scratching having come out without any repellent. It really became uncomfortable, and I considered leaving. Play resumed after nearly an hour's delay. Nothing much changed. Hua Hin defended well and used gamesmanship to see out the draw.

I couldn't get a Grab taxi. Fortunately, a Bolt driver came to the rescue. I went outside the complex to the main road where he was waiting. Lo and behold, it was the same man who also drove for Grab. He had changed apps to pick up a more expensive fare. I couldn't fault him.

While I always like to explore a new town after dark, I knew that I was up before 7am the next day. Instead of looking for a bar or restaurant, I bought snacks from 7-Eleven and went home to watch the superb Newcastle United v Hull City match on my Amazon Fire in my comfortable room.

The decision paid dividends in the morning. I woke up fresh and ready for the penultimate leg of my tour to Bangkok and Samut Sakhon.

You can listen to an account of my 2,200km tour on an episode of A Thai Football Podcast.

Chainat Hornbill

 

Chainat Hornbill FC

Ground: Khao Plong Stadium
Capacity: 9,000
Club Founded: 2009
League: Thai League 2 (current level)
 
Chainat Hornbill FC is an excellent example of a Thai club from a small provincial town punching above its weight, playing for several seasons in the top tier, and building an ideal stadium as they enjoyed their success.

 
Background of the Hornbills
 
Early Life
 
Former Thai politician Anucha Nakasai founded the club in 2009. The Hornbills were placed in the third-tier Division 2 North, where they performed creditably in their first three seasons. In 2010, they were promoted through the playoffs.
 
The following year, Chainat won a second successive promotion, when Phuwadol Suwannachart led the scoring charts under head coach Issara Sritaro. Surachai Jaturapattarapong replaced him, coaching the team that played in the Thai Premier League.

 
Joint FA Cup Winners
 
The Hornbills remained at the elite level and reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 2015, where Buriram United defeated them. Brazilian forward Alex was the top scorer before Florent Pongolle took over the mantle after the top tier was renamed Thai League 1.
 
This was while Dr. med. Björn Kliem coached the team. Chainat were declared FA Cup joint winners in 2016, following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which saw the competition abandoned before the semi-finals. The team was relegated at the end of the season.

 
The Dennis Amato Era
 
German Dennis Amato replaced his fellow countryman and led the Hornbills to the Thai League 2 title a season later. Drago Mamić had a brief spell in charge before Amato returned. Bernard Doumbia and Ricardo Santos scored the goals before the team was relegated in 2019.
 
The Thai League reverted to following the European football calendar in 2020-21. Several head coaches led the team in the following seasons. Sumeth Yooto had three spells at the helm.

 
Recent Seasons
 
Nakhon Pathom United ended Hornbills’ promotion dreams in the playoffs in the first season under the new scheduling. Lampang proved too strong at the same stage in the following season. Thanayut Jittabud led the scoring for two seasons as the side dropped down the table.
 
Pattani overcame Chainat in the 2025-26 playoff semi-finals.

My visit

Chainat Hornbill 0 Pattaya United 0

Thai League 2 - Wednesday 16th September 2026

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 1,211 🎟️ 100 THB 

The start of a 6-day, 2,200 km trip by public transport plus 56 km on foot. My journey began on the 6.08 am train from Kanthararom, my local station. As the tour was on a budget, I unwisely booked a third-class seat for the 7-hour journey to Ayutthaya. 

My legroom was worse than any stadium grandstand I’ve sat in. The fare was 231 THB. It was certainly interesting, with vendors getting on and off, and a dramatic ride through the mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima. 

That said, I was delighted to alight, book a Grab and board the small bus with legroom for the 2-hour journey to Chainat, for 210 THB. This was after I found the right stop and before a local told me when my bus had stopped. Its signage was in Thai, which I cannot read. The total trip took 11 hours from home.

I decided to briefly check out the small town. A tuk-tuk took me to the banks of the Chao Phraya River past the night market. I booked a hotel for 550 THB, a 10-minute walk from Khao Plong Stadium, which is located well out of town. A Bolt taxi took me to my accommodation.

After checking in at the basic resort, I set off to the game starting at 6 pm. A young lady saw me walking and offered me a ride on the back of her motorbike. Tempted though I was, I declined, not wanting to look petrified on the back. Chainat seemed to be a town of friendly people.

This impression was reinforced by the young lady at the ticket office who spoke impeccable English. presumed I was an away fan and initially tried to charge me more. Probably because Pattaya have a large portion of expat fans, and I was wearing my Italia 90 England sky-blue top, the visitors' colours.

The small fans zone had a limited selection of snacks available. The small sausage balls I chose tasted unusual, while the breadcrumbed chicken on a stick was a tad overdone. A shame, as that's one of my favourite football snacks. That said, the prices were very fair, so kids could afford snacks.

I bought a bottle of beer that was poured into a small plastic bag, then put into a brown paper bag, and it cost 70 THB. I have no idea why. I was impressed by the stadium and how they converted an arena that previously had a running track into what they had now.

I think the crowd figure included season ticket holders and giveaways. I also think that it's madness that the league should arrange a 6 pm midweek kick-off. The crowd included a large party of schoolchildren, maybe 30 away fans, some of whom sounded European, and a couple of gaggles of home ultras trying to raise the atmosphere.

It was a poor game, with the hosts coming closest to breaking the deadlock on a couple of occasions. Both sides took too long passing and lost possession around the box. Varuth Wongsomsak in the Pattaya goal made a great save in stoppage time. Then Ousmane Badji missed a sitter with the goal gaping.

Chainat's sub, Elijah Douglas, looked as uninterested in the warm-ups as when he came on. Slow and unfit was my verdict. I also noted that the playing surface was immaculate, possibly helped by the drainage ditches outside the stadium.

After the match, I returned home to enjoy pre-packed cheese and crackers and my hip flask while I watched Yorkshire v Somerset on YouTube. What an amazing world we live in! I needed to be up at 5.30 am to catch my next bus.

Getting into town was always going to be a challenge. My Bolt driver from the previous evening wasn’t interested, and nobody was available on Grab. I set off walking, and miraculously a tuk-tuk stopped along the main road. It was the same bloke who took me to the riverside the night before when I arrived, and he was taking his grandson to high school. 

He dropped me there, giving me the chance to explore further. The bus station was further away than I imagined. A lone lady, a Pattaya fan whose husband lives in Chainat, was also waiting for the small bus to Bangkok. She bemoaned how bad her team was, but proved pleasant company.

Chainat Bus Company phoned to confirm my location. They soon arrived and took me to the Minibus Station at Mo Chit, with time to buy some snacks before I caught my next bus to Chanthaburi. 

You can listen to an account of my 2,200km tour on an episode of A Thai Football Podcast.

Sisaket United 2026-27

 

This page features matches from the start of the 2026-27 season. The blog has dedicated pages for the history of Sisaket United and my first match, games in 2023 and 2024, and one for matches in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Sisaket United 0 Ayutthaya United 1

Thai League 1 - Saturday 12th September 2026

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 8,100 🎟️ 100 THB (£2.40)

Sisaket United’s first-ever game in the top tier. They might consider themselves unlucky, having more of the play and then missing a stoppage-time penalty. I badly needed a day out. The season has started a month later than usual, and because of stadium refurbishments at both venues in the city, there were no friendlies to attend.

Pre-match is Leo’s was excellent. A nice little group of us assembled. The food as good as ever, and I got proper stuck into the booze. Then, as is so often the case, it went downhill. The stadium was nearly full. Logistically it was a real challenge, as two of us went ahead. 

I needed to meet a group from my village, and with large crowds and Thai’s inability to plan or communicate it sent my stress levels sky high. All was eventually sorted, and we went into the corner section, which is a steel construction without steps filled in. My mate then announced he couldn’t go up the steps as he suffers from vertigo, so we ended up with an awful view. 

Ayutthaya, roared on by a decent following, were what I expected. A decent enough team who I think will finish in the bottom third. Similarly, Sisaket, who played well but are missing a marksman. The visiting goalie pulled off a couple of decent saves. His team went ahead in the sixty-fourth minute through Lucas Dias.

The hosts were given a lifeline in stoppage time when the ref was advised to check the VAR screen before he awarded a penalty. The week before Sisaket scored from the spot. Patrick Valverde put it away in arrogant style without a run up. He was later sent off and suspended from this game.

This time, fellow Brazilian, Deyvison dallied and tried to call the keepers’ bluff, only to scuff his effort and have it easily saved. Possibly the worst penalty I’ve seen since Pat Nevin’s effort for Chelsea in the 80’s or Gary Lineker against Brazil.

My YouTube Video of the Day

We all attend matches for different reasons. I'm not particularly bothered if they win, lose or draw. But I am extremely upset if my matchday experience is no good. I will be sorely tempted in future to go to the pub pre-match and then go home to watch the EPL on TV. If I go to the game, it will be alone. Ideally, in the lower divisions.

There are many more football videos from Thailand to watch on my YouTube Channel. Please take a look and comment, like and subscribe.

Sisaket United 2 Chonburi 1
Thai League 1 - Sunday 11th October 2026
👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 8,920 🎟️ 80 THB (£1.80)

A really enjoyable couple of nights. Dale, editor of A Thai Football Podcast, was over, so he headed down from Khon Kaen with his wife, along with Tim and Clare, an English couple who also support Chonburi. Glen and Ta joined us from Roi Et for a most convivial Saturday night of food and drink, while watching Thai and English football. 

Steve and Fah arrived on Sunday morning before we all headed into town to check into the excellent Babaline Hotel, a recent find, and then onto Leo’s for pre-match sustenance and beers.

Anticipating a near full-house, with the novelty of Sisaket in the top division still fresh, and it being a 4-day national holiday, we arrived at the Nakhon Lamduan Stadium a couple of hours before kick-off, where a party atmosphere was in full swing.

I love going to Thai football for its overall experience, but one thing really narks me. Because we knew it would be hard to get seats together, we chose to sit behind the goal in a raised area behind the track. Not an ideal view, but a good atmosphere. Our friends going in the away end with the same seats at the opposite end had to pay 170 THB more for the privilege.

I messaged the club boss about it the following morning to try to get them to buck the trend across Thailand and reverse their policy.

The game was hard-fought. Sisaket were just above the drop zone after three games, with Chonburi without a point. The visitors were once the country’s leading club and are not expected to go down.

The first half produced few chances. The home side are not the most talented bunch, but they never stop working. They remind me very much of the Everton David Moyes side when he took them to fourth in the Premier League. They get stuck in and don’t give their opponents a rest. Particularly skipper Kittipong Wongma and winger Alex Mermoz.

I’m delighted that Kittipong and defender Pakornkiat Kaena remain from last season’s promotion-winning side as they were my favourite Thai players. Brazilian Patrick Valverde’s creativity opened the scoring soon after the interval. His free kick came down off the bar, hit goalie Kevin Mendoza’s back and went in. The place went berserk.

Chonburi hung on for grim life but regrouped and became the dominant side. Dennis Murillo equalised with a low free kick with eight minutes remaining. His shot went straight through where the wall should have blocked it. We thought only one team would win from there and I’d have happily taken a point.

Sisaket’s battling never fails to amaze, spurred on by their raucous support. Jefinho controlled a low cross on the edge of the box before swivelling and shot through a defender's legs into the bottom corner of the net. The hosts saw out the final few minutes to spark huge celebrations.

My slightly churlish pals in the away block thought the team and fans were a little over the top, undoubtedly still fizzing about the ticketing. As I often point out, there is not lots to do in Isan, so its people have local pride and football matters to them, as does any excuse for partying and celebrations. Mexican Waves and mobile light shows aren't for everyone, but who cares if they're having fun?

That was in evidence when we retired to a classy rooftop bar after the game. It usually has a few customers but was empty. A new place had opened over the road and was chock-a-block, so much so they couldn’t get us in. We’ll book a table next time we stay over.

A great time reinforcing friendship, with laughter, food, beer, music and football. A lot of my favourite things. I must have been happy, as I bought my good lady and me classy new away shirts on the way home.

Sisaket United 1 BG Pathum United 1

Thai League 1 - Sunday 18th October 2026

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 9,450 🎟️ 80 THB (£1.80)

What a day. 

Sisaket United scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to grab a point against their illustrious opponents, including seven Thai internationals who started or came on as subs.

The match started in humid conditions with both sides probing, with little between them until BG scored when Joao Magno prodded home a deflected free kick at the back post. It was the last kick of the first half. 

It had begun to rain ten minutes before that, with thunder and lightning in the air. It was somewhat of a surprise that the ref didn’t take the teams off. The second half was delayed for half an hour because some of the lines had disappeared off the pitch.

We thought it was a technical issue as the ref inspected the VAR screen. Eventually, a bloke with a long stick and a brush on the end and a large bucket of whitewash was summoned and walked around at his own pace, replacing the missing lines, while the crowd offered lots of advice.

Back underway, the inevitable happened, as it started raining again. Sisaket were roared on but couldn’t find a way through in a game of few chances. BG are a good side and looked like they would be returning to Bangkok with all three points.

Goalkeeper Steven van Dijk went up for a corner, and the ball was cleared. Forward sub Deyvison Fernandes did well to scurry back and retrieve it before launching it forward hopefully. As the defence ran out, Kittipong Womgma ran the other way, beating the offside trap and lobbing the ball past keeper Saranon Anuin. Cue utter mayhem. The goal was awarded after a long, needless VAR check.

We set off for a 6 pm kick-off before midday so I could meet my pal John for a game of golf on the small course next to the stadium. It was a hot afternoon. My wife had taken me, as she enjoyed the week before so much. We even bought ourselves the new away shirt.

We had a new plan which worked perfectly: parking by the exit gate next to the golf, then using our regular driver to take us into town and back so we didn’t lose our space after already buying tickets. After food and drink, we returned, pulled out our fold-up chairs and sat by the final green watching a bit of golf and drinking beer before walking the 100m to our entrance gate behind the goal.

Fan Passion at the Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium

We remained to cheer the team with the diehards in the pouring rain before making an easy escape. I do love it when a plan comes together. I explained on our way home the difference between league and cup games to my confused lady, who wondered why we didn’t play extra time, and how the league works. Little things that added to the day.

As for Sisaket, they’ll do for me. Not the most expensive or most talented, but 100% fighters matched by their support; the most passionate in the country.

This season:

v Ayutthaya - miss 98 min pen to equalise 

v Chiang Rai - 92 min winner

v Chonburi - 89 min winner

v BG Pathum - 94 min equaliser 

Who’s next for shaving?

Sisaket United 2 Ratchaburi 5

Thai League 1 - Friday 30th October 2026

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 11,029 🎟️ 80 THB (£1.80)

An unbelievable match. 2 x 30-minute rain delays, a huge crowd, Sisaket 2-0 up at half-time and then beaten by the best team I’ve seen visit. A 20-year-old Thai lad came on as a sub and scored 4. We even had ticket touts!

I had no idea what I was about to witness when we set out for the game, shopping and visiting family before my 9 holes of golf next to the stadium. John said the bloke in front of him bought 20 tickets, and others were doing the same and selling them on for a profit.

After a couple of hours in the pub, we returned for more alfresco libations as the clouds approached before kick-off. Inevitably, it started to pour down 30 minutes before the designated start, which is far from ideal in a stadium with sparse cover. Some hit under the stands, while we stayed put.

Kick-off was delayed for 30 minutes while the man with the stick repainted some lines. After 25 minutes, thunder and lightning halted proceedings for another half an hour. Before that, star midfielder Patrick Valverde was stretchered off with what looked like a bad knee injury after he slipped on the surface.

Soon after the restart, Jefinho headed in the back of the net. Ratchaburi were good, but a mixture of dogged defending and things not quite clicking in the area kept them at bay. Unbelievably, it was 2-0 four minutes before the break. Persistence from Alex Mermoz set up Narongrit Kamnet to coolly slot home.

It was dreamland and chaos at the break. The woeful facilities and waterlogging made conditions treacherous outside for those using the spartan facilities, as dreams of a league title or at least Asian competition were being mooted. How little I learn! 

My Video Roving Report from my Sports YouTube Channel

Ratchaburi made two changes. Worrawoot Srimaka earned his money. Mermoz was forced off with an injury, and Sisaket lost their attacking intent. Until the 20-year-old sub Phongsakon Sangkasopha pulled one back just before the hour mark, there was no cause for alarm. Indeed, my missus’s 4-1 prediction looked credible.

However, the youngster equalised a couple of minutes later before Ekanit Panya put the visitors ahead. The soaked crowd were shell-shocked. The hosts tried to push forward, but had to use midfielder Kittipong Wongma up front, unbalancing the line-up. 

Ratchaburi capitalised, as Phongsakon grabbed two more before full-time. At least Sisaket gave it their best shot. The crowd, as noisy as I’ve ever known in the first half, was now a whisper, with many leaving early. We stayed until the end. Getting out was interesting, with many getting to their cars looking like they’d been mud wrestling.

I never mind seeing a team lose to better opponents if they give their all. And it wasn’t a bad thing for my good lady to get to understand the nuances of our great game. We got home after 11 pm. I was very much the worse for wear after a good drink and getting soaked. Goodness knows what I’d have been like without having someone keep an eye on me.

Thailand and its Foreign Footballers – A Personal View

Football supporters around the world sit in hope during each transfer window, hoping their favourite team signs players who will bring excitement, wins and honours. Back in the 60s and 70s, managers would proclaim their new man to be the final piece of the jigsaw. Nowadays, it seems it’s a 1,000-piece puzzle they’re trying to solve.

Signing foreign players adds that little bit of extra intrigue, and a chance for fans to claim bragging rights over teams less lavish in their spending. Yet, in Thailand, just how much do supporters, and even the club owners who are spending the cash, know about their new star?

The Thai League Foreigners Rule in 2026-27

The Thai League has scrapped the confusing ASEAN quota. Now, any Thai League 1 (T1) club can sign 10 foreigners in their squad, with seven being allowed on the pitch at any one time. T2 clubs can sign four foreigners and field them all at once. In T3, it is three and three.

That means there might potentially be 439 foreign footballers in the professional leagues.
Why did the rules change to increase the number of foreigners in T1? This is my take.
Clubs that win honours or finish near the top of the league qualify for AFC continental competitions the following season, a bit like the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League in Europe.

Guilherme Bissoli - Buriram United's outstanding Brazilian

Intercontinental Cups

However, another competition has been added for ASEAN Southeast Asian clubs. The Shopee Cup naturally wants the best clubs in it to satisfy the sponsors. That means the same clubs often compete in the AFC and ASEAN competitions. With the Thai League and two domestic cups, that naturally puts a strain on players.

Thai culture leans towards the most powerful holding sway, and with some of the most powerful and influential Thais owning the biggest football clubs, they were always going to get enough votes from clubs lower down the chain to increase the foreign quota.

This is despite it widening the gap between the top few clubs with the most cash and the rest, as they get to sign the best available foreigners. The big clubs, which have no foreign quota restriction in the continental cups, can stockpile squads with foreigners and even rotate them with those signed purely for Asian competitions during the mid-season transfer window.

A former Sisaket United foreign trio - with admiring fans

The Thai National Team

Thailand’s national football team has always taken priority in the eyes of Thais. It’s a source of national pride. Club owners claim that the national team comes first. They then agree to increase the foreign quota, so fewer Thais get game time.

Just as importantly, the foreigners generally take the vital positions on the pitch, like goalkeeper, centre-back or central forward. That means the national team has a shortage of experienced, quality players in those positions to choose from.

It’s a difficult situation to solve. Again, these are purely my thoughts. Thai League supremo and FA President Nualphan Lamsam, usually known as Madame Pang, has had roles with the national team. She cares about it.

She was elected with the backing of Newin Chidchob and Pavin Bhirombhakdi, owners of Buriram United and BG Pathum United, arguably the two most powerful clubs. Pavin soon resigned from the Football Association of Thailand executive committee after an alleged fallout with Madame Pang.

That means she requires Newin’s backing. I feel it is unlikely she would argue the case for the national team against foreign quotas, as she might lose that support.

My YouTube video of Charlie Clough in Thailand from February 2025

Are They Good?

One of the trickiest questions asked of us expat attendees at Thai League games is: how does the standard compare to English leagues? It’s hard to assess. In my opinion, Buriram United would probably be competitive in EFL League One; three or four other clubs might survive in EFL League Two, while the rest would be non-league. Some T2 and T3 clubs would be well down the pyramid.

Those are the parameters I use to assess the standard of the foreign players, as they should have the most influence on the pitch. Some very good foreign footballers in Thailand could play at a higher level, but they are certainly the exception rather than the rule.

In northern England in the 80s, it was said, partly tongue in cheek, that anyone working behind a bar with an Aussie accent or on a prolonged backpacking tour from Down Under could get a paid gig at many rugby league clubs because Australia were so dominant in the sport. I sometimes feel it’s a fair analogy with foreign footballers and some egotistical T3 football club owners.

2026-27 Thai League Preview - All You Need to Know

Attitude is Vital

The main difference between those who perform and are worth the club’s outlay is the player’s commitment, attitude and willingness to integrate. Charlie Clough, for example, played his career in England no higher than the top level of non-league football, but through his ability and attitude has forged a fantastic reputation in Thailand, which continues in T1.

I spoke to another Englishman who played in Thailand. He said his agent offered him a three-month deal with Accrington Stanley in the bottom division of the Football League, or a two-year deal with a top-level club based in Bangkok. While we agreed that the pies were better in East Lancashire, it was a no-brainer.

Argentinian Matias Panigazzi of Rasisalai United

In Defence of Foreign Players

He also commented on the importance of adapting to Thai culture. Things are very different in Thailand. During his spell, there was a large gap between fixtures near the end of the season.
A break would have benefited weary players, some carrying injuries, to recharge for the final few games. However, the club insisted on full training sessions because they were paying their salaries. Tales of dissenting players and inevitable fallouts are not unusual.

Thai League 3 Doesn’t Help

Currently, I think that T3 causes a lot of problems when foreign players don’t take their jobs as seriously as they might. There are 69 clubs split into six regional T3 divisions in 2026-27. Teams play 22 regular-season league games. The top two finishers in each regional division compete in the promotion playoffs. Only three teams go up to T2.

It creates a huge bottleneck. Owners, on the one hand, are happy that they only pay foreign players for 22 games. However, with such a short season, it is unlikely to attract quality players. And if the team has a bad run and falls out of the playoff picture, where is the incentive? It’s hard to blame disincentivised players who go into holiday mode if there’s nothing to play for.

David Rochela. Port FC's former Spanish captain

Agents

Agents play a big role in foreign player recruitment. I cannot confirm, but I would assume that, like the rest of the world, some agents are better than others. Judging by the number of Brazilians playing in Thailand, they are likely to have a strong network there.

To me, good agents supply players with good attitudes. Clubs have only themselves to blame when they sign a player who falls below their expectations. Such scenarios can happen anywhere, but when clubs have little infrastructure and do not look at a player’s background, relying on a selective highlight package, it will continue.

Expertise and investment are required to set up a system. Experts are available, but because they are not Thai, they are unlikely to be employed, and the cycle continues, with many players being passed from club to club.

Diogo, widely considered to be Thailand's greatest foreign star
during his time with Buriram United

To Finish

Foreign players bring much to Thai football. They increase its quality and provide entertainment. They have given me great pleasure over the years. However, I feel that a balance is required.

Currently, the Thai national team is set up to fail. If the FA of Thailand and the country’s football fans are serious about the team, the current foreign quotas do not help. It won’t happen until individuals put the team before the clubs they own. I don’t think Thailand will ever qualify for a World Cup.

Clubs can also save money and avoid issues if they have proper infrastructure and use a percentage of their investment and experts to sign foreign players who meet realistic expectations.

Several other Thai football-themed videos can be enjoyed on my YouTube Channel

My Land of Confusion

In the week leading up to Sisaket United’s home debut in Thai League 1, the country’s top level of football, I had mixed emotions. In many ways, I should have been excited. As a huge football fan, being able to cheer on the local club I support should be something to look forward to.

However, I attend football matches in the Land of Smiles for different reasons than the majority. Let me explain.

When I moved to Thailand in December 2021, I knew I would attend lots of football matches. But I wanted to do so without getting too embroiled in the emotions, and instead go to games to have fun, meet others and make friends. I try to maintain this philosophy, but it’s not easy.

Why don’t I want to get too emotionally involved? I’ll explain as best I can.

There were times living in England when football took over my life. I volunteered and carried out tasks at my hometown club, Scarborough Athletic, and later in London at Hendon FC. I was proud to give something back to the clubs that had given me entertainment, a place to meet friends, and plenty of ups and downs.

However, it hurt whenever I saw those involved in senior positions, working without pay and, in most cases, putting their own money into the club or giving their services for free, being lambasted by those who did nothing in return. Much of this can be blamed on social media, where anyone can voice an opinion, often with little thought or insight.

It hurt me mentally. I was determined to leave it behind when I started my new life.

In Thailand, my team was Port FC. I went to watch them when I could, when I visited on holiday, for a fun few hours and a team to look out for from afar without spending too much emotion on the result. That changed when I could go to all the home games.

Gradually, I got to know other expats who went to games. I had to admire their passion, but why did they get so worked up about things beyond their control? At least in England, supporters can sometimes affect the club’s thinking, but in Thailand? Not a chance, especially if you’re a farang.

There were times I found myself in pointless discussions about things that didn’t really matter, while some seemed determined to prove themselves to be superfans. I’ve never gone much on those who lambast cities or people who live there because of a rival football club. It’s bad enough when you live in that country. But in a foreign land? Madness.

I moved to Thailand to escape stress, not encourage it.

I think it’s important to understand Thai culture and how football works here. Respect for hierarchy is deeply ingrained in Thai society, and while that can be positive in many ways, it can also mean that mistakes by those in authority are not always questioned.

And that’s very much how it is in football. It is one of the reasons why I believe the game as a whole in Thailand will always trail other nations. They don’t always take advice or bring in non-Thai experts who can assist.

When I criticise, I am contradicting what I said earlier, and that’s not fair.

That is why, when I go to a match, I try to treat it as entertainment. Have a few beers, laugh, shout my head off and then forget about the result once I leave the stadium. Only, as we know, sport doesn’t work like that.

I moved to the northeast and began supporting Sisaket United and cheering on Rasisalai United, the province’s other club, which also won promotion to T1 at the end of last season.

Supporters have been treated shabbily by those running the clubs. Neither knew where they were playing their home games, as highlighted in my article Sisaket Stadium Shambles. At least, they didn’t tell their supporters. And that certainly raised my blood pressure.

Matchday is my one big day of the week. It often includes a round of golf, a trip into the city from my rural home, a chance to meet friends and fellow supporters and connect, and an event where I can let go and release pressure before happily heading back into the long grass for another week. It has a huge effect on my mental well-being.

Communication can be poor in Thailand, especially if it requires delivering bad news. This can lead to online rumours, often way off the mark, and unsatisfactory situations when simple honesty would solve them.

My poor wife was living with a madman at times, when online pages would announce something through guesswork, and genuinely well-meaning friends would forward me the “news”. Eventually, the Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium, home of Sisaket United, was deemed satisfactory for Thai League football and ready for the opening game against Ayutthaya United.

The game is likely to see a big crowd. And more anxiety. Very few clubs in Thailand have grasped the simple concept of online ticket sales. While games rarely sell out, it means turning up and queuing when that time should be spent relaxing and having fun.

Getting into the area we generally use was impossible for the game that sealed Sisaket’s promotion. Maybe I’m a football snob, but I was slightly resentful about where all the thousands were when I started going in T3.

And as I get older, I don’t like being in huge crowds. Back in England, I much preferred attending non-league football or county cricket rather than the Premier League or a Test Match. You can move if you don’t like those around you.

Then there is being in T1. Last season was amazing for Sisaket province. Both of its professional football clubs were promoted, and support increased. However, much like the EPL, once you are up, it’s a battle to stay there without any real hope of winning honours. Buriram United are so far ahead of the competition that teams start the season hoping to finish second. I find that very unhealthy.

The weather is also awful at this time of the year. Huge storms seem to land each night around teatime, just as I want to watch live sport from the UK or around kick-off time in Thailand. Our local stadium has one small roof. We are likely to get soaked.

So, when my wife drops me off at the bar for pre-match drinks on Saturday, I’ll be in a state of flux.

I would love to see Sisaket win, but having a fun day out is far more important, while remembering my mantra: The quickest route to disappointment is to take Thai football seriously.

Thanks for reading.

Writing the article has been most cathartic!