In 2023-24 Simon and I started this podcast to cover Chiang Mai FC's season in T2 under new local ownership. As seasons go the year was undiluted soap opera. Coaches were fired, staff not paid, players not paid, suppliers not paid. At the end of the year, with the club in massive debt and the owner in hiding, the club was relegated to T3 for failing to meet licensing requirements.
The club's very existence was in doubt. A deal orchestrated by the Sports Authority of Thailand tried to bring together Brazilian investors with an amateur team and sports academy - Christ FC - based in Mae Rim in the North of Chiang Mai. This partnership would adopt the name of Chiang Mai FC. Half way through the T3 season the Brazilian investors and sponsors have been removed.
In the meantime our podcast has evolved to a broader coverage of Thai Leagues 2 and 3. Phil Williams has joined us and is a very welcome co-presenter. One of the lessons from last year was not to take our Thai football too seriously - a great way to avoid disappointment.
Thank you for listening. If you have any comments or suggestions please let us know.
All the best,
Phil, Simon and Rob
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In 2023-24 Simon and I started this podcast to cover Chiang Mai FC's season in T2 under new local ownership. As seasons go the year was undiluted soap opera. Coaches were fired, staff not paid, players not paid, suppliers not paid. At the end of the year, with the club in massive debt and the owner in hiding, the club was relegated to T3 for failing to meet licensing requirements.
The club's very existence was in doubt. A deal orchestrated by the Sports Authority of Thailand tried to bring together Brazilian investors with an amateur team and sports academy - Christ FC - based in Mae Rim in the North of Chiang Mai. This partnership would adopt the name of Chiang Mai FC. Half way through the T3 season the Brazilian investors and sponsors have been removed.
In the meantime our podcast has evolved to a broader coverage of Thai Leagues 2 and 3. Phil Williams has joined us and is a very welcome co-presenter. One of the lessons from last year was not to take our Thai football too seriously - a great way to avoid disappointment.
Thank you for listening. If you have any comments or suggestions please let us know.
All the best,
Phil, Simon and Rob
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Simon, Phil and Rob look at the transfers in and out at the eighteen teams in Thai League 2.
We recorded this episode on 6 January - there are still ten days left in the transfer window so there will be more changes and teams that have been quiet this far may still make marquee signings.
The second leg starts this weekend - and Phil is back with his preview of all nine weekend matches.
We also run through where we are in the Chang FA Cup, the Muang Thai League cup and the BCG Muang Thai Cup.
Thanks for listening!
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Simon and Rob are joined by Benjamiin Bruckner from NakhonSi United, Marlon Silva and Carlos Neto from Pattani and Tiago Chulapa from Fleet.
Also a quick update on two League 2 games involving Songkhla; the FA Cup round of 32 results and some transfer news.
Its a bit of a marathon so settle down with your egg nog and mince pies.
And above all else have a great holiday, a happy Christmas and the best of new years.
Thank you so much for listening.
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Last weekend's results and match reports - great entertainment at Kasetsart, Phrae and Mahasarakham....while Bangkok FC and Nakhon Pathom play out the league's most predictable goal-less draw.
Mahasarakham's festive give-away.
Khon Kaen cannot win away.
League and FA Cup rounds of 32 fixtures.
Bangkok FC and Pattaya fire their head coaches.
Pattaya have a samba clear out.
Early transfer window news and rumours.
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Rasisalai march on with two wins in the week - unbeaten this season with just one game to go in the first leg.
Chanthaburi's fourth successive win takes them to joint third.
Who will be the big moves in the transfer window.
The race for play off places.
Chainat heading in the wrong direction after three narrow defeats.
Nakthom Pathom's goalscoring woes.
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Pattaya demolish Nongbua Pitchaya.
Cometh the hour cometh Gouvea with a last minute winner for Rasisalai.
Carlos Neto nets number ten as Pattani win at Mahasarakham.
Police Tero held to a draw after seven wins in a row.
League Cup and FA Cup round of 32 previews. Games to be played on 27/28 December and 20/21 December.
Simon previews the T2 fixtures for this weekend.
The link to register for SEA Games tickets:
https://www.seagames2025.org/news/details/Information-Ticket-Reservatio:-513?fbclid=IwY2xjawOc09BleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEesJTkKIMA-eMioRsd4snXgHXY9NMdQ4ytiX3ngz5P1kudGABFAu54p84N-HI_aem_xJsRZoKvAMwEHkh6HFvHOA
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Rasisalai stay top after a hard working draw at Khon Kaen
Police Tero win six in a row after a thriller at the Purple Crabs
Pattaya win away for the first time this season
Pattani win at Phrae with the only goal of the game
T3 wraps up the first leg - this is what the Champions League groups would look like.
SEA Games update
Links:
The Ghost Ship of the Andaman - The steady demise of Krabi FC -
https://footballsiam.substack.com/p/the-ghost-ship-of-the-andaman?r=4em4m5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
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First away win of the season for Mahasarakham
Police Tero put five past ten men from Nongbua
Ten man Rasisalai win at Nakhon Pathom
Chainat win at Chanthaburi
Songkhla enter the top six
Sisaket win for the first time in four.
In T3 North the two unbeaten clubs play this weekend.
In the South Nara United dropped points for the first time this season.
Two more T2 coaches are looking for work.
The League Cup play off round draw.
All time leading T2 goalscorers.
Next weekend is a FIFA weekend so Phil is previews the next T2 games to be played over the weekend of 21-23 November.
And we are taking a week off next week. Back on 26 November.
Note: Graphic is from Pattani FC on facebook.
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Great away wins for Songkhla and Pattani 0 the beautiful south
Trat so close to ending Rasisalai's inbeaten run
Police Tero sing in the rain
Phrae win for the first time since August
NakhonSi's woes
Nara Utd's staff and fans cause massive fines and a ground closure from the Thai League
A round up of the depressingly predictable Chang FA Cup round of 64
CMFC go top or T3 North.
Dodgers win the world series.
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Early warning - this episode is long....suggest stocking up on food and survival needs.
Chiang Mai United put five past hapless NakhonSI to christen their new stadium.
Rasisalai go big on the road at Pattaya who have two players sent off.
Pattani take a point from Nongbua.
Ten man Police Tero beat unpredictable Khon Kaen.
Maranhao's super strike beats Kasetsart.
Phrae's late, late equaliser at Sisaket.
In T3 Burapha lose for the first time this season washed away by Fleet Utd.
CMFC go top of T3North.
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Rasisalai stay top though they tried to give up a three goal lead.
Big wins on the road for Police Tero and Bangkok FC
10 men Chainat take a point at Mahasarakham
CMFC win the Chiang Mai T3 derby in front of a crowd of 2107
At the other extreme there were just 90 at Nakhon Sawan.
Were Udon Banjan stitched up by their owner? 10 changes to the starting line-up.
Chiang Mai United move away from Lamphun.
And a big cheer for Costa Tenmorio Guttiner Heider Fernando.....a first goal of the season for the wonderfully named Bankhai player.
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Mahasarakham beat Kasetsart in the only T2 game of the weekend.
A full round up of T3 results and standings.
The Thai League Cup qualifying rounds.
This weekend's fixtures.
A look (with some egg on face) at our pre-season predictions for T2.
Why you dont want to be in the bottom 3 at mid-season.
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Phil joins us from Birmingham and Simon and I keep talking so that we do not have to answer any difficult questions.
New head coaches for Pattani and Bangkok FC.
Welington Smith is back and in style.
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Quick apology - the sound from Simon in Luang Prabang was not ideal.
@ajarnphil's T2 match summaries
___________________________
Nakhon Pathom 0 Pattani FC 0
Kick off was delayed by 30 minutes due to heavy rain but we did eventually get a game - albeit a goalless one. That was a decent away point for Pattani but they remain in the bottom three with just a solitary win from seven outings.
Rasisalai United 2 Police Tero 1
League leaders Rasisali United's sensational season continues as they defeated Police Tero with an injury time winner from Nattapon Yongsakool. Rasisalai stay top of the pile - and The Monkey Kings are still unbeaten in 7 games.
Pattaya United 1 Songkhla 0
Pattaya look a decent side going forward. A first goal of the season for Elias Oliveira (from the penalty spot) settled this particular contest and saw Pattaya move up into the top six. They'll be delighted with their campaign so far.
Nongbua Pichaya 3 Phrae United 0
After starting the season with four straight wins, Phrae are having a serious wobble. Caion's first goal of the season gave Nongbua the lead on 13 minutes. Thanayut and Sarayat added to the tally in the second half.
Although Phrae remain in second place, there's a host of clubs now breathing down their neck.
Chiang Mai United 3 Chainat Hornbill 4
Chainat edged a 7-goal thriller at Chiang Mai United to move up to second in the table. Six of the goals came in a blistering first half, but the contest was decided by an Amarildo penalty in the 71st minute.
Trat FC 0 Sisaket United 1
Sisaket United are decent on the road and they picked up another three points at struggling Trat FC, thanks to a Felipe Santos goal - his 4th of the season - a minute from time. Sisaket move into the top five but it's looking like another long, hard season ahead for Trat.
Khon Kaen United 4 Nakhonsi United 5
Another T2 Sunday goal fest provided great entertainment at the Khon Kaen Provincial Stadium. Nanthawat Suankaeo scored a hat-trick for Nakhonsi United as they defeated Khon Kaen in what was probably the shock of the weekend. The 27-year-old ex-Port and ex-BG Pathum striker also managed to put a goal in his own net as well.
Mahasarakham 2 Chantaburi 2
An injury time strike from the much travelled Chitchanok rescued a point for Mahasarakham at home to Chantaburi. Both clubs - somewhat surprisingly - struggling down at the wrong end of the table.
Kasetsart 0 Bangkok FC 2
Bangkok FC finally picked up their first win of the season at Kasetsart, but the three points are not quite enough to lift them off the bottom of the table. First half goals from Sittichok and Jarvey Gayosa did the damage.
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A weekend of unexpected results; some fine goals; goalkeeping from the sublime to the ridiculous; and Phil's first Wally of the week.
Phrae and Khon Kaen United battle out a 1-1 draw. Mahasarakham and Pattani both score injury time goals to salvage a point. Rasisalai win at Nakhon Si.
Just how good are Chainat this season? And Kasetsart?
In T3 Tiago Chulapa opens his account for Fleet with a late winner.
Today's Chang FA Cup qualifying round results for T2 clubs:
Knocked out: 5 T2 teams.
Chanthaburi - lost 2-4 at FC Yala
Bangkok FC - 0 lost on penalties at Nara Utd
Pattaya Utd - lost 0-3 at home to Pattaya City
Chainat - lost on penalties at Customs Utd
Nakhon Si United lost 2-0 at Uttaradit
Through to next round: 5 T2 teams.
Chiang Mai United - won 3-1 at SIngburi Warriors
Nongbua PItchaya - won 6-1 at Futera Utd.
Kasetsart beat Muang Loei on penalties.
Nakhon Pathom beat Chatrakkan City 1-0
Sisaket beat Padriew City 3-2.
4 T2 teams did not enter.
4 T2 teams have a bye to the next round.
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Pattani and Songkhla both have every reason to feel hard done by - while Nakhon Si United were simply done over!
Phrae remain top but their 100% record came to an end.
In T3N all six opening weekend games resulted in away wins.
And Simon reports in from exile in Pattaya!
Thanks for listening.
Breaking news tonight - all Pattani home games in Thail League 2 will now kick off at 5pm starting this weekend.
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Marlon Silva's injury time winner creates Pattani history.
Neto, Mosquito, Brandao, Amarildo, Felipe, Phillerson were all among the weekend scorers.
Phil's vacation report - takes in Lopburi stadium.
Phrae 4 wins from 4.
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Simon and Rob review the matches in weeks 2 and 3 of the new Thai League season.
And a quick look at the 68 teams in T3 this season.
Thursday evening's results in T2:
Pattaya United 2 Nakhon Si United 0
Rasisalai United 3 Sisaket United 3
Khon Kaen United 5 Bangkok FC 1
Thanks for listening.
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The talk is done - the hiring and firing is done - T2 teams will play the first of 34 league matches this weekend.
Good luck to all the players and staff -
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