To cap off a rubbish day, I arrived at the Sports Stadium to find the game had been moved to the Thunderdome due to technical difficulties with the live broadcast. Apparently nobody checked that it was feasible to broadcast from the SS until the day of the game.
Still awaiting the final score .
A blog following Nonthaburi 'Eka' FC.
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Update
Narathiwat 0 Rajpracha 2 - a crucial win that puts The Raj into the final promotion spot (third place) on goal difference. Now to cement that with a win in the return match next week.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Training
I mentioned that in the match against Chang Rai, the boys looked a little complacent. It seems I may be right, as I'm told the squad have been taken to a sports camp for intensive training ahead of the match against Narathiwat on Sunday.
I won't have time for a preview for this one as I have a wedding to attend tomorrow and I'm still desperately search for a nanny, but suffice to say that another defeat will consign Rajpracha to Division 2 against next season.
I won't have time for a preview for this one as I have a wedding to attend tomorrow and I'm still desperately search for a nanny, but suffice to say that another defeat will consign Rajpracha to Division 2 against next season.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Rajpracha 1 Samut Prakan 1 - The report
I'm still gutted that I missed this crucial match and I've no idea why the date was switched.
In any case, reports indicate that it was a very even game, Samut Prakan staged a walk off in the second half and delayed the game by some twenty minutes. This is not the first time SP have staged such a childish scene, in fact, they have a reputation for doing so. This includes some chair throwing incidents in a game against Ayuhhaya in August. Apparently they have not been punished well enough.
This time, the hissy fit back-fired as Rajpracha equalised in the last minute, in darkness. The result leaves the Raj at the bottom of the play off table and anything less than a win against Narathiwat would be curtains.
Goal scorers TBA!
Clip of the fans. Thanks to 'Between P's Youth (หนุ่มระพีร์) at football.rajpracha.com for this.
Match photos courtesy of and many thanks to Job on the football.rajpracha.com forum:
(Note: blogger.com still have bugs in their new post editor. Click on a picture to see it in full.)
In any case, reports indicate that it was a very even game, Samut Prakan staged a walk off in the second half and delayed the game by some twenty minutes. This is not the first time SP have staged such a childish scene, in fact, they have a reputation for doing so. This includes some chair throwing incidents in a game against Ayuhhaya in August. Apparently they have not been punished well enough.
This time, the hissy fit back-fired as Rajpracha equalised in the last minute, in darkness. The result leaves the Raj at the bottom of the play off table and anything less than a win against Narathiwat would be curtains.
Goal scorers TBA!
Clip of the fans. Thanks to 'Between P's Youth (หนุ่มระพีร์) at football.rajpracha.com for this.
Match photos courtesy of and many thanks to Job on the football.rajpracha.com forum:
(Note: blogger.com still have bugs in their new post editor. Click on a picture to see it in full.)
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Rajpracha vs Samut Prakan
EDIT: The game has been moved to Sunday 18th October, making it impossible for me to attend.
I know nothing about Samut Prakan FC beyond their wiki page but I do know Rajpracha desperately need to win this game. Two games in, they are the only side with zero points, Samut Prakan have three points.
I was hoping to interview with a couple of the players this time around but it seems technical problems (busted Samsung MP3/recorder) will stop me. I'll still try though.
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Loei City 2 Rajpracha 1
Not Loei City 2 Rajpracha o as reported in some areas.
Missed this one due to family commitments but I'll try and throw something together tomorrow.
Missed this one due to family commitments but I'll try and throw something together tomorrow.
Friday, 9 October 2009
No go
Sadly I won't be able to get to or even watch the crucial game between Loei City and Rajpracha today as my mother is coming for a visit.
The game will be live on Siam Sport at 4pm.
Let's all hope Rajpracha can get some points on the board and I hope to make it to the next game.
The game will be live on Siam Sport at 4pm.
Let's all hope Rajpracha can get some points on the board and I hope to make it to the next game.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Getting to the ground
Nonthaburi FC's current home ground is in Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium Nonthaburi, just outside Bangkok. It's near a well known temple (well known to locals at least) called "Wat Boat Don Prom".
A map in Thai to show to a taxi driver is available here.
A Google maps link is here.
The easy and quick way from anywhere:
To get very close to the stadium, you can simply ask any taxi to take you to "Central Rattanathibet". This is a well known shopping mall close to the stadium, from where you can ask any local taxi to take you to the ground.
From downtown Bangkok, you would be looking at 200 - 400 baht taxi fare. When getting a taxi in Bangkok always be sure the driver uses the meter and if not, get another cab. Be sure the car has a yellow ID plate on the side doors and make sure he is aware of where he is going. It's not uncommon for drivers to drive for thirty minutes then tell you they don't know where your destination is.
The slightly more complicated but very cheap way from downtown Bangkok:
If you want to save money and don't mind a bit of adventure, you can take air-con bus 522 from Victory Mounument. This will take you over a very long highway bridge and then come straight down onto Ngamwongwan Road. However as soon as you come off the bridge and onto this road you should alight, as you will then be heading away from the ground. You should cross Ngamwongwan Road by footbridge and take a bus to Central Department store (bus 337, 134 or 177 all around 10 bt) or take a taxi from where you are at a cost of about 150 bt.
A map in Thai to show to a taxi driver is available here.
A Google maps link is here.
The easy and quick way from anywhere:
To get very close to the stadium, you can simply ask any taxi to take you to "Central Rattanathibet". This is a well known shopping mall close to the stadium, from where you can ask any local taxi to take you to the ground.
From downtown Bangkok, you would be looking at 200 - 400 baht taxi fare. When getting a taxi in Bangkok always be sure the driver uses the meter and if not, get another cab. Be sure the car has a yellow ID plate on the side doors and make sure he is aware of where he is going. It's not uncommon for drivers to drive for thirty minutes then tell you they don't know where your destination is.
The slightly more complicated but very cheap way from downtown Bangkok:
If you want to save money and don't mind a bit of adventure, you can take air-con bus 522 from Victory Mounument. This will take you over a very long highway bridge and then come straight down onto Ngamwongwan Road. However as soon as you come off the bridge and onto this road you should alight, as you will then be heading away from the ground. You should cross Ngamwongwan Road by footbridge and take a bus to Central Department store (bus 337, 134 or 177 all around 10 bt) or take a taxi from where you are at a cost of about 150 bt.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Rajpracha 1 Chang Rai United 2
I'm sad to report that Rajpracha Nonthaburi went down 1 -2 in their play off game against Chang Rai United.
The first half was dominated by Chang Rai, with the away side showing greater pace and frequently wrong-footing the Rajpracha back line. It was a surprisingly one sided game for at least the first half hour, and the blues seemed strangely lacking in confidence. One overhit cross by a Chang Rai winger had the home goalkeeper screaming at his defenders to collect it, yet they froze and the keeper had to come out of his box to cover it.
On twenty four minutes the inevitable happened as number twenty six scored for Chang Rai with a header from point blank range. That lead was nearly doubled on two occasions within the next ten minutes. One excellent stop from the home goalie and a miss by centimeters kept the score down.
Two minutes before half time however the lead was indeed doubled as one player I couldn't identify scored from a penalty box scramble.
The second half saw a lot more pressure from Rajpracha with greater use of width, more ground passing and more pressure from the wing backs, yet still the hosts showed little penetration. A disputed penalty, taken by number seven (I think) allowed them back into the game. but the goal only served to wake up Chang Rai. An innocuous scuffle between two players bought police, security and a surprisingly aggressive poodle onto the pitch for the obligatory Thai football ruckus. This was the final highlight though, as Chang Rai played down the clock to seal a vital away win, much to the delight of the 150 or so traveling fans, who made good noise throughout.
Personal reflections of my first lower league game:
I enjoyed the game and was impressed with the attendance, which I'd guess was around 300 - 400 with good colour and noise from both sets of fans. The standard of football was not far behind the TPL. What did shock me was the seemingly blasé attitude from Rajpracha players. At half time they were smiling, play-fighting and making remarkably little effort at their warm up exercises. (The one exception to this being the African striker who came on at half time). Now when my team is losing two-nil in a play off game, I expect them to be seriously ticked off, not laughing,joking and chatting. The Brazilian coach was nowhere in sight and I saw absolutely no interaction between players and coaching staff other than someone handing the players water bottles. I understand many Rajpracha players are university students who get scholarships from the club. I expect them to be motivated and hungry to play in division one, just one step away from the Premiership.
EDIT: Some real pictures now thanks to the credited people.
A rather pointless clip:
The first half was dominated by Chang Rai, with the away side showing greater pace and frequently wrong-footing the Rajpracha back line. It was a surprisingly one sided game for at least the first half hour, and the blues seemed strangely lacking in confidence. One overhit cross by a Chang Rai winger had the home goalkeeper screaming at his defenders to collect it, yet they froze and the keeper had to come out of his box to cover it.
On twenty four minutes the inevitable happened as number twenty six scored for Chang Rai with a header from point blank range. That lead was nearly doubled on two occasions within the next ten minutes. One excellent stop from the home goalie and a miss by centimeters kept the score down.
Two minutes before half time however the lead was indeed doubled as one player I couldn't identify scored from a penalty box scramble.
The second half saw a lot more pressure from Rajpracha with greater use of width, more ground passing and more pressure from the wing backs, yet still the hosts showed little penetration. A disputed penalty, taken by number seven (I think) allowed them back into the game. but the goal only served to wake up Chang Rai. An innocuous scuffle between two players bought police, security and a surprisingly aggressive poodle onto the pitch for the obligatory Thai football ruckus. This was the final highlight though, as Chang Rai played down the clock to seal a vital away win, much to the delight of the 150 or so traveling fans, who made good noise throughout.
Personal reflections of my first lower league game:
I enjoyed the game and was impressed with the attendance, which I'd guess was around 300 - 400 with good colour and noise from both sets of fans. The standard of football was not far behind the TPL. What did shock me was the seemingly blasé attitude from Rajpracha players. At half time they were smiling, play-fighting and making remarkably little effort at their warm up exercises. (The one exception to this being the African striker who came on at half time). Now when my team is losing two-nil in a play off game, I expect them to be seriously ticked off, not laughing,joking and chatting. The Brazilian coach was nowhere in sight and I saw absolutely no interaction between players and coaching staff other than someone handing the players water bottles. I understand many Rajpracha players are university students who get scholarships from the club. I expect them to be motivated and hungry to play in division one, just one step away from the Premiership.
EDIT: Some real pictures now thanks to the credited people.
Original photo credit:Thanks: ฝากรูปลง hi5 ฟรีเว็บไซต์ ขายเครื่องสำอาง
My credit: Job at football.rajpracha.com
My credit: Job at football.rajpracha.com
Original photo credit:Thanks: ฝากรูปลง hi5 ฟรีเว็บไซต์ ขายเครื่องสำอาง
My credit: Job at football.rajpracha.com
My credit: Job at football.rajpracha.com
Original photo credit:Thanks: ฝากรูปลง hi5 ฟรีเว็บไซต์ ขายเครื่องสำอาง
My credit: Job at football.rajpracha.com
My credit: Job at football.rajpracha.com
Original photo credit:Thanks: ฝากรูปลง hi5 ฟรีเว็บไซต์ ขายเครื่องสำอาง
My credit: Job at football.rajpracha.com
My credit: Job at football.rajpracha.com
A rather pointless clip:
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