bangkok blue

It was in 1978, during a pre-season tour of China, that West Bromwich Albion midfielder John Trewick entered football folklore.

Invited to reflect on a visit to the country's landmark Great Wall, Trewick said it was impressive but quipped: "Once you've seen one wall, you've seen them all."

It is estimated that less than 300 British professionals are currently playing their football abroad and, rightly or wrongly, Trewick's tongue-in-cheek comment encapsulates a perception that British footballers often lack the will or curiosity to play and live overseas.

There have, of course, been notable exceptions.

David Beckham's spells with Real Madrid, AC Milan, LA Galaxy and Paris St-Germain, Paul Gascoigne's time with Lazio, Laurie Cunningham's groundbreaking move to Real Madrid and Gary Lineker's journey to Spain and Japan demonstrates that Brits can and will travel.

Yorkshireman Lee Tuck has taken a different path, though.

While Beckham et al all made their moves as established stars, Tuck faced a very different scenario.

Struggling to make an impact in England and following a spell with non-league Farsley Celtic, he arrived in Thailand in 2010 after taking up a friend's invitation to play for Nakhon Pathom FC.

A move to Thailand's capital to play for Bangkok FC - in the country's second tier - soon followed and the Huddersfield man's adventurous spirit is being rewarded in a big way.

Since signing for Bangkok FC, he has scored 45 goals in 60 appearances, winning Thailand's Golden Boot last season.

Meeting me at a Muay Thai boxing arena - Thailand's ancient martial art and a national obsession here - Tuck reflected on leaving Britain at the age of 21.

"I always thought I'd like to go to Thailand," he said. "You hear a lot of good things about it - the beaches and the weather.

"I spoke to a friend who was playing here and he told me all about it, so I thought I'd give it a go. The football was the main thing obviously, but I'd always wanted to live abroad. So I came over and I've never looked back."

He admits he did think long and hard before moving, with family members initially wary of him going to a country where he didn't speak the language and that was culturally alien to his Yorkshire roots.

"I was excited about a lot of things before I moved here, but food wasn't on that list," he added. "I didn't know what to expect and I was quite a picky eater back in England.

"But I adapted and now every time I go home to Britain I miss Thai food. Everything is so fresh and healthy here."

He even tried fried scorpion on the recommendation of team-mates.

"They were all telling me to try it so I ended up giving it a go," said Tuck. "It didn't taste of much. You don't get that in Huddersfield, just fish and chips."

It is also a very new experience on the pitch for a player brought up amongst the passion and tribalism of the English game.

As we talk, two Muay Thai fighters prepare to battle each another in the humid and dimly-lit stadium.

The crowd inside hush as both competitors perform the wai khru - a traditional ritual which involves the fighters circling the ring three times before bowing and kneeling as a sign of respect, then bowing again to Buddha to ask for protection and an honourable fight.

The civility and religious practices that are engrained in Thai society are mirrored in Muay Thai - and it seems football is no different.

"The home fans chant the opposition team's name at the end of the match and the away team players go up to them to pay respect," says Tuck.

"I was very surprised when I first came, but it's great to see that. All the players shake hands after the game and show the same respect. It's a great culture."

Playing in Thailand's equivalent of the Championship, Tuck is keen to use his time here as a springboard to further success.

Watching Manchester United play - and lose - to the Singha All-Stars last week, he was asked to pose for photographs by local fans he met at Thailand's national stadium.

"I'm shocked and very flattered by how big my name has got," Tuck told me and urged others back home to follow his lead.

"It's different for every player, but there are a lot of great opportunities outside of England," he said.

"I was playing in the lower leagues of English football and now I've worked hard and made a name myself here. The future's positive."

No worries! Happy to help. I remember similar problems on my condo 6years ago when they refused to switch from Espn to true sport. It can be very frustrating. Which is why I thought by us all getting together , then most of us would be ready in time. 30days to go!!!

Yes to both.

I think it's in the pipeline. There is an option to pause and rewind live tv and there is a USB slot on the back, probably for some sort of hard drive. Also has a LAN port. Probably to make some form of online purchases or interactive options.

Can I suggest to the moderator that this thread is changed to CTH EPL coverage please.

I'm on the 2nd floor of a 10 floor condo and that's what I did. Cost about an extra 600bht in cable.

Just had a call from WETV. They are now offering satellite as not gonna be ready in time. Looks like I chose the correct route! I informed them I had a friend in my condo who wants it. They said to contact CTH direct as would be quicker!!!!

I second that... Some good documentaries on C.I channel too. Watched one about the Thai pick up driver killer lady night! Nat Geo channels also worth watching.

You should note that the CTH dish points at about 131.east, opposite direction to True. As my apartment faces doi Suthep mountain, I also had to persuade the condo to allow me to stick a dish on the condo roof in order to receive the signal. Outside my room was not possible.

Payment in my case was 4200, 1800 for deposit of box, 500 installation fee, 900 monthly fee + 900 subs deposit (don't ask why) + VAT. Half paid to technician, half paid at bkk bank. All was on official CTH bill so I'm happy it's above board.

Read earlier posts in this thread and CTH in Chiangmai regarding charges. You're not being ripped off.

The best advice I can give anyone who have been put on to the waiting list at the CTH call centre, is to find a local independent satellite dealer. It appears CTH are appointing a fair few of these, instead of setting up there own shops now.

I imagine as rights become available they'll bid for rights. They've already done a deal with red bull action sports group.

I imagine as rights become available they'll bid for rights. They've already done a deal with red bull action sports group.

I'm kinda hoping that CTH may test out the signal for something like the EPL Asia trophy, or Gerrard's testimonial perhaps.

Very odd, as I said my channel list was updated last Monday without needing to turn off the power. It appears to do a channel search every time you turn the power off. Check the main menu, as there could be an update option there. Password for the box is 0000.

131-136 are the BPL channels. Disconnect your box from the power, it should do a channel update when you switch it back on. I got an automatic update message last week.

Yes all 6 BPL channels are installed on the box. No programmes being broadcast on them yet.

Last season when I watch tv and select channel True Sport 1 I alway see the EPL Teams play with each other. But now maybe I can't see it On True sport 1 anymore

thai visa=teak door

true sport=CTH

True Sport = CTH? What's you mean by that? True sport is Sport Channel that Owner by TrueVision why you say it= CTH? Sorry I don't understand can you explain me?

Same same but different!

Yes they are.

Did you book direct with the call centre? It would probably be quicker to try and see if there is a private satellite co. in your area that's been appointed a supplier. That's what many if us up in Chiangmai have done.

25/1 sansai, BtRs technology. I've posted the number earlier in the topic.

Yes wetv only on cable.

I did exactly the same. FX HD seems good with up to date shows, quite a few interesting documentary channels. Nat Geo seem good, fox sports news is a great addition, as is sky news. Watched an interesting interview with some guy from chulankorn Uni' about ASEAN. On oz network. SD channels defo better quality than true. Can't wait for EPL to start now!

That is correct. I spoke to nick noble at EPL he said a certain % of the nation must be able to have access. Other conditions include pairing card with box etc... No problem for CTH as its internal encryption.