Football In Chiang Rai: Chiangrai United FC

[Limbo]

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Today, 22 January, at the Mae Fah Luang University Stadium,

Chiangrai United (Thai Premier League) plays a friendly match

against Ratchaburi FC (Regional League Division 2 Central and Eastern) .

Kick-off at 3 pm.

Also today, in the same stadium at 6 pm our U19 team (under 19) will play against

their peers of TTM-FC Phichit. This Thursday they played against Thai Port FC U19,

a game that ended in a draw (1 - 1). The star was, who else, our Brasilian Philipe.

Last week CRUTD played, also at home, a friendly against Phrae United, that

was won (2 - 1).

At this moment it isn't sure yet when, or even if, the 'Northern Thai Derby' between

CRUTD and Chiangmai FC (this season for the first time playing in the First Division)

is going to happen.

Between January 29 and February 6 the Super Regional Football League Championship

will be in Songkla and Haad Yai. Chiangrai United plays January 30 against

Songkla FC, next day against Bangkok FC and February 2 against Satun United FC.

So CRUTD has a rather busy program ahead the coming weeks.

As I might have mentioned before: Our Ghanese ball-magician Adu Gyamfi is playing this

season for Ratchaburi, so it will be interesting to see if he will be lined up today.

The first ever Thai Premier League game in history in Chiang Rai will take place

the 12th of February when our players will meet their counterparts of TTM-FC Phichit.

Have a nice weekend!

Limbo

Edited January 22, 2011 by Limbo

[gerry1011]

Chiangrai United in Premier League... That's a dream becoming reality... but a very expensive dream.

The budget for the coming season has exploded. This year, the management, the sponsors and the Chiangrai United fans are all important to the success of the team.

Chiangrai United and the Chiangrai People will have to be rather creative to allow the team to compete at the highest level in the best possible conditions.

Revenues are very important and every ticket, t-shirt or key chain sold will help the team to reach its objectives.

Weah Radio joined hands with Chiangrai United to open a new way for the Chiangrai United fans to support their club: The Gold and Platinum Club cards.

By making a donation to the club, fans can get benefits such as reserved parking, fast track to the stands, VIP lounge, tickets sent direct by mail, complementary food and drinks, etc...

Benefits of the Platinum Club includes complementary catering provided by Le Meridien Chiangrai.

These benefits will be available at the Mae Fah Luang stadium for the beginning of the season, and then at the Chiangrai United stadium, once completed.

Both the Gold card and Platinum card holders will receive the same benefits at the Chiangrai Hills Stadium, which should be completed in about 4 months in Maechan.

You can read more about this on the Weah Radio website.

[Limbo]

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Saturday February 4 at the Municipal Stadium of Chiang Rai

at 4 pm the Chiangrai United U19 plays a TFA Youth League match against Thai Port FC

and at 6 pm Chiangrai United plays a friendly game against Chiangmai FC

Yesterday CRUTD played away against Chiangmai in the 700 Year Anniversary Stadium and won 2 - 1.

At the moment CRUTD can not use the stadium on the campus of Mae Fah Luang University

as the field has to be prepared for the Premier League games to come.

Until the new United Stadium (just in front of the new airport) is finished Chiangrai United

will use the stadium of the university.

Though the one new building after the other arises on the municipal sports complex it seems as if

the municipal civil servants completely forgot to take care of the most important part of it all:

The sport fields themselves! They simply don't seem to have the expertise or the willingness to do so.

A field in this miserable condition increases the risc of injuries and is a disaster for every ball

technician as it simply doesn't permit the blind moves that are necessary for subtile ball treatment.

It reduces the players to a kind of Kubota tractors that only can shovle the ball forwards.

The first home game of Chiangrai United had to be postponed and it is very well possible

that the municipal incompetence played a role in this. Why don't they hire experts?

Anyhow, as far as it looks now the first Thai Premier League game in history in Chiang Rai will take place

not earlier than March 13 at the stadium of Mae Fah Luang University and will be against SCG Samut Songkhram.

Limbo

[Limbo]

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Chiangrai United after two years: The sky is the limit!

In less than two years Chiang Rai gained a prominent presence on the map of Thailand! Never before Chiang Rai

has been mentioned so many times on television, in newspapers, in magazines and on internet sites. Wondering

how it happened you might think of many reasons, like natural disasters or famous corruption scandals, even an

awakening of the local TAT office, but the truth is simply this:

A football club, Chiangrai United FC, was founded in 2009, became that year champion of the northern league,

promoted after successful play-offs with the other regional champions to the national First Division and did

what only two other clubs did earlier in Thai football history: At the end of the season of 2010 they promoted

again, this time to the highest level in Thai football, the Thai Premier League.

Chiangrai United FC is writing history: Our town suddenly belongs to the top of Thailand, so far only in football,

but thanks to all the publicity the side effect will be that among others the tourism industry will benefit enormously,

not only because of the thousands of supporters of visiting clubs but simply by the new ‘branding’ of Chiang Rai.

The spin-off of Chiangrai United’s glory will be noticeable all over this province and benefit many of its inhabitants.

= = =

The professionalism of the ‘founding fathers’ of this successful club is reflected in their international orientation:

In the two years of its existence we saw not only players from Thailand join this great team, but also from Ghana,

Japan, Brazil and Rumania and the coaches came from Thailand, Brazil and Togo.

The present coach, Stefano ‘Teco’ Cugurra is not only a former player of Vitesse (Arnhem, Dutch Premier

League), but gained fame in Brazil as coach of the U19 national team and finally won three times the national championship

in the Indonesian Premier League with Persebaya FC, the famous club of Surabaya with its not less (in)famous ‘tifosi’.

Two of the players of Chiangrai United FC have been playing European Cup Football. Brazilian Edvaldo Pereira

won the Swiss Championship with St. Gallen FC in 1999 and played thus for the Champions Cup and Rumanian Leontin

Chitescu played with CFR Cluj in the UEFA Cup in 2005, where this team ended as runner-up.

For an English language forum like this it might be rather interesting to see which foreign players are part in the

success of this great team, but that should not overshadow the great Thai players of Chiangrai United. Like for instance

our unsurpassable Wasan Natasan who was elected by the Thai Football Association to be the best striker of

the First Division of the Thai Premier League in the year 2010.

= = =

The last two seasons Chiangrai United FC has mainly been playing in the thirty years old stadium that is under

supervision of local civil servants. The condition of the field is not good enough for Premier League football,

the risk of injuries is too high and, very simple, and you can’t play good football on a tubers field.

At the moment the United Stadium is built, the future official stadium of Chiangrai United. The construction site is

situated about two hundred meters in front of the (new) airport. If everything goes the way the team and its thousands

of supporters hope for, it might be possible that the second leg of this year’s league can be enjoyed there.

This year the team, like during the first months in 2009, will have to play again at the beautifully situated Mae Fah

Luang University Stadium, forcing thousands of enthusiastic Chiangrai United fans to travel 35 kilometers to the

north for the home-games. Yes, six to seven thousand loyal supporters our team can count on. Among them though a

growing number of foreigners living in Chiang Rai. Many of them didn’t visit a football game life in decades, but

now they join the Orange Power Fans and their choir as well: Chiangrai! Chiangrai! Chiangrai! Susu! Susu! Susu!

The first upcoming match:

Chiangrai United FC versus SCG Samut Songkhram

This Sunday, March 13 at 6 PM at the Mae Fah Luang University Stadium history will be written:

The first ever Thai Premier League match (and the first home game in 2011 of Chiangrai United thus) that will take place

in the North of Thailand and the most Northern Province, Chiang Rai, has the honor to host it!

The 2011 Thai Premier League is only a couple of weeks old. Both teams played two matches. Samut Songkhram won at home

of Sisaket FC and their away game in Sri Racha ended in a draw. Two weeks ago Chiangrai United lost away in Phichit

against Phichit’s Korean star player Song Ji Yeon who put the first hattrick of the season on his name. Last week

Chiangrai United won away in Chonburi of Siam Navy with a convincing 3 – 1.

Enjoy the game if you so wish!

Advance ticket sales at CRUtd’s Fan Clubs in Chiang Rai (opposite IT-Plaza at King Mengrai and four hundred meters south of Den Ha

at the old Chiang Mai Road – left side). Check Rico's for collective transport.

Limbo

[Paul888]

Nice post Limbo. I now feel up to speed on the great success story of Chiang Rai United.

Long may it continue.

[Limbo]

Thank you Paul!

It was a great atmosphere last night in the stadium of the Mae Fah Luang University, where

Chiangrai United hosted Samut Songkhram for the first Thai Premier League game ever in the

Northern Provinces. More than 7000 people travelled from Chiang Rai town roughly 35 kilometers

to the north to wittness the historical spectacle: The fans were back and they brought friends!

Also about 300 fans of Samut Songkhram travelled about thousand kilometers to cheer their team.

The first half hour Chiangrai United took the initiative, resulting in a well-deserved and beautiful

goal .... as everybody thought at least!

The goaly of Samut Songkhram theatrically gestured his defeat and the linesman, sharp-eyed as he must

have been from his position on the wrong side of the field, joined the choir of the defenders that had

seen a handball.

The remarcable flutist, who approximately didn't walk further than six or seven kilometers during this

game, was happy to rely on the judgement of his assistant and he thought the best thing he could do was

to show a yellow card to the maker of the goal, the excellent playing Edvaldo 'Vava' Pereira, for his

protest against his decision.

It would, and should, have made the game more open and thus more spectacular, this relatively early goal.

Now the ball stayed most of the time on the midfield and both sides put the greatest part of their energy

on the defence. It almost looked as if both teams were playing 'on the counter'. Hardly any good chances

were created and there were very few shots on goal. At the gate there was always at least one more defender

than a striker and this at both sides.

It was as if they were trying to walk the ball into the goal, as all attacks went through the middle with

hardly any distance shots: No risks were taken! At moments it looked as if both teams seemed to be paralysed

by fear to loose the ball.

Alltogether both teams put good football on the carpet and the game remained exciting untill the last moment.

Over all Chiangrai United was the best team and had a clear greater ball possession. For the fans of Samut

Songkhram a party worth, as they succeeded in taking a point home, for the fans of Chiangrai United the sadness

of unjustified loosing two points out of the possible three.

Please judge for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNnSWkqjccs&feature=player_embedded

Limbo

[Limbo]

To be sure that you get the ticket you want it is recommendable to buy

it in advance, especially if you prefer a VIP seat in the middle of the

main stand (180 Baht) as there are only 240 of its kind.

Advance sales take place at the fan clubs at Hi Yeak (Phor Khun or

Mengrai) two hundred meter to the south opposite the ITD plaza and

at the fan shop at the old Chiang Mai road about four hundred meters

from Den Ha direction Chiang Mai at the left.

In two weeks the next home game will take place, against Sisaket MT FC.

There will be probably three more places to buy tickets, some new locations

in Chiang Rai, but also in Mae Sai and Maechan.

If you look at this picture, taken last night, you will understand that

it isn't directly luxury to do so. I hope to be able to tell you in due

time when the advance sales start and where.

Limbo

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Edited March 14, 2011 by Limbo

[Limbo]

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Tomorrow if you read this today and today if you read it tomorrow:

Army United versus Chiangrai United

The game starts at 6 pm and will be televised live on Channel TRUE 69

Chiangrai United is so far doing fine in the Thai Premier League.

Last week at the stadium of the Mae Fah Luang University CRUTD won

of David Booth's Sisaket FC. It was a penalty in the tenth minute

of the second half that did the trick.

For David, who started his career as a coach in the eighties in Grimsby

and Darlington and who last year still coached the national team of Laos

it must have been a disappointment, but the result was justified as CRUTD

had a far greater ball-possession. Brasilian Edvaldo Pereira seemed to

multiply himself; he seemed to be everywhere, and how!

In five games Chiangrai United collected 8 points.

Only four clubs did better.

Andy, the Superman mascotte of Bangkok Glass and thus in command of at

least eight beautiful Bunnies (see his glorious picture in the thread

about the new stadium in Maechan) and considered one of the top Brittish

specialists on Thai football, is also is a fan of Chiangrai United FC.

According to him Chiangrai United has been the best performing team in

all its games so far.

It was for that matter our number 40, Wasan Nattasan who scored from

the penalty, the best forward of the First Division during 2010

(officially elected by the Thai Football Association).

Since last week Khun Wasan is father of a lovely daughter with

a very appropriate nickname: Forty!

We wish the family Nattasan luck and happiness!

Limbo

Edited April 1, 2011 by Limbo

[Limbo]

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Chiangrai United has a new English language website !

There are two ways to visit it.

Or you pass through the official website of Chiangrai United FC

(http://www.chiangrai-united.com/) by clicking on the Union Jack

button or you go directly to:

http://chiangraiunited.webs.com/

The English language website is independent. It not necessarily reflects the

official views of the club.

It informs about the games, presents news, fixtures & tables, photos & video

and general information as well about what happens in Thai football. For this

we work closely together with the German and English language site on Thai

football: http://www.thai-fussball.de/en/

Coming Sunday, the first of May, CRUtd will play at home (the stadium of the

Mea Fah Luang University) against Pattaya United. The game starts at 6 PM.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If you don't have transport you can ask at Rico's if its supporters group will have

space left in one of the cars or you could choose to look at the game in the local

fanshops of the towns where you live. Don't forget to wear orange 555!

In Chiang Rai town there are two fanclubs:

- opposite ITD Plaza at the old town wall close to the Mengrai monument.

- at the old road to Chiang Mai about three hundred meters after Den Ha.

In Phan probably in the Chiangrai United shop at the little square next

to the hotel in the centre of town.

In Mae Sai at the first traffic light at your right (coming from the south)

next to the gasoline station. Probably also in the former Monkey Island at the

border. About threehundred meter to the left from the bridge.

Or at home, if you have the right satellite: the game will be shown on the channel

of Siamsport (at 18.00 thus).

It was a pleasure to keep you informed about what happened during the first two

years of this miraculous football club. Thanks for all the positive reactions!

Next week it is two years ago that I posted for the first time about the club.

I concluded my first posting with 'the future is ours'!

Who could have guessed that we would be playing in the Thai Premier League two

seasons later? I certainly couldn't!

I thank you for all the patience you had with my lousy English and, maybe even

worse, my lack of insight in this beautiful game which might have made your toes

curl once in a while.

I am very happy that CRAndy, also known as BG-man (as he doubles as mascotte of

another Thai Premier Leaugue team: Bangkok Glass!) will put his shoulders under it.

I will try to assist him as much as I can. He is a football man 'pur sang'!

It were concerned foreigners like him, Vinnie, Sriracha Shark, Esgede, Lokomotive and

several others that made Thai football accessible for foreigners living in Thailand

and for all those interested who are living abroad. Not to forget Nigel of course,

who started this thread!

Welcome to Chiang Rai BG-man!

And goodbye to everybody!

Limbo

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Edited April 29, 2011 by Limbo

[lannaman]

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Chiangrai United has a new English language website !

There are two ways to visit it.

Or you pass through the official website of Chiangrai United FC

(http://www.chiangrai-united.com/) by clicking on the Union Jack

button or you go directly to:

http://chiangraiunited.webs.com/

The English language website is independent. It not necessarily reflects the

official views of the club.

It informs about the games, presents news, fixtures & tables, photos & video

and general information as well about what happens in Thai football. For this

we work closely together with the German and English language site on Thai

football: http://www.thai-fussball.de/en/

Coming Sunday, the first of May, CRUtd will play at home (the stadium of the

Mea Fah Luang University) against Pattaya United. The game starts at 6 PM.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If you don't have transport you can ask at Rico's if its supporters group will have

space left in one of the cars or you could choose to look at the game in the local

fanshops of the towns where you live. Don't forget to wear orange 555!

In Chiang Rai town there are two fanclubs:

- opposite ITD Plaza at the old town wall close to the Mengrai monument.

- at the old road to Chiang Mai about three hundred meters after Den Ha.

In Phan probably in the Chiangrai United shop at the little square next

to the hotel in the centre of town.

In Mae Sai at the first traffic light at your right (coming from the south)

next to the gasoline station. Probably also in the former Monkey Island at the

border. About threehundred meter to the left from the bridge.

Or at home, if you have the right satellite: the game will be shown on the channel

of Siamsport (at 18.00 thus).

It was a pleasure to keep you informed about what happened during the first two

years of this miraculous football club. Thanks for all the positive reactions!

Next week it is two years ago that I posted for the first time about the club.

I concluded my first posting with 'the future is ours'!

Who could have guessed that we would be playing in the Thai Premier League two

seasons later? I certainly couldn't!

I thank you for all the patience you had with my lousy English and, maybe even

worse, my lack of insight in this beautiful game which might have made your toes

curl once in a while.

I am very happy that CRAndy, also known as BG-man (as he doubles as mascotte of

another Thai Premier Leaugue team: Bangkok Glass!) will put his shoulders under it.

I will try to assist him as much as I can. He is a football man 'pur sang'!

It were concerned foreigners like him, Vinnie, Sriracha Shark, Esgede, Lokomotive and

several others that made Thai football accessible for foreigners living in Thailand

and for all those interested who are living abroad. Not to forget Nigel of course,

who started this thread!

Welcome to Chiang Rai BG-man!

And goodbye to everybody!

Limbo

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Thanks limbo, site looks very good! Lman has joined

What time do folks leave from Ricos?

They need all the support we can give them as they are in the danger zone and badly need some wins.

[Big Gary]

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Chiangrai United has a new English language website !

There are two ways to visit it.

Or you pass through the official website of Chiangrai United FC

(http://www.chiangrai-united.com/) by clicking on the Union Jack

button or you go directly to:

http://chiangraiunited.webs.com/

The English language website is independent. It not necessarily reflects the

official views of the club.

It informs about the games, presents news, fixtures & tables, photos & video

and general information as well about what happens in Thai football. For this

we work closely together with the German and English language site on Thai

football: http://www.thai-fussball.de/en/

Coming Sunday, the first of May, CRUtd will play at home (the stadium of the

Mea Fah Luang University) against Pattaya United. The game starts at 6 PM.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If you don't have transport you can ask at Rico's if its supporters group will have

space left in one of the cars or you could choose to look at the game in the local

fanshops of the towns where you live. Don't forget to wear orange 555!

In Chiang Rai town there are two fanclubs:

- opposite ITD Plaza at the old town wall close to the Mengrai monument.

- at the old road to Chiang Mai about three hundred meters after Den Ha.

In Phan probably in the Chiangrai United shop at the little square next

to the hotel in the centre of town.

In Mae Sai at the first traffic light at your right (coming from the south)

next to the gasoline station. Probably also in the former Monkey Island at the

border. About threehundred meter to the left from the bridge.

Or at home, if you have the right satellite: the game will be shown on the channel

of Siamsport (at 18.00 thus).

It was a pleasure to keep you informed about what happened during the first two

years of this miraculous football club. Thanks for all the positive reactions!

Next week it is two years ago that I posted for the first time about the club.

I concluded my first posting with 'the future is ours'!

Who could have guessed that we would be playing in the Thai Premier League two

seasons later? I certainly couldn't!

I thank you for all the patience you had with my lousy English and, maybe even

worse, my lack of insight in this beautiful game which might have made your toes

curl once in a while.

I am very happy that CRAndy, also known as BG-man (as he doubles as mascotte of

another Thai Premier Leaugue team: Bangkok Glass!) will put his shoulders under it.

I will try to assist him as much as I can. He is a football man 'pur sang'!

It were concerned foreigners like him, Vinnie, Sriracha Shark, Esgede, Lokomotive and

several others that made Thai football accessible for foreigners living in Thailand

and for all those interested who are living abroad. Not to forget Nigel of course,

who started this thread!

Welcome to Chiang Rai BG-man!

And goodbye to everybody!

Limbo

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GOODBYE TO EVERYBODY??????????????????????????????

[lannaman]

Thanks Limbo, the new site looks good.

What time do the folks leave from Ricos?

Crai United need all the support we can give to get them some wins and out of the danger zone.

[Limbo]

Thanks Limbo, the new site looks good.

What time do the folks leave from Ricos?

Dear Lannaman, a pity you didn't have time yesterday! The chefs of Le Meridien

had done their utmost and the lady who serves the beers seems to get more and

more beautiful every time Chiangrai United plays at home. It would also have been

a great opportunity to meet a nice group of foreigners from the Bangkok area that

visit all games of CRUtd 'down south'. The atmosphere in 'the box' was very pleasant.

Dear Big Gary, no, I myself am not moving away, but the information about football in

Chiang Rai will from now on move to the new English language Chiangrai United website.

We are still experimenting with it, but CRAndy and Limbo-John (...uh), with the help of

the other members, will try to make it as attractive as we can. The advantage of a website

above a thread in a forum is clear: the info can simply be organized better, it's easier

to bring pictures and videos together and you have a one-item forum concerning football.

See you around soon, probably at the shop of Khun Phed. Nice relaxed place for a beer!

Chiangrai United - Pattaya United 3 - 1

It was a spectaculair game with four excellent goals, three for our side and

one for Pattaya United. Especially the first, after 18 minutes, was a typical

Edvaldo action: In full horizontal flight on one and a half meters high he

launched a straight and hard as nails untenable shot.

Nothin wrong with the second goal either: upcoming defender Tawatchai took the

ball directly from three meters outside the 16 meter area and it bowed politely

over Pattaya's goalkeeper and ended nicely into the right upper corner.

In the extra time of the first half we got the only goal against. One has to admit

that it was a good-looking one: From the right and at least 25 meters Pattaya's

Peeraphon took the ball on his slipper and his cross caramboled surprisingly from

the post into the goal.

During the second half Pattaya started, forcedly, chasing. And this was done very

enthousiastically, resulting among others in a red card for an attack on our Brasilian

master player Edvaldo. Soon it was followed by a yellow one, also this one being

presented to an over-eager 'Rocking Dolphin'.

It took until the last moments of the generously allotted five minutes extra time

that a Chiangrai United player was floored within the 16-meter area and 'reborn'

Wasan didn't make a mistake: from the eleven meter spot he sent the ball straight

and untenable into the right upper corner: 3 - 1 !

Before the game it was raining, but it was heartwarming to see that it didn't prevent

the fans from making the more than 25 kilometer trip to the stadium on the MFL

university campus. The total number of visitors must have been about 3.500.

Three weeks they had been waiting for the next home game and they came ...

Next home game will be coming Saturday, this time against last years Thai

Thai premier League champion Muang Thong United. Same place, same time.

Hope to see you next time at the stadium and/or on the new website:

http://chiangraiunited.webs.com/

Limbo

For ten minutes highlights of last night's match, please have a look at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFfCBDsJeFM&feature=player_embedded#at=15

[Paul888]

Great result. I watched some of the game on television and from the stadium noise, it seemed like there was a great atmosphere.

[erg]

Thanks Limbo! Looks good so far this website of Chiangraui United, can only become better. Can you also add a section about Chiang Rai, same like kwangkrung Chiangrai Bangkok group does. So not about football alone? More about Chiangrai?

[Limbo]

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Bangkok Glass versus Chiangrai United

The match can be seen live at channel TRUE 102.

For more information, among which a brilliant analyses of the game to come by nobody less than

BangkokGlassMan (aka CRAndy) himself, please see the English language Chiangrai United website:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://chiangraiunited.webs.com/

Limbo

Some pictures of last week, CRUTD vs MTU 1 - 0.

Don't repeat BGman's mistake! He changed shirt with a Muang Thong

supporter with a complete different posture.

[thaimiller]

Limbo any truth in the rumour that Chiang Rai Utd are to play some games at the 700 year stadium in Chiang Mai due to the lack of capacity at your home ground?

[Limbo]

Limbo any truth in the rumour that Chiang Rai Utd are to play some games at the 700 year stadium in Chiang Mai due to the lack of capacity at your home ground?

I will see if I can find out and you will be the first to know.

It wouldn't be nice for the fans though. Last Saturday the stadium

of the Mae Fah Luang University had a full house again. I would

guess that it were about 5000 to 5500 people that visited the

game against Thai Port Fc but even including the extra stands that

are set up it brings us to the maximum. We have a fantastic legion

of dedicated fans.

This stadium is about thirty kilometers north of Chiang Rai town and

the same number of kilometers more close to Maechan, Chiang Saen and

Mae Sai where we also have big supporter groups.

Our own new stadium will certainly not be ready this year (I would guess

earliest for the second leg next season) and the local provincial and

municipal authorities have their own little toy called Chiang Rai Fc that

they seem to use as an excuse for owning the stadium where Chiangrai United

played last year.

This club is hanging (for sale) at the bottom of 2nd Division region north,

so they would not co-operate unless they could get hold of a too big part

of the proceeds.

On top of that the pitch of their stadium is not in a condition that

would be acceptable for TPL games and they haven't shown themselves to

be able to change that as long as the stadium exists. The light is not

sufficient and we shouldn't forget that its capacity is even smaller

than at the MFL.

I guess the maximum would be about 4500 even if we had 6000 visitors

a couple of times last year (including those standing behind the fences

and looking for free). So the local 'sanaam kila' is not an option.

Where would the pain threshold be for our fans? 200 Kilometers is far!

It might be that the MFL is 'having problems', I simply don't know.

Suddenly the normally 'free floating' Singha draught suddenly disappeared

from the skybox because the campus is supposed to be alcohol free. I know

that it might be seen as a minor problem as it only concerns the happy few,

but it was forcing among others also me to look at the match with a glass of

water and a cup of coffee next to me. So I take that personal, grrr...

Concerning our away games (as you know most Thai Premier League clubs are

from the Bangkok and Eastern Seaboard area) we are lucky that we have a great

fanclub in that area (for info google to Kwangkrung) and maybe 30 to 40 fans

from Chiang Rai that travel these many but unavoidable 800 kilometers.

The situation around Chiang Mai Fc is far below expectation. Nobody can be happy

about that. Also not in Chiang Rai. It would have been great to have our local

derby twice a year. Will the miracle happen and the situation change the way it

did last year for Chiangrai United during the second leg? The debacle around Rene

isn't promising ...

Anyhow, if it doesn't the 2nd Division looms again and that would be unacceptable.

So .. uh .. could we speculate that a combination of resources comes to mind?

That a little test is awaiting us? One super team for the north, playing in a town

with a million people instead of a town of seventy thousand?

I hate the thought of it and I hope that Chiang Mai Fc will recover in the one way

or the other so that these hypothetical constructs don't have to pass our minds 555!

Greetings,

Limbo

PS: Please find Andy's matchreports at http://chiangraiunited.webs.com/

Brasilian Eddie made the goal against Thai Port. The great picture is made by Hualek,

the best sportsphotographer of Chiang Rai.

Edited May 22, 2011 by Limbo

[skybluestu]

Very sad news

http://www.bangkokpo...-football-match

EDIT...Sorry, just seen another post already dedicated to this accident.

Edited June 12, 2011 by skybluestu

[dindong]

Seems like the hatchets men were doing some chopping.Anyway,

to repeat RIP to the deceased .

[konjianghai]

Were some of the post or a similar thread to this one about CR football being hijacking??

Yesterday i reply to Mr. Limbo about his friend, one of the victims of yesterday bus crash.

I could not find those comments anymore. What's with this system the moderators are doing???

Censorship or dictatorship??? Was trying to provide news on Mr. Limbo friend, being handle like this makes me furious!

Is already hard to know 7 fans died and 40 or more got injured, dont act like this okay TV!

P.S Mr. Limbo, your friend is alive, he got 2 broken legs. I don't know when serious injured fans will be transfer back to CR.

But today many light injured fans flew safety back to CR. Bodies of those who died arrive back today too, the webmaster body will be cremated on this wednesday. I'm sure you'll get futher info from your friends. Would be nice if you can be on the funeral.

I dont have info when the cremation of Fansclub president will be plan. Ask your friends about it though.

Edited June 12, 2011 by konjianghai

[Limbo]

Thank you konjianghai! I appreciate your message very much!

In the mean time I have seen a picture showing him lying in the hospital.

I saw also pictures of widows, of half-orphans ...

It is this strange look in the eyes of the children, as if they want to look through

all the people dressed in black around the coffin in which they are told there father is.

In their minds maybe going back to the moment that their father in his orange outfit

happy and enthousiastic gave them a last hug before he jumped on the pick-up with his friends.

To be brought to the buss that would transport them to Lopburi where it all would end ...

L.

Edited June 13, 2011 by Limbo

[kandahar]

Thank you konjianghai! I appreciate your message very much!

In the mean time I have seen a picture showing him lying in the hospital.

L.

Yes, and in the meantime, you have still left your erroneous post as to his demise unchanged in the CM forum.

Edited June 13, 2011 by kandahar

[Limbo]

Thank you konjianghai! I appreciate your message very much!

In the mean time I have seen a picture showing him lying in the hospital.

L.

Yes, and in the meantime, you have still left your erroneous post as to his demise unchanged in the CM forum.

Thanks Kandahar for pointing it out, though it might have been more appropiate

if you would have sent me a personal message on the subject or if you would have

corrected my horrible mistake directly by yourself. But it is great to hear

somebody express a genuine interest in the victims of the Chiang Rai disaster.

I met the gentleman concerned last Saterday for the first time again in the Chiangrai

Hills Stadium at the occasion of the official beginning of the tournament that will

decide which team will win the first ever Rotary Cup of Maechan.

It was good to see him back. He can walk again with the help of only one crutch.

32 Teams registered for this 7-a-side tournament and more information about it

can be found in the Chiangrai Hills Stadium thread. For those who are interested

above-average I would like to refer to its facebook page.

There you will find all information about this unique initiative.

Feel yourself welcome to visit !

Limbo

[Limbo]

.

.

.

.

[/color=#008080]Chiangrai United versus Chonburi FC: The game of the year!

Somewhere between

[Limbo]

Last Sunday somewhere between 6500 and 7000 Chiang Rai football enthousiasts

wittnessed Chiangrai United win over Chonburi with the convincing digits 4 - 3.

It was a splendid game! The team was back!

Chiangrai United on track again!

Chiangrai took the lead for the first time after ten minutes, but Chonburi came back

and scored the equalizer not long afterwards. This pattern repeated itself another two

times, before Chiangrai United finally could score the winning goal.

Yes, it was dramatic, but with a happy ending of the first order! After the last

sound of the whistle the stadium exploded!

After the 2 - 1 victory against Muang Thong (second position in the Thai Premier

League) in May of this year now Chonburi FC (third position in the TPL) is the

second topper of Thailand that doesn't bring any points home from Chiangrai.

As far as I have heard the fans of Bangkok Glass are now already looking forward to the

last game of Chiangrai United of this season, which will be at home against PEA Buriram

(first position in the TPL).

It might bring them the championship if we repeat the success!

At this moment it looks as if this moment might be postponed to the beginning of next

year, but it still could fit into the planning and be played in December.

Three times means ship law, a Dutch proverb says, so we are ready for it!

Next opponent at home will be Bangkok Glass itself, an interesting football party, that

they should prepare themselves very well for (November 27).

Limbo

Our Wasan "Boy" Natasan is together with Sarayuut Chaikamdee of Bangkok Glass

(with 15 goals each) since last weekend topscorer of the Thai Premier League.

No wonder that German coach Winnie Schaefer selected him for the National team.

I think we see him here at this picture, taken last Sunday.

There is a little, little chance though that it is Rattapong.

The fact is that the Chonburi player on the picture, Anucha

Kitpongsri was Wasan's close guard all the game.

[Limbo]

Our Wasan "Boy" Natasan is together with Sarayuut Chaikamdee of Bangkok Glass

(with 15 goals each) since last weekend topscorer of the Thai Premier League.

No wonder that German coach Winnie Schaefer selected him for the National team.

Know your stars ...

Here is another picture of "Boy", who's shirtnumber inspired him

to name his little daughter Forty , together with his charming wife.

The picture was taken last Saturday at the Chiangrai Hills Stadium

in Maechan, where a big party was organised for the fans of

Chiangrai United.

The organisation of the Thai Premier League seems to be quite

complicated this year. In August our team had to play six times

and now we have a break of five weeks.

It's now confirmed: the last game, the thriller against PEA Buriram,

will be in January.

Next home game will be Sunday 27 November against Bangkok Glass.

Limbo

The other picture shows one of the 'cosy corners' last Saturday.

[Limbo]

Next home game will be Sunday 27 November against Bangkok Glass.

My apologies for the omission!

I forgot to mention the friendly game against Chiang Mai FC

that will be played at the Sanaam Kila Klang (the stadium of

Chiang Rai) coming Wednesday, November 16, late afternoon.

The exact time isn't sure yet, but four o'clock might be a

good guess.

Chiang Mai FC is playing in the first division and has, after 28

games only 22 points. Only Thai Honda FC has less points but

played one game less.

Chiang Mai FC has six games left to avert an imminent relegation.

Its next (home-) game will take place November 26 against Bangkok

United, that now holds the eight position with 41 points.

Chiangrai United FC is playing in the Thai Premier League

and holds the tenth position on the list.

Limbo

PS: Sad evening yesterday for the national team and its coach

Winnie Schaefer. They lost 3 - 1 of Indonesia last night and

have to say bye-bye to the SEA Games race now.

Chiangrai United susu!

[Limbo]

I forgot to mention the friendly game against Chiang Mai FC

that will be played at the Sanaam Kila Klang (the stadium of

Chiang Rai) coming Wednesday, November 16, late afternoon.

The exact time isn't sure yet, but four o'clock might be a

good guess.

Chiangrai United susu!

Update:

It's a charity game to the benefit of the flood victims. It starts at 6 pm.

Nice thing to do!

By the way: I spoke to coach Stefano 'Teco' Zugurra last Saturday and he said

he really needed a friendly game to do some experiments. The last game against

Chonburi was a thriller, a dream game. Where did this concentration, this chemistry

come from? What was it exactly and how can it be conserved?

I met several Chiangrai United supporters at Rico's today and all agreed on the

idea that the game against Chonburi FC was one of the better games ever.

It's becoming a remarcable tradition: the better the team we play against,

the better we are.

It's against lumberjacks with tight man-marking we are not coming into our

game and loose oversight.

Limbo

[Limbo]

Update:

It's a charity game to the benefit of the flood victims. It starts at 6 pm.

Nice thing to do!

Alltogether more than 30.000 Baht was collected among the approximately

1600 loyal fans that wittnessed this glorified training session.

The match itself had few highlights and at many occasions Chiang Mai

played better football. It was a fair game, the players avoided

injuries and it seemed as if keeping up the match routine was the main

purpose of it all. The result, rather insignificant, was 1 - 1.

It felt good to be back on the old field in town, once the craddle of

Chiangrai United's road to the Thai Premier League.

The quality of the pitch itself is still as miserable as it was before.

It is an old stadium and it is very sad that the provincial authority doesn't

give it more attention.

Maintenance seems structurally to be very problematic within the public sector.

If only half the money spent on billboards supporting the everlasting myth

that the railway comes to Chiang Rai could be invested in the stadium, but no.

Now it is and remains a field dangerous for the players and absolutely

unsuitable for quality football.

Coming Saturday, November 19 at 6 PM, another friendly game is scheduled.

This time it will be played in the stadium of the Mae Fah Luang University.

The opponent will be Nan FC, a pleasant surprise for those foreigners living

in Chiang Rai that support this team.

One of the players of Nan celebrating the first point ever earned by Nan FC in

the TPL Division 2 region North, it happened in April this year:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Nan played this year for the first time in the Second Division region North and

ended not without merit in 13th position (out of sixteen clubs).

The first ten games were lost by Nan...

The eleventh game, at home against Kamphaengphet, brought the first point.

In the 19 games that were left another 25 points followed.

It's an enthousiastic team and it has a great fan base in Nan.

That even Chiang Rai foreigners embraced it, is coincidence

Limbo

It is fantastic that Chiangrai United has such a great and well-organised fanclub

in the Bangkok area: Kwangkrung Lanna, susu! Here Kwangkrung in action:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .