A New Football Field In Maechan...

[gerry1011]

Chiangrai Hills, the hill tribe football team which was set up last year has started to build its own stadium.

The stadium will be located in Maechan, a few steps from Insii Thai House.

The whole project will include a 100x64m field, a training field, stands 80m long, parking spaces, etc...

This will be a private field, home of Chiangrai Hills, and will be designed to nicely mix with the beautifull natural scenery of Maechan.

The construction has just started and is expected to last at least one year.

During 2010, the aim of Chiangrai Hills is to take advantage of the new collaboration with Chiangrai United, and improve this team of youngsters coming exclusively from the hills.

[Limbo]

Great!

Concerning the design and construction of the stadium everything will be done to exploit

the natural conditions of the environment in a way as balanced as possible, thus creating a

harmonious unity between the fresh green grass of the pitch and the evenso green but

sometimes golden rice fields that surround the stadium and on top of this of course also the

interaction between the flatness of the field and the surrounding undulating landscape.

No other location would fit as well for a team called "The Chiang Rai Hills FC".

The idea is that the stadium will reflect the wisdom of the old adagio

"Esse non Videri", which is as we all know Latin for "To be, not to be seen".

The picture of the stands illustrate this concept better than any wording could do.

Limbo

. . . . . . .

[mcgriffith]

Good on you, gerry1011.

[gerry1011]

By the way, many people ask us why Chiangrai Hills did not try to play in second division this year.

There are a few reasons. The first reason being that it is a very new team and that it needs more experience. Low profile is key to a long term success...

If a team goes up to second division, it should be only when the team is convinced that it can achieve respectable results. Otherwise, what's the point.

The second reason is that Chiangrai Hills is a team exclusively composed of (disadvantaged) hill tribe boys.

It was their wish to have a 100% hill tribe team and try to achieve good results without "buying" players from other provinces, or from abroad.

The team is well funded and buying players would be an easy option. But since the team sticks with its own 100% hill tribe policy, it makes the things a bit more difficult and longer.

However, we have been very pleased to see that other teams playing in division one and two have been trying to convince some of our players to leave us for their club. This makes us believe that Chiangrai Hills players already have a certain level. Out of several players who were approached by other teams, only one reserve decided to leave. We wish him success for his future. All the others feel like they prefer to continue to build their pride, and the pride of the hill tribes, through their hill tribe team.

The last reason is that the team prefers to concentrate on getting more experience in football, and on the construction of the stadium.

The stadium is very important for them, since it will be a tool which they plan to use to build themselves a better future.

Once the stadium is completed we hope that Chiangrai Hills will be ready to compete with the big guys.

La patience est la reine des vertus...

Edited February 2, 2010 by gerry1011

[Limbo]

Sunday January 24 2010 The Chiang Rai Hills won the 7 to 7 CRUTD tournament at the airport.

8 Clubs from Wiang Chai, Maechan, Phan, Chiang Saen and Chiang Rai (non less than 'The Legion'!) participated.

On the picture we see Khun Suradet, the playing chairman of the Hills, receiving the Winner's Cup out of the hands

of Khun Mitti Tiyapairat, the Chairman of Chiangrai United.

Limbo

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

Reason for editing:

I forgot to mention that the Chiang Rai Hills played a friendly last Sunday against Chiangrai FC, formerly Thoeng FC,

the team that will play in the Second Division North of the TFA Regional League this year.

The coach of Chiangrai FC, Khun Tawid Klaitin, former player of the National Team of Thailand

got the opportunity to try out most of his players, but out 'Hills' team played the full 90 minutes.

Aside from the technical and tactical aspects, the physical condition of the Hills has improved enormously.

Chiangrai FC won 3 - 2.

Edited February 2, 2010 by Limbo

[gerry1011]

Here is a view of the future Chiangrai Hills Stadium

More pictures of the construction work can be accessed from the Weah Radio, or Chiangrai Hills websites

[Limbo]

Some pictures of the ceremony where the Chairman of the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Siammanukulkij

Foundation cuts the ribbon with the assistance of showmaster Andy of the program 'Chan Rak Muang Thai'

of Channel 9.

Without any doubt this stadium will be the most beautiful one around. All facilities, including a gigantic screen,

light poles, stands, shops, places for the players to stay, everything will be the latest state of the arts.

A budget of 30 million Baht will back up this claim.

Most of the readers of this forum will also recognize Khun Pramin of the Family steakhouse, who is not only

the badminton champion of this province, but an excellent media technician as well. Another celebrity

is Briton Khun Dave, founder and manager of northern Thailands only international football club 'The Foreign Legion'.

Another picture shows the delegation of the Orange Power, the supporters group of Chiangrai United FC.

The man in orange is Khun Suthee, the coach of the Hills, also coming from CRUTD.

It was with pride that many of the players brought members of their family down from the hills to wittness

this special moment.

What is happening on this hill is unique, never anything similar is done and the future spin-off of this project

will bring a lot of change and not only for those directly involved.

The co-operation with CRUTD is an integrating force, contributing strongly to the concept behind it all.

The conditions for further developments will soon be in place and the future will without doubt embrace them.

Limbo

[gerry1011]

The construction of the Chiangrai Hills stadium is under way.

The rainy season has made the progress rather slow but it should be quicker once the cold season arrives.

The stadium will be ready at the earliest next March.

The stadium will be the private field of the full hill tribe team Chiangrai Hills.

Other activities than football matches will also be organized at the stadium, which will have a giant LED screen, the biggest in the north of Thailand.

Updated pictures of the construction can be found on the Chiangrai Hills website.

The preparation of the 2 fields is finished and the grass should be planted in about a month.

High standards were followed for the construction, including for the training field.

The stands will sit approximately 2000 persons, while at least 1000 others will be able to sit or watch the matches from around the field.

Shops will make it available for the visitors of the stadium to buy drinks, coffee, food, Chiangrai Hills and Chiangrai United souvenirs, and sport clothes from all around the main field.

The ones who have the hardest time at the moment are the Chiangrai Hills players... who have to wait, wait and wait, before to be able to play on their own field.

Happiness is at the end of the tunnel

[gerry1011]

End November...

Ready to plant the grass...

Edited November 29, 2010 by gerry1011

[gerry1011]

4th of December... important day.

The grass arrived and in one day the work was done by the Chiangrai Hills players themselves.

Now another 3 months of patience, lots of watering and good care, before to play.

More can be seen on the Chiangrai Hills website.

Edited December 5, 2010 by gerry1011

[gerry1011]

Be welcome on 2nd of January. Bring the kids too !!!

[gerry1011]

the grass is coming...

[gerry1011]

Be welcome on 2nd of January. Bring the kids too !!!

A great and successful party !!!

The first big event of Chiangrai Hills' Stadium... still under construction.

More pictures can be seen on the weah radio website.

[gerry1011]

The Chiangrai Hills Stadium.

The team will be able to play on the fields in about 1.5 months.

The whole project should be ready to open in about 4 months.

[AndyPotten]

I hope everyone is ok and the stadium wasn't affected by the earthquake.

I'm not sure if you remember but I met met you, Gerry at the CRUTD promotion game at Customs and we chatted about CRH. You was surprised I had already heard about them..

Well, I have been following the progress for a while now and I am very much looking forward to coming up and seeing this fantastic team for myself in the near future.

It great to see the videos on the youtube channel too..

Keep up the great work and I can't wait to see for myself soon.

[Limbo]

I hope everyone is ok and the stadium wasn't affected by the earthquake.

Keep up the great work and I can't wait to see for myself soon.

No, everything is alright!

We can't wait to see you either!

Ladies and gentlemen, Andyyyy, the foreigner that made it!

Limbo

Progress is made in Maechan and the field is already used for training.

Edited April 1, 2011 by Limbo