Air Force United (Thailand)

Air Force United FC are a professional football club who are based in the north of the Thai capital of Bangkok. The club were formed as Royal Thai Air Force FC in 1937 as they quickly became one of the most successful outfits in the country.

The clubs honours included several Khor Royal Cup and Queen's Cup triumphs throughout the decades. Success continued into the nineties as the Thai FA Cup was lifted in 1995 and 1996. This brought league honours as the Thai Premier League title was claimed in 1997 and 1999.

Silverware once again arrived at Thupatemee Stadium in 2001 as Air Force once more won the FA Cup. Unfortunately that saw the end of the run, which saw the team were relegated from the TPL at the end of the 2003-04 season.

In 2009 the club changed its name to Air Force United as regulations in Thai football required all clubs to become private franchises. United continued in the second tier of Division One as they tried to regain their top flight status without really getting close to promotion.

United had to re-locate to Ramkhamheang University for the latter part of the 2011 season as the floods in the north of the season hit Thupatemee Stadium. They moved out once more at the end of the following campaign to North Bangkok Stadium, while their home venue was renovated.

Air Force United FC will play in Thai League Division One in the 2013 season.

My visit

Luk Tapfah Pathum Thani 1 Futera Seeker 1 (Wednesday 27th March 2013) Thai Regional League Central West Region (att: approx 400)

Please see the Luk Tapfah Pathum Thani page for a match report at:

http://worldgroundhoptwo.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Luk%20Tapfah%20Pathum%20Thani%20%28Thailand%29

I had the opportunity to visit Thupatemee Stadium at the above game, after visiting several stadiums in the area. Because of its location I'd been past a few times and had flown right over it when using the nearby Don Mueng Airport. Indeed, during the match several Nok Air and Air Asia flights went close by over the pitch.

The stadium had a running track around the playing surface but the stands were straight at the ends, which would mean quite a viewing distance from the corners. It was immaculately painted in white, both inside and out. Just one side had a roof, with blue seating and a VIP and press area occupying the centre section. Old fashioned scoreboards stood at the rear of both ends.

Outside there was a large car park and some smaller pitches leading out onto Phahonyothin Road. The rear of the Main Stand had an excellent club shop, which would be well worth a second visit as it stocked shirts from many other Thai clubs as well as a paraphernalia of Blue Eagles souvenirs.