Port FC

History

Thai Port Football Club (Thai: การท่าเรือไทย เอฟ.ซี), formerly known as Port Authority of Thailand Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลการท่าเรือแห่งประเทศไทย) was founded in 1967 by Major Prachuap Suntranakul, who was the director of Port Authority Thailand at the time. He took on the role of chairman of Port Authority F.C and was instrumental in helping the club during its initial years.

In 1968 Port were crowned Kor Royal Cup winners, which sparked the most successful era in the club's history as they went on to win six Kor Royal Cup titles between 1968 and 1979. Port also had plenty of success in the Queen's Cup, winning it 4 times in succession from 1977 to 1980. Following the 1980 Queen's Cup win, Port Authority won four trophies in 13 years.

At the start of the 2009 Thai Premier League season, the club changed its name from Port Authority of Thailand Football Club to Thai Port Football Club Co. Ltd. The name change was introduced to be in line with the new Football Association of Thailand regulations that meant all teams in the top flight must be registered as limited companies. In the same year, Thai Port ended a 16-year wait for a trophy when they were victorious in the 2009 Thai FA Cup Final. Port's opponents on the day at Suphachalasai Stadium were BEC Tero. The match finished 1–1 after extra time, with Thai Port winning the penalty shoot out 5–4. Pipat Thonkanya scored the decisive spot kick after Port keeper Pattarakorn had saved BEC Tero's fifth penalty.

Ownership dispute

The Port Authority of Thailand has been granted the rights to operate the Thai Port Football Club in the Thai Premier League.

The Football Association of Thailand or the FAT and the Thai Premier League ruled on the legal dispute between the Thai Port Authority of Thailand and the Thai Port FC Company, over the operating rights of the Thai Premier League's Thai Port Football Club.

According to the ruling, the Port Authority of Thailand, the club's original owner, has been granted operating rights of the team for the 2011–12 Thai Premier League season.

The FAT claimed its decision is based on the fact that the club's ownership was never officially signed over to the Thai Port FC Company.

Meanwhile, President of Thai Port FC Company, Pichet Munkong, threatened to file a civil lawsuit in the court of law, citing Thai Premier League regulations which says that a state-enterprise such as the Port Authority of Thailand, is prohibited from operating a football club.

Pichet is planning to sue the FAT, the Thai Premier League, and the Asian Football Confederation.

However, Thai Port FC will only be permitted to compete in the upcoming season of the country's top flight league, set to begin on February 12, once its operator is registered as a for-profit corporation.

It remains unclear how the Port Authority of Thailand is planning to proceed with this matter.

Relegation from TPL

The ongoing boardroom disputes finally took their toll as Thai Port dropped to Division 1 for the first time in 2012. Investment in the team wasn't forthcoming as several departing players were replaced with lower quality ones. Thai Port failed to find the back of the net in almost half of their league games and were relegated on the penultimate round of fixtures when they lost 2–1 at home to Muang Thong United.

Floodlight saga

The promise by the owners to upgrade the floodlights to TPL standard has been dragging on now since 2010. The club were forced to play home games at the Supachalasai and Sarakul Stadiumin during the 2010 AFC Cup as their floodlights didn't match the AFC criteria while kickoffs for TPL games regularly start at 4pm at the PAT Stadium. The club were forced to bring in a temporary set of floodlights so that their last two TPL games in 2012 could kick off at 6pm to coincide with the other matches.

Club Takeover

In 2015 the club was taken over by Nualphan Lamsam, thai business woman and politician, by signing the Memorandum of Understanding of a 5 year contract with Port Authority of Thailand to control the club management.

Stadium

Thai Port F.C moved into the PAT Stadium in Khlong Toei District, Bangkok in 2009 which proved to be a very popular move with local supporters. Attendances rose sharply over the year and the club took the decision to build two new stands to increase the capacity from 6,000 to 12,000. Match tickets cost 80 baht or 100 baht and are bought from a small ticket office next to the stadium.

Supporters

Supporters of Thai Port are often referred to as the Khlong Toei Army. The name Khlong Toei Army refers to Khlong Toei District, the location of the club. "Nakrob Sad Nam-ngurn" refers to Orange-red Blue Warrior, the Thai Port's shirt colours.

The supporters of Thai Port and Chonburi have forged a very close friendship. Many supporters of Thai Port went to the FA Cup final in 2010 wearing Thai Port colors to cheer for Chonburi against Muangthong United. Likewise plenty of kitted-out Chonburi fans came to support Thai Port in their 2010 League Cup Final against Buriram PEA F.C.

Souvenir Shop

The club has a very well stocked souvenir shop which is located in the Stadium grounds. The shop stocks replica shirts, scarves and other merchandise.

Kits

The 2013 season kits are made by Grand Sport and sponsored by Singha Drinking Water and Port Authority of Thailand.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Note: International players shown in bold.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Former players

For details on former players, see Category:Thai Port F.C. players.

Managerial history

Managers/head coaches by year (1996–present)

Sponsors

The following are the sponsors of SIH (named "SIH Partners"):

Title Sponsor

Shirt Sponsor

Official Sponsors