Port F.C.

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.

Lineups of the 2009 Thai FA Cup Final between Port and BEC Tero Sasana.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

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.

Nualphan Lamsam chairperson of Port F.C. since 2015.

In 2015, the club was taken over by Nualphan Lamsam, Thai business woman, by signing the Memorandum of Understanding of a 5-year contract with Port Authority of Thailand to control the club's management.[4] Nualphan, commonly known to locals as ‘Madam Pang’ the majority shareholder of Muang Thai Life Insurance and the Assistant Secretary General of the Democratic Party, which has held power over Bangkok for over a decade.[5] Since Port FC Co took over the management of the club in 2015 by Nualphan, the team's results have improved.

In 2017, Port returned to Thai League 1, Nualphan Lamsam announced the appointment of Kiatisuk Senamuang as the new head coach of the club; Kiatisuk was manager of the Thailand national football team 2014–2017.[6] Kiatisuk resigned as coach of Port after just three months in charge, managing just one win, six losses and three draws during his time with the club.[7]

In 2018, ‘Madam Pang’ loosened the purse-strings significantly in the transfer window, making a clear statement to the rest of the division. Arrivals such as winger Nurul Sriyankem from Chonburi, left-back Kevin Deeromram from Ratchaburi Mitr Phol, and most significantly, forward Dragan Bošković from Bangkok United.[5] The club finished third in the 2018 Thai League 1 season and created history by claiming 61 points – the club's highest points in a single season[8] under Jadet Meelarp manager.

Worawut

Elias

Rochela (C)

Nitipong

Deeromram

Go Seul-ki

Tanaboon

Pakorn

Bordin

Sumanya

Suárez

2019 Thai FA Cup Final starting lineup Port 1 - 0 Ratchaburi Mitr Phol[9]

Expected to be one of the contenders for the 2019 Thai League 1 title, Port FC looked on course for a successful campaign until June, when a poor run of form led to the sacking of Jadet Meelarp.[10] The club subsequently appointed national team assistant Choketawee Promrut as head coach and former Manchester City defender Spencer Prior as technical director, sparking a reversal of the team's form as they won five of their next six games.[11] They also qualified for the 2019 Thai FA Cup Final for the first time in a decade.[12]

Port won the Thai FA Cup 2019 title after defeating Ratchaburi Mitr Phol 1-0 in the final held at the Leo Stadium, Midfielder Sergio Suarez scored the only goal of the game in the third minute of the second half to give Port their second Thai FA Cup title in front of FIFA president Gianni Infantino who was among those in attendance. All eyes were on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology which was employed by the Football Association of Thailand for the cup final.[13]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  THA Watchara Buathong 2 DF  THA Thitawee Aksornsri 3 DF  THA Thitathorn Aksornsri 4 DF  THA Elias Dolah 5 FW  ESP Sergio Suárez 6 DF  THA Todsapol Lated (Vice-captain) 7 MF  THA Pakorn Prempak 8 MF  KOR Go Seul-ki 9 FW  THA Adisak Kraisorn (on loan from Muangthong United) 10 MF  THA Bordin Phala 11 MF  THA Tanasith Siripala 13 MF  THA Nurul Sriyankem 14 MF  THA Tawin Mahajindawong 15 DF  PHI Martin Steuble 16 MF  THA Siwakorn Jakkuprasat (captain) 17 MF  THA Charyl Chappuis

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 GK  THA Rattanai Songsangchan 20 DF  THA Adisorn Promrak 21 DF  THA Jaturapat Sattham 22 DF  ESP David Rochela (3rd captain) 23 DF  THA Kevin Deeromram 24 DF  THA Worawut Namvech 25 GK  THA Chatcharin Phutangdaen 31 MF  THA Kanarin Thawornsak 34 DF  THA Nitipong Selanon 36 GK  THA Worawut Srisupha 45 MF  THA Nattawut Sombatyotha 70 FW  THA Phodchara Chainarong 71 MF  THA Tanaboon Kesarat 94 FW  CIV Yannick Boli 99 FW  SLV Nelson Bonilla (on loan from Bangkok United) — DF  THA Meechok Marhasaranukun

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  THA Chatmongkol Thongkiri (at Muangthong United) — DF  THA Sarawut Kanlayanabandit (at Muangthong United) — DF  THA Yossawat Montha (at Songkhla) — MF  THA Chanayut Jejue (at Ayutthaya United) — MF  THA Sansern Limwattana (at Trat)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  THA Pattharapol Jiemking (at Muang Loei United) — DF  THA Pollawat Buachoom (at Satun United) — MF  THA Jakkrit Senkaew (at Satun United) — FW  THA Nanthawat Suankaeo (at Nongbua Pitchaya)

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