“The Sharks” Chonburi FC launched the club to fight in the 2024/25 season by holding a press conference to introduce sponsors, footballers and new competition uniforms under the campaign “11 States One Stand: Different origins, same faith” to celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Chang-Chonburi partnership in a grand manner and holding a party to thank the fans at the event “Chonburi Sharks, our own people” amidst the fans and people of Chonburi Province who showed their interest and traveled to join the event in large numbers on the evening of Friday, July 26.
The event was honored by “Big Pok” Mr. Witthaya Khunpluem, the club president, Mr. Anop Singtothong, the club vice president, Sinthaveechai Hathairattanakool, the team manager, “Coach Kob” Phipop On-Mo, the head coach, along with executives from leading business organizations and products in Thailand who provided support.
Mr. Witthaya Khunpluem said that first of all, he would like to apologize to all Sharks fans for disappointing them last year. However, for this year, the club has made improvements, changes, and developments to make the team stronger and ready to achieve the goal of promotion to the Thai League. Most importantly, to be the champion of Thai League 2. “As for the Chang FA Cup and the League Cup, we will try to go as deep as possible, especially the Chang FA Cup. We will create a surprise.”
The ceremony on stage was more than 2 full hours, starting from the introduction of the Shark representatives from 11 districts in the new training uniforms, which were opened for applications last June, along with a special talk, recounting the story of the 24-year relationship between Chang and Chonburi Sharks, hosted by Samruk Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya, along with Thitikorn Acharin, the team secretary, and Mr. Aun, a true Chonburi FC fan and owner of the Luk Nam Kem page, who brought the 23-season uniforms to show off to fans. On stage, we got to see the long history of the relationship between Chang and Chonburi.
The highlight was the unveiling of the new kit through the TVC, “Friends of Sharks”, featuring “Nut” Nat Kitcharit, “Vee” Weeraya Jang, “Ben” Benjamin Joseph Varney, and “R” Atthakorn Boonpeng, the gang of friends who are Sharks fans who starred in the launch clip. The three league kits, home, away, and goal, were also on sale, allowing fans to reserve them before anyone else.
The final list of the squad that will be used in the 2024/25 season under the command of “Coach Kob” Phipop On-Mo and the senior players led by Chanarong Promsrikaew who wore the captain’s armband. Wearing the new number 10, Yotsakorn Burapa, Songchai Thongcham, Chatmongkol Rueangthanarot, Jakkapong Saenmahung and introducing new players for the first time, Derley and Fergus Tierney, etc.
For Chonburi FC, there will be a program to play the first match in the Thai League 2, season 2024/25, meeting Suphanburi FC on Friday, August 9 at Chonburi Daikin Stadium at 7:00 p.m.
From Hero to Zero
Chonburi was one of the founding teams of the modern Thai Premier League. They won the 2005 Provincial League and gained promotion to the national league for the 2006 season. Their first season lacked any promise, as they finished eighth in a twelve-team league. But, the following season shocked everyone as Chonburi FC went on to win the 2007 Thai Championship by nine points over Krung Thai Bank. That was their first of seven major honours as a football club.
From then on, they enjoyed a healthy run of form. They finished in the top three of the league for the next eight seasons in a row from 2008 to 2014, during which they won the 2010 Thai FA Cup and four Kor Royal Cups (or the Thai Supercup). From the 2015 onwards, they would never breach the top three spots ever again, but still managed to snatch a rare FA Cup victory in 2016 under unfortunate circumstances; Chonburi had progressed to the semi-finals of that year’s FA Cup, but the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej meant every form of entertainment had to be suspended, including football. Chonburi shared the 2016 FA Cup title with three other teams: Chainat Hornbill, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol, and Sukhothai FC.
From 2017 onwards, their downward spiral truly took turn for the worse. Chonburi started to dip closer to the bottom three spots, but would gradually make up places in the latter stages of the season. In 2021, they finished 12th, two spots higher than the relegation zone, but made yet another FA Cup final which they lost to Chiangrai United.
After a seventh place in 2022 and sixth in 2023, people thought Chonburi’s dip in form was merely temporary, but they were incorrect. Chonburi spent the majority of the 2024 season embedded in relegation battle and, although they had escaped up to tenth place by matchday 18, their momentum quickly vanquished.
In the end, Chonburi became the first Thai champion to get relegated in more than a decade, and it all happened in less than three years after their most recent chance of silverware. If you believe that Chonburi will turn it around in 2025 and return to the top flight where they truly belong, head to our Thai betting sites not through agents and place your bets now for a chance to win big!
Dariel Campbell is currently an English instructor at a university. She has experience in teaching and assessing English tests including TOEFL, IELTS, BULATS, FCE, CAE, and PTEG. With over a decade of teaching expertise, Dariel Campbell utilizes his knowledge to develop English lessons for her audience on English Overview.
