Suphachalasai Stadium, which is also known as the National Stadium, is a multi purpose stadium in the centre of Bangkok that was opened in 1935. Over the years it hosted many football internationals before the construction of Rajamangala.
Many different Thai league clubs have also used the stadium, particularly for Asian Football Confederation competitions as many league grounds don't meet the criteria required.
Suphachalasai was used as the main stadium for the 1966, 1970 and 1978 Asian Games. It also staged the game between Oman and Iraq in the 2007 AFc Asian Cup.
My visit
I was in Thailand in April 2008 primarily for the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes and a holiday afterwards. I was staying at Steve and Ea's on the outskirts of the city and decided that a day looking at the stadiums in the city was in order.
I took the skytrain to the station called National Stadium, which is extremely convenient. Next door stands the Thephasadin Stadium, which was used at the time by various club sides. It was like a warm up stadium for the main structure by the looks of things.
I was delighted to see the goods entrance opened by the main gates so I wandered in. There were many labourers readying the stadium for the next event, but a smile seemed to do the trick and I was in.
The stadium had a running track but the stands were right alongside it and were steeply banked. Three sides were opened with a roof over the main straight of the track. I could easily imagine it being able to create a good atmosphere with a big crowd.
I left and found several side streets behind the covered side were the hub of sports equipment in the country. Rows and rows of shops sold replica shirts of varying authenticity at wide price ranges depending on the naivety and bargaining power of the buyer.
I found the shop of Grand Sport, the company that provided kits to many Thai League teams and bought a few shirts for my collection. I just wish Thai sizes were the same as in the UK!
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