Vana Nava Hua Hin City FC 2016

[Big Boy]

Yes, I was surprised (but pleased) to see Yongsak amongst that list - I thought he'd walked, following one of our departing coaches halfway through last season. On his day, he can be a match winner.

I am much happier with what is going on now compared with last season's BS. These guys will play with a lot more passion than some of the primadonnas we had last season. I'm not expecting too much in the way of results, but I am sure its going to be 110% effort.

[Geordie Dancer]

A new year and a new season beckons. May I take this opportunity to wish all Hua Hin FC supporters and correspondents a happy new year. There has been very little news or enlightenment from the club regarding the fiasco of last season. I think at this stage despite promised but unforthcoming statements the truth of the events will never be known and will be glossed over in a very Thai fashion for fear of losing face.

With the benefit of hindsight I think it is fair to say that to varying extents everyone was conned last season. It is easy to point fingers at odd individuals for the mayhem but many others need to hold their hands up and take their share of the responsibility for what happened. We would probably all agree that the "owners", whoever they were if they could be regarded as owners at all, f**ked it up but what of others? I argued long and hard last season that the club was being mismanaged, yet many of that management team are still in place. Have they learnt their lessons or could the same happen again. Recent reports state that the club is in a dire financial state, with virtually no team and no sponsors. The CGF situation aside, how could the mangement of a professional club allow what amounts to a season long free sponsorship to happen. Had proper sponsorship agreements been signed between the club and its sponsors I am sure that they would not be in the dire state they are now, instead if reports are to believed they did not recieve one baht from all business adorning the Hua Hin FC strip. I can understand the sponsors disagreement with the clubs involvement with TOT and as a result pulling the plug but to do so having not paid over any money, they are equally culpable.

So what of this season? I took the opportunity to visit the new ground in Khao Takiab to watch two of the four days of trials prior to Xmas. Must say wasn't impressed. Most on view were little more than school kids which I suppose is understandable given that university scholarships were on offer by the club. Only two of probably 200 players caught my eye and looked to have potential and ability to develop into footballers suitable for division 2 football.
There were a few other more experienced players milling around, namely, Wongsawad, Patay Sayeamsak and reserve keeper Krit Pinyo. A few Africans, I think from the Cameroons, were also there plus one or two other unfamiliar faces.

Yesterday I went to watch the 2nd day of pre-season training. In excess of 20 players were there but most were unfamiliar to me. Wongsawad was the only player from last season but there were 5 Africans, some of whom I had seen at the trials and pleasingly one of the players whom had caught my eye. There were a few other players who looked like they had played before, presumably these are the players who the club has talked about as joining to help out. Overall the session was amateurish. I would have thought that having watched and worked with coach Kai and his team last season the "old guard" would have learnt something but from what I saw yesterday apparently not. Still it is early days.

Since Xmas there has been a tournament for, I guess, local teams at the new ground. I have watched quite a few games and the standard is decent. If Hua Hin are looking for players for the coming season this should be where their focus should be. The competition is ongoing and I think ends at the weekend. Today was the first two of the quarter final games. Both were good games ending in draws and being decided by penalty shoot outs. The second game was particularly enjoyable between Chiva Som and Krating. Both teams had former Hua Hin players on view. Chiva Som had the lad whom played right back (No.15 in last seasons squad, still don't know his name). Krating had Wongsawad, Patay Sayeamsak, Yongsak and Surapon our left back before leaving at the mid season break. The game ended 3 - 3 with Chiva Som winning on penalties. Yongsak had his penalty saved for Krating. For anyone wishing to watch, the competition continues tomorrow with the last two quarter finals. Kick offs are advertised as 12.30 and 2.30 but it has tended towards 1.00 and 3.00.

[Big Boy]

Yes, unfortunately I think you're right that the truth will never come out, leaving us all to form our own version of the truth. I know my version, as does everybody else knows thiers. However, shit happens, and we all have to move on.

The last thing I will say on the matter is that there are so many similarities to what happened to Plymouth Argyle, it is actually unbelievable. Lightning does strike twice.

This season we have to move on, and be grateful that we still have a local football team to follow.

Personally, I'm not expecting too much, but I hope the fun element returns to the terraces. Additionally, if reports are correct, the experienced players who are returning for a pittance in salary are returning for out of loyalty to great club. I hope as a result they'll play with a lot of passion.

The balance of the team is reportedly being made up with youngsters (Manchester Utd made it work with the likes of Beckam, Giggs, Scholes, the Neville's etc). So hey, maybe we'll find a couple of superstars. If we don't, lets hope the passion from the Senior players rubs off on the youngsters.

I'm looking forward to seeing our new team blend, and hopefully achieve a top 10 placing, which IMO will be pretty good given the resources that we have. Let's return to the fun, family side of a couple of years ago.

[Big Boy]

Pre-season fixtures have been announced (experience tells me that these are always subject to last minute change, so always check back here, where we will endeavor to provide latest information):

17 Jan @ 16:00hrs - Samut Prakan venue Samorphong training ground - cost 0 Baht

19 Jan 16 @ 17:00hrs - Nakhon Rachasima venue True Arena (new tennis club) - cost 0 Baht

22 Jan 16 @ 16:00hrs - Muang Krung FC venue Takiab Stadium (new home) - cost 0 Baht

28 Jan 16 @ 17:30hrs - Port FC venue Takiab Stadium - cost 50 Baht

4 Feb 16 @ 16:00hrs - Guinea FC venue Takiab Stadium - cost 0 Baht

12 Feb 16 @ 17:30hrs - Samut Sakhon venue Takiab Stadium - cost 50 Baht

Interesting to see them experimenting with kick-off times - let the season begin

[Geordie Dancer]

Think you might have missed one game. This Sunday 17th January KO 4pm Samut Prakan at Samorphong training ground. Admission free.

[Big Boy]

Thanks GD, was that there this morning? The reason I ask is I wrote out what I thought it said, and handed it to Mrs BB to give me her version. neither of us picked up on the first game.

I'll amend the above

[Big Boy]

I said the pre-season friendlies wee subject to change - tomorrows game against Samut Prakan has been cancelled

On a brighter note, Tuesday's fixture is still on for now

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[SydneyGuy]

Guys

whats the address of the stadium for Tuesdays match?

[Big Boy]

It is the True Arena, which is the site of the new tennis club that you see as you cross the flyover, just before Soi 112.

[Geordie Dancer]

Hua Hin City 0 Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda 4

This afternoon saw the first of many pre-seasons games kick off at the Centennial Park True Arena with a testing game against mid table premier league outfit Nakhon Ratchasima. From a Hua Hin perspective there is little positive I can say about our team, they were very, very poor and Nakhon hardly had to break sweat to achieve their victory. With two different elevens taking to the pitch for each half no one stood out. I can't remember Hua Hin having a serious shot on target in the 90 minutes. Last season the majority of our goals were scored by Lucas, Andre and Anucha. On todays performance we have no one who looked to have the ability to score or even worse, who actually new where the goal was! It's going to be a long season.

On a positive note, there were at least 4 players with ability not playing. Why? I have no idea. The returning Shota didn't get a kick. I have seen three decent african lads in recent weeks. Two were at the game today but didn't even have Hua Hin kit on, the other wasn't even at the game. One of the africans, a young lad looks a very good striker. He has pace, is tricky and strong and a good finisher. I talked to him after the game and asked why he was not playing. In a very disappointed manner he replied he didn't know. If he doesn't get a game in a side which, on todays performance, has no strikers there is little hope for us this season.

Early days yet so lets see what happens on Friday. First game at the new Khao Takiab ground against Muang Krung FC. KO 4pm.

[Big Boy]

What a difference a season makes - last year it was almost impossible to get a bad word about Hua Hin City out of Geordie Dancer's fingers

Personally, I took a lot of encouragement out of yesterday. We have to remember this was the equivalent of Plymouth Argyle playing Manchester United. It was always going to be a bit of a one sided contest. Despite the many rumours/promises and most of all BS coming out of the club last season, Hua Hin City are still a Regional Central & West Second Division team. A team that was nearly taken under by unrealistic ambition. IMHO we are lucky to still have a football club this season.

Before I ramble on about the match, I have to say, what a wonderful facility the True Arena is for the city of Hua Hin. This was my first time at the True Arena, and I was well impressed. I took a walk over to the tennis arena, and climbed the steps to the sunken centre court. I could see at least 6 other 'regular' courts from my slightly raised position. The centre court was definitely not Wimbledon, and not the 5,000 seater facility I'd been told (bar talk ), but it was very compact, and looked very fit for purpose.

Centre court - very compact, and very fit for purpose

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Then I wandered over to the football pitches. First thing that hit me was the smell - a smell I had not experienced since watching Sunday morning football in Plymouth or travelling around the West country's rugby pitches watching my son. It's a smell I thought was unique to UK sports fields, but sure enough, it was nostalgia time.

The playing surfaces were easily the best I had seen in Thailand (previously, I would have given that award to the Chumchuri training facility in Kaeng Krachan). The grass was lush, and the surface looked like a giant snooker table.

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After the mis-dealings of last season, and the little information that had been given during the close season, I approached this game with extreme trepidation. However, having known plenty of dark days with Plymouth Argyle, surely it couldn't have been any worse. I was expecting rubbish, and hoping for anything better.

First thing that stuck me was the height of the Hua Hin side. We are definitely not a tall team, even by Thai standards. Then it was a game of spot the loyal player i.e. those who had shown their loyalty to our club in this time of dire need. The faces I spotted were Shota, Apirak (is that the reserve goalie's name or is it Krit), Wongsawad, Yongsak and Nattapong (was that Nattapong, or a slightly older lookalike). There may have been others, but I have a facial recognition problem.

From the warm up, Hua Hin were split into 2 squads - the professionals and the academy kids, and this was the way they played i.e. professionals in the first half and academy kids in the second. Nakhon Ratchasima did something similar.

From the very first crunching Nakhon Ratchasima tackle, it was clear that they meant business, and they were clearly a couple of classes above. 2 excellent goals by their first team saw half time arrive with a convincing lead. The Nakhon Ratchasima keeper was a lonely man in the first half. However, as the first half battle continued, there were several encouraging moments for Hua Hin, but we had very little up front to execute a finish. Did either team get out of first gear? We'll never know, but as a first match of the season, I suspect both teams had a little extra that they left in the locker room.

In the second half, it was the turn of the kids - these are the guys we have to rely on as we inevitably pick up injuries through the season. Being a Premier League team, Nakhon Ratchasima obviously had a better second 11 as well. Think about it, unless you are me, as a kid, who would you want to play for? Plymouth Argyle or Manchester United? OK, the kids were outclassed, but I actually thought the Hua Hin kids showed a lot of balls, and were unlucky not to score themselves. The Nakhon Ratchasima keeper was forced into making a couple of great saves. Our kids did show a lot of potential, and a couple of them really caught my eye. I think if we can fatten a couple of them up, we could have a couple of winners in the squad. We had 2 in particular who caught my eye, and I think they will soon be pressing for a first team place.

Overall, I took a lot of positives from this game, which after all was only their first time playing competitively together. The supporter turn out for a mid-week friendly was excellent. I don't think we're going to be chasing any honours this season, but I think we'll see some good honest football (no faffing about), and the fun element of supporting Hua Hin City, win or lose will return to the terraces - I really missed that last season.

Hua Hin City were 200% better than I feared going into yesterday's match.

[Big Boy]

A very one sided video from yesterday

[bsdk1960]

What a difference a season makes - last year it was almost impossible to get a bad word about Hua Hin City out of Geordie Dancer's fingers

yes your rigth BB,and another change from last season was the plastic chairs that you fancy so much

I was just there a few minutes passing by to another apointmen,and I agree that it is a nice place and facalites,cant wait to see the new stadium on friday if the game is still on.

[Big Boy]

LOL - Believe me, I sat on those plastic chairs with much trepidation i.e. first concern was load bearing, but more importantly the legs of those chairs sink into the soil like a knife through butter when I sit on them. I was fearful for the beautiful grass. Fortunately, Mrs BB chose a sturdy chair, and I didn't sink.

Our new home does not have such nice grass, but the seating is stronger.

[centermid7]

" I can't remember Hua Hin having a serious shot on target in the 90 minutes. "

" The Nakhon Ratchasima keeper was forced into making a couple of great saves. "

Were you fellers watching the same match ??

I certainly did not see anything there to brag on for the HH bunch. They were barely able to get it out of their own end in the first half (the wind against them was no help) but their first touch was not very good and runs off the ball nonexistent. Second half some better with the wind helping. Early days it is.

I certainly would agree with BB that the overall faculty looks great at this point. We need to check back in a couple of years as so many things here in Thailand look great when first built but fall apart soon after.

Cheers!