Royal Thai Army FC
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| Full name | Army United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) |
Gentleman Ranger (สุภาพบุรุษวงจักร) |
| Founded | 24 February 1916 |
| Ground |
Thai Army Sports Stadium Bangkok, Thailand |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Chairman | Gen. Chalermchai Sitthisart |
| Manager | Col. Kittichet Mahothorn |
| Coach | Rangsiwut Chaloempathum (interim) |
| League | Thai League 2 |
| 2016 | 16th (Relegated) |
| Website | Club home page |
Army United Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลอาร์มี่ ยูไนเต็ด) is a Thai football club based in the Phayathai District of Bangkok. They play in the second division in Thai football, the Thai League 2. Their home stadium is known locally as the Thai Army Sports Stadium and more widely known around Asian circles as the Royal Thai Army Stadium of which has been host to numerous international youth matches due to its central Bangkok location. The club play in green shirts with white shorts and black socks.
The club was known as Royal Thai Army until November 2010. Despite finishing bottom of the Thai League 1 in 2010 they managed to regain their top-flight status after winning Group B of the Thai League Play-off in 2011.
Army United represent the Royal Thai Army and have traditionally been Thailand's yo-yo club along with the Navy and Police clubs. Up until 2010 and the name change from the Royal Thai Army to Army United, the club lacked support and had dwindling crowds, mainly supported by Army personnel shipped in for the games.
The Army team has always been a mid ranking Thai team with their biggest successes coming in the Thai Division 1 League with a championship in the 2004–05 season and 2nd place in 2009. Both of these successes have of course come after relegation from the PLT.
The club are based in the Din Daeng District of Central Bangkok, which is the area that bases the Royal Thai Army. Up until the 2011 season, the club operated a policy of only playing home grown talent, but ditched this as the game became more professional and foreign players were brought into the team. Previously the players would work for the Army during the week and play football on weekends, somewhat different from most clubs who operated on a full-time basis.
In the 2010 season they were reprieved from relegation after an end of season relegation/playoff system was announced to expand the Thai Premier League. They came 16th in that season and in a normal season they would have been relegated.
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