Nongbua Pitchaya Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลหนองบัว พิชญ) is a Thai professional football club based in Nong Bua Lamphu province, Thailand, that currently compete in the Thai League 2, the second tier of the Thai football league system."บิ๊กเทพ" เชื่อมั่นหนองบัวพิชญฯดีพออยู่ไทยลีกต่อไม่ทิ้งทีม! บอสใหญ่หนองบัว พิชญฯ ยันถึงทีมตกชั้นก็พร้อมสู้ต่อ
Nongbua was founded in Mueang Nong Bua Lam Phu district, Nong Bua Lamphu province in 2010. They played their home matches at Nong Bua Lamphu Province Stadium. They were first entered to the Thai football league system in 2010, competes in Thai Division 2 League (North Eastern Region), the third tier of Thai football league.
In 2017, Nongbua were first promoted to the Thai League 2, after winning the 2016 Regional League Division 2. In 2020 the club has won the 2020–21 Thai League 2 thus seeing them promoted to the 2021–22 Thai League 1 season for the first time in their history.
History The beginning and professionalism at the club The club was formed by Sports Association of Nong Bua Lamphu Province in 2010 as Nongbua Lamphu United. Nong Bua Lamphu mayor Watchara Leeprasert became the first club chairman, while Suthin Srithong was the first coach and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) was the club sponsor. The club entered the Thai Division 2 League (North Eastern Region) 2010 season, the third tier of the Thai football league system with the revamped name EGAT Nongbua Lamphu United and received the nickname Phu Phan Kham Thunder. On 14 February, Nongbua played their first ever game against Udon Thani at Institute of Physical Education Udon Thani Stadium, which ended in a 0–1 win. At the end of 2010 season, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) didn't renew a sponsorship agreement. Club changed their badge and name to Nongbua Lamphu Football Club in 2011 season and received the new nickname Electric eel.
Nongbua played their first-ever match in the 2011 Thai League Cup on 18 May and lost to Yasothon United 7–4 in first qualifying round. In the league they finished 12th. In 2012 season they had a financial problems, but finished 12th again. During the 2013 season, a dismal form saw the team go bottom of table with 24 points from 30 games, finishing 15th. The club was forced to search for new owners. During the 2014 season, Suthep Poomongkolsuriya, owner of Pitchayabundit College, a private university in Nong Bua Lamphu, completed takeover of the club.
First title and new stadium (2015–present) In the 2015 season, the club changed their badge and name to Nongbua Pitchaya. Nongbua had their first match in the Thai FA Cup on 24 June 2015 in the second round and they drew against Kamphaengphet 1–1, before losing in a penalty shoot-out. In the league, they finished 8th in Division 2 Northeast. In 2016 season, Nongbua relocated to the northern region. They qualified to Division 2 Champions League round as winner of Northern zone. In the league round, Nongbua qualified to semi-final, but following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Football Association of Thailand cancelled the remaining matches. The club was promoted after the drawing of lots with Kasetsart and Trat.
Rise of Nongbua Nongbua's first football stadium was completed for the Thai League 2 in 2020. Nongbua went on to win the 2020–21 Thai League 2 in March 2021, earning promotion to the Thai League 1 for the first time in their history.
Stadium Nongbua Pitchaya's officially moved to their new stadium, Pitchaya stadium which is officially meant for football purposes. Coordinates Location Stadium Capacity Year Nong Bua Lamphu Nong Bua Lamphu Province Stadium 4,333 2010–2020 Nong Bua Lamphu Pitchaya Stadium 6,000 2020–present
Academy development Nongbua Pitchaya opened its first academies in 2016 in Northeast Thailand. Its under-13 and under-15 were the Northeastern Upper reginal winners of the Thailand Youth League in 2017-18 and 2018–19. The club's youth team performed well in CP-meiji Cup U-14 International Champions, in 2018 semi-final round beat Aspire Academy. The academy coaches use "Nong Bua Lona" style that focuses on agility, movement and passing.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors YearKit manufacturerMain sponsor2017 Eureka DURO2018 Warrix2019–2020N/A2021–2023 Leo2023–present Ego Sports
Affiliated clubs
Shonan Bellmare (2022–present)
Hougang United (2025–present)
Players Current squad
Out on loan
Management and technical staff Management PositionNamePresident Suthep PoomongkolsuriyaVice president Kritsaya Phumongkolsuriya
Technical staff +PositionNameHead coach Santi ChaiyaphuakAssistant coach Suphachat ManakitGoalkeeper coach Chanapol KasemnetFitness coach Watthana NuttathatClub doctor Manusak Boon-arj
Honours Domestic Thai League 2 Champions (1): 2020–21 Regional League Northern Division Champions (1): 2016
Former players Internationally capped players AFC/OFC Mahan Rahmani Islam Batran Mahmoud Eid Amani Aguinaldo Christian Rontini Iain Ramsay Miguel Clarino Simen Lyngbø Izwan Mahbud Song Ui-young Cho Sung-hwan Park Jong-woo CAF Njiva Rakotoharimalala Abo Eisa UEFA Lidor Cohen CONMEBOL/ CONCACAF Judivan Marcus Haber Ramsés Bustos Alvin Fortes Deshorn Brown
Managerial history NamePeriodHonours Suthin SrithongJanuary–December 2010 Prasith SeelachaiJanuary–May 2011 Vilas ThipparosMay–December 2011 Ong-ard PrawongJanuary–March 2012 Supete SrisuwanMarch–December 2012 Kiattisak KamnerdboonJanuary–May 2013 Natthasak PhusordngernMay–December 2013 Saneh LungkaewJanuary–December 2014 Theerawekin SeehawongJanuary 2015–November 20182016 Regional League Division 2 Northern Region David Pons CarboneroDecember 2018–January 2019 Sugao KambeJanuary–June 2019 align="left" { Matthew HollandJune–November 2019 Somchai ChuayboonchumNovember 2019–April 20212020–21 Thai League 2 Thawatchai Damrong-OngtrakulMay 2021–November 2022 Emerson Pereira da SilvaDecember 2022–February 2023 Theerawekin Seehawong (Interim)February–July 2023 Sukrit YotheeJuly–June 20262023–24 Thai League 2 runners-up Santi Chaiyaphuakหนองบัว พิชญ ตั้ง โค้ชสันติ ไชยเผือก นั่งแท่นกุนซือใหม่คุมทัพJuly 2026–present
Season by season record SeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupTop goalscorerDivisionPWDLFAPtsPosNameGoals2010North-East301071344543710thOpted outOpted out2011North-East30661834652412thOpted outQR12012North-East306141035413212thOpted outQR12013North-East304121421492415thOpted outR12014North-East26611921302912thOpted outQR12015North-East34148124742508thR2QR22016North2212734822431stR2R22017T2321011114547418thQFR2 Jardel Capistrano Weerayut Sriwichai Issarapong Lilakorn62018T22812973235455thR1R1 Goran Jerković132019T2341210124342469thR2SF Christer Youssef62020–21T234211216316751stR3 – Valdo142021–22T13013894235476thQFR16 Hamilton192022–23 T1305619274721 15thR3R16 Barros Tardeli112023–24T23422668039722ndR3R1 Jardel142024–25T130691537622714thR2SF Paulo Conrado82025–26T234 166125959544th
ChampionsRunners-upThird placePromotedRelegated
P = Played W = Games won D = Games drawn L = Games lost F = Goals for A = Goals against Pts = Points Pos = Final position
QR1 = First Qualifying Round QR2 = Second Qualifying Round R1 = Round 1 R2 = Round 2 R3 = Round 3 R4 = Round 4
R5 = Round 5 R6 = Round 6 QF = Quarter-finals SF = Semi-finals RU = Runners-up W = Winners
References
External links