| Full name | Nakhon Ratchasima Football Club สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดนครราชสีมา |
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| Nickname(s) | The Swat Cats Korat |
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| Founded | 1999 | ||
| Ground | 5th December Stadium Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand (Capacity: 20,141) |
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| Chairman | Phollapee Suwanchawee | ||
| Manager | Thewet Kamolsin | ||
| League | Regional League Division 2 | ||
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Nakhon Ratchasima Football Club (Thai สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดนครราชสีมา), also known as Korat, is a semi-professional football club based in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. They play in the Regional League North-East Division of the Regional League Division 2 along with fifteen other teams from 'Issan'.
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Nakhon Ratchasima FC were formed in 1999. They have spent their ten year history playing in provincial leagues and the lower divisions of the Thai Football League. They have yet to achieve promotion from any division they have played in.[1]
In 2007, despite finishing fourth from bottom in a twelve-team division (in Division 1), 'Korat' were relegated to the newly formed third tier of the Thai football pyramid because of league restructuring
In 2008, Korat finished fourth in the now defunct Division 2 Group A. Korat started the season slowly but embarked on a five game winning streak in the middle third of the season which gave them a chance of promotion. However, a disappointing run-in meant that Korat eventually finished fourth.[2]
In 2009, Korat finished second in the inaugural Division 2 Northeast.[3] Despite leading the division for most of the season, they slipped to second on the final day as they drew 1-1 at home with Nakhon Phanom FC whilst title rivals Loei City beat Chaiyaphum United 1-0. They also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup (the only Regional League side to make it to that stage) but lost to TPL side Thai Port FC.[4]
In 2010, the club finished fourth in the expanded 16-team Northeast Division. Another high finish but they were far behind the top two of Loei and Buriram. Head coach Mann Jantanarm resigned after the 4-0 away defeat to Buriram F.C. and was replaced by a member of the backroom staff, Vichan Cha-on Sri. Despite a successful FA Cup run in 2009, the club fell at the first hurdle in the 2010 competition as they lost 2-1 away at F.C. Phuket. They were slightly more successful in the relaunched League Cup. Loei City were beaten 3-1 at the 80th Birthday Stadium in the preliminary round. This set up a first round proper clash with TPL side Samut Songkhram F.C. to be played over two legs. A good first leg performance saw Korat go down just 1-0 to opponents ranked two divisions higher. In the second leg, however, Korat lost 7-0 as the class of the opposition finally told.
| Season | League | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-00 | Provincial League | 10th | Inaugural Provincial League season. 12 teams in the division |
| 2001 | Provincial League | 10th | 12 teams in the division |
| 2002 | Provincial League Group 1 | 4th | 6 teams in the division. Provincial League is divided into two groups of six with the top three from each group forming a final group of six. |
| 2003 | Provincial League | 6th | 12 teams in the division |
| 2004 | Provincial League | 7th | 10 teams in the division |
| 2005 | Provincial League | 6th | 12 teams in the division |
| 2006 | Professional League | 10th | 16 teams in the division. A new league set up by the SAT to be in direct competition with the FAT's Premier League |
2007 and 2008 seasons are covered in detail below.
Korat's most notable former player is Promphong Kransamrung who scored 26 goals in 23 matches for Korat in 2009. He moved to TPL side BEC Tero Sasana in November 2009[5] but re-signed for Nakhon Ratchasima F.C in June 2011.[6] In December 2009 former Chonburi FC and BEC player David Le Bras signed for Korat.[7]
Korat play in the 80th Birthday Stadium which was the main stadium for the 2007 SEA Games. Korat moved to the stadium in the middle of the 2008 season having previously played at the city's Central Stadium. They also played home games in the town of Pak Chong when the Central Stadium was being renovated for the SEA Games during the 2007 season. The club originally played at the Army Stadium close to Nakhon Ratchasima city centre. This was their main home stadium from 1999 to 2006, although they occasionally played at Rajabhat University and Suranaree University of Technology during this period.[8]
Despite the city of Korat having a population in excess of 400,000 and Nakhon Ratchasima Province having a population in excess of 2.5 million, Korat struggled to attract more than 400 for most home games throughout their history. This situation was addressed in the 2009 season as Division 2 was relaunched as the Regional League. Korat were now playing in a division composed solely of other clubs from Issan. The club was extensively promoted and publicized around the city with the result that attendances have been in excess of 1,000 since just 258 turned up to watch the match against Roi Et FC in May 2009. Some 4,500 were in attendance for Korat's home game with Nakhon Phanom in September 2009, and the matches against Loei, Pattaya United and Sakhon Nakhon were also watched by crowds in excess of 3,000.[9] Korat also have a vocal and active 'Fanclub' who bang drums and sing songs throughout matches. It is from this Fanclub that Korat's small away following is comprised.
| Season | Pld | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | PTS | Final Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand Division 1 League 2007 Group B | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 28 | 9th | Relegated to Thailand Division 2 League |
| Thailand Division 2 League Group A 2008 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 36 | 19 | +17 | 31 | 5th | |
| Regional League Northeast 2009 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 50 | 21 | +29 | 43 | 2nd | Runners-up |
| Regional League Northeast 2010 | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 51 | 37 | +14 | 51 | 4th |
Head Coach - Thewet Kamolsin
Assistant Coach - Jaruwat Yodchu
Assistant Coach - Jetnipat Ratchachalimrot
Goalkeeping Coach - Supricha Jaroebtanto
As of July 2011 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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