Songkla United

Songkla United

Songkla FC were founded in 1999, and made their way through the various provincial and the Regional League system, gaining promotion to Division 1 for the 2009 season. They were a strong force in that division, and went close to promotion in 2010 & 2011. However, chairman (& local MP) Nipon Boonyamanee lost patience in his quest for glory, and when a TPL spot became vacant after the two Buriram sides merged in 2012, he took the opportunity to buy Songkla a place at the top table. At first, the TPL said the club had to be based in North-East, but after the required amount of posturing and face-saving, the newly established Wuachon United set up base in Songkla without ever kicking a ball in Buriram. Wuachon took the bulk of Songkla’s squad, and Songkla were designated a reserve/development squad. Consequently, Songkla found themselves relegated in 2012 before being absorbed into the TPL entity at season’s end. Wuachon relied heavily on loan players from Buriram & Chonburi, and had a mediocre debut season in the TPL.