Nongbua Pitchaya F.C.

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.^[2][3]

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.

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,^[4] where Suthin Srithong was the first coach and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) was the club sponsor.

The club entered Thai Division 2 League (North Eastern Region) 2010 season, the third tier of Thai football league system with the revamp name changed to EGAT Nongbua Lamphu United and received the nickname Phu Phan Kham Thunder.

On 14 February 2010, Nongbua played their first ever game against Udon Thani at Institute of Physical Education Udon Thani Stadium, which ended in a 0–1 win.

After the end of 2010 season, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) didn't renew a sponsorship agreement thus seeing the 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 2011 and lost to Yasothon United 7–4 in first qualifying round (northeastern region), in the league they finished twelfth on the table.

In 2012 season they have a financial problems and not have a sponsorship^[5] but still finished twelfth again, during the 2013 season, a dismal run of form saw the team go down to the bottom of the league table with only 24 points from 30 games, they lost 14 games, won only 4 games and finished fifteenth on the table. Because of a lack of liquidity 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 his takeover of the club, and Nongbua finished twelfth in the 2014 season.

In the 2015 season, the club changed their badge and name to Nongbua Pitchaya, the new chairman made the club sustainable and gave more transfer-wage budgets. Nongbua had their first-ever 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 eighth in Division 2 northeastern region.

In 2016 season, Nongbua relocated from the northeastern to the northern region and qualify to the second round in Thai League Cup and Thai FA Cup, the club made a good performance in northern region including a 5–0 win over Phetchabun and lost only 3 games. They qualified to Division 2 Champions League round as winner of northern region 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 match on 14 October 2016. To find 3 of 4 teams to promoted to Thai League 2 made by draw lots, and the club was promoted after the drawing of lots with Kasetsart and Trat.

Nongbua continued to grow as a sports club and also began acquiring more assets. Nongbua's first football stadium started construction in 2019 and completed in used for the Thai League 2 in 2020.^[6]

Nongbua then went on to win the 2020–21 Thai League 2 in March 2021, earning them promotion to Thai League 1 for the first time in their history.

Nongbua Pitchaya's officially moved to their new stadium, Pitchaya stadium which is officially meant for football purposes.^[7]

Nongbua Pitchaya opened its first academies in 2016. The club is one of the leading youth football development academies in Northeast Thailand^[8] same level as Buriram United academies – The club's youth team Under-13 and Under-15 are the Northeastern Upper reginal winners of Thailand Youth League in 2017-18 and 2018–19 season. The club also sends youth teams to compete in the country's major youth football events, such as the cp-meiji cup held in Buriram province.^[9] The club's youth team performed well in CP-meiji Cup U-14 International Champions, in 2018 semi-final round beat Aspire Academy.^[10] The achievements in the development of the youth academy of Nongbua Pitchaya in the country causing football players to join the Thai national youth team such as Thawatchai Aocharod.^[11]

The academy coaches are supported by the club to send professional coaching lessons according to the Asian Football Confederation curriculum to develop the potential of the instructors to acquire knowledge subjects under the concept of Pitchaya academies by playing developed under the name "Nong Bua Lona" style that focuses on - agility, movement, effective passing of the ball. In 2019, the Academy of Nong Bua Pichaya has more than 200 children, divided into 9 generations according to age (11–19 years), whose production begins to bloom in the third year of the academy.^[8]

• Shonan Bellmare (2022–present)^[13]

Nongbua Pitchaya have entered a ground breaking alliance with Japanese club Shonan Bellmare in 2022. This agreement to be of benefit to both clubs through the exchange of young players and coaching staff, shared knowledge on technical–training methods and playing friendly matches together.

Nongbua Pitchaya youth teams was invited to join the competition "Copa Belmare International tournament" held in Japan that Shonan Bellmare hold this tournament every year.^[14]

• Hougang United (2025–present)^[15]

Nongbua Pitchaya vice president, Kritsaya Phumongkolsuriya, met the Singaporean club technical director of Hougang United, Akbar Nawas who visited the facilities of the club at Pitchaya Stadium. The meeting focused on discussions regarding football philosophy and development approaches, with the possibility of future collaboration between the two clubs to jointly enhance their sporting potential. Hougang United at this point, remarkbly featured several Thai players competing in the Singapore Premier League.

Current squad Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Note 1: The official club website lists the supporters as player 12th man.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

• Thai League 2
  • Champions (1): 2020–21
• Regional League Northern Division
  • Champions (1): 2016

As of 30 January 2026.

• Biggest wins: 10–1 vs Kasetsart (25 February 2025)
• Heaviest defeats:
  • 7–0 vs Buriram United (30 April 2025)
  • 7–0 vs Buriram United (18 May 2025)
• Youngest goal scorers: Thanawut Phochai ~ 17 years 9 months 22 days old (On 24 September 2023 vs Suphanburi)
• Oldest goal scorers: Piyaphon Phanichakul ~ 37 years 3 months 17 days old (On 25 February 2025 vs Kasetsart)
• Youngest ever debutant: Thanakit Auttharak ~ 15 years 7 months 10 days old (On 27 October 2021 vs Chattrakan City)
• Oldest ever player: Kittikun Jamsuwan ~ 40 years 9 months 26 days old (On 4 April 2025 vs Chiangrai United)

• Official website
• Nongbua Pitchaya F.C. on Facebook