Phuket FC get paired with Pattaya United in 2014 season opener
PHUKET: The island’s pro football (soccer) team, Phuket FC has been paired with Pattaya United in the first match of the Yamaha League One (YL1) 2014 season, which will kick off on February 22 and 23.
It has not yet been confirmed whether Phuket’s home match with Pattaya will be on Saturday or Sunday.
Pattaya United, were the only squad to be relegated from the Toyota Thai Premier League (TPL) at the end of the 2013 season.
The Thai Premier League (TPL) Co Ltd, offficial league organizers, yesterday staged the official draw for the first week of fixtures for both of the Kingdom’s professional soccer leagues – the elite TPL – which will be contested by 20 teams this year – and the second-tier, 18-team YL1.
All week one fixtures for the two leagues are as follows:
TPL
•Buriram Utd (2013 TPL champions) vs Songkhla United
•Airforce AVA FC (promoted from YL1 as 2013 champs) vs TOT SC
•Singh Ta Rua vs PTT Rayong (both promoted from YL1 as 2013 2nd and 3rd place, respectively)
•Chiangrai Utd vs Bangkok Glass
•Army Utd vs Bangkok Utd
•SCG Muangthong Utd (2013 TPL runners up) vs Chainat FC
•Samut Songkhram vs BEC Tero
•Suphanburi vs Ratchaburi Mitrphol
•Si Saket FC (given a bye even though did not play in 2013) vs Osotspa M150 Saraburi
•Chonburi (2013 TPL 3rd place) vs Police Friends
YL1
•Phuket FC (2013 YL1 12th place) vs Pattaya Utd (relegated from TPL 2013)
•Gulf Saraburi vs Si Racha FC
•Phitsanulok TSY (promoted from Division 2 playoffs 3rd place) vs Khon Kaen
•Trat FC vs Chiangmai FC (promoted from D2 playoffs 2nd place)
•Ayuthaya FC vs Angthong FC (promoted from D2 playoffs 4th place)
•Roi Et Utd (promoted from D2 playoffs 1st place) vs TTM-Customs
•Nakhon Ratchasima vs Bangkok FC
•Nakhon Pathom vs Krabi FC
Each team will play eachother twice – home and away – in addition to contesting two national cups – the Toyota League Cup and the Thailand FA Cup, which will also be contested by the dozens of semi-professional clubs in the Division 2 regional leagues.
Meanwhile, Phuket FC have a number of tough pre-season matches this month and next to prepare themselves for the league opener (see graphic above).
— Steven Layne
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