Asian Football Stadiums

Army Stadium, Phnom Penh

2011-07-04T12:23:00.003+07:00

Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh

2011-06-20T11:16:00.004+07:00

Olympic Stadium, Kampot

2011-06-17T09:34:00.006+07:00

The main, and only, stand with local transport parked in front
Behind the goal is an entrance gate
Get orrrfffff my land
Impressive stand eh?
The scoreboard, below

Tampines Stadium, Singapore

2011-03-15T12:39:00.005+07:00

Bog standard Singapore sports stadium complete with running track and temporary stands down one side of the field and one covered main stand.

Short walk, perhaps 15 minutes if you get lost in one of the malls, from Tampines MRT, like other Singapore stadia it suffers from over officious stewards who make you feel as welcome as Porky Pig and his family at a Bar Mitzpha.

Larkin Stadium, Johore Bahru

2011-03-12T06:19:00.006+07:00

A comfortable trip across the cause if you're in Singapore, Larkin Stadium is just a 10 minute walk from Larkin Bus Station which is the end of the line for buses from Singapore. Come out the bus terminal, turn right at the crossroads and follow the floddlights keeping the Shell petrol station on your right.

By the way, with the end of British colonialism on some maps this stadium is now referred to by its new name which is such a mouthful I can't remember.

This place looks and feels like a football stadium, shame about the running track and meagre 150 fans who turned up when I did.

Don't expect much n the way of facilities once you're inside

Persikabo Stadium, Cibinong

2011-02-20T21:42:00.005+07:00

There are two Bogors and three football teams associated with Bogor. Hope you're paying attention at the back. PSB, in the first division, are the Bogor city government team and they play at the Pajajaran Stadium in, um, Bogor.

Persikabo are the team from Bogor District and they play in Cibinong which is in Bogor District. Then we have Bogor Raya from the Liga Primer Indonesia and they also use the Persikabo Stadium.

Unusally for an Indonesian stadium the Persikabo has two covered stands along the side of the field. One is the VIP stand and opposite is a terrace. Two open terraces behind the goals and no running track.

It rains in Bogor a lot. A hell of a lot. I was lucky on this visit as it was a really nice day with the mountains making a nice back drop to the stadium.

How to get here by public transport. I guess there are buses from Bogor, there are from different terminals in Jakarta. From the jalan tol exit at Cibinong, follow the signs to Cibinong and start asking. It's not far from Pemda, which most people will know.

Patriot Stadium, Bekasi

2011-02-13T07:41:00.007+07:00

Bekasi is home to two football teams, the abmbitious Persipasi who play in Divisi Utama and hope to get to the Indonesia Super League at some stage. The other side play in Division 1 and are known as Persikasi.

The stadium looks to be a short walk from Bekasi railway station from where there are regular connections to Jakarta a few miles west. If driving along the Jakarta to Bandung toll road exit at Bekasi West.

Bekasi is a Jakarta suburban overflow with all that entails. But while money gets spent on wide roads and glitzy malls the stadium has been ignored and retains the appeal of a place like The Dell or Highfield Road. Lots o fences and no consideration for fans to actually see all four corners of the pitch!

Thai Japanese Stadium, Din Daeng, Bangkok

2010-10-29T20:07:00.006+07:00

The Thai Japanese Stadium is situated fairly centrally in Din Daeng yet Bangkok United, formerly known as Bangkok University, struggled to fill the stadium as they struggled to make any kind of impact a lot of money spent trying to brand the team as THE team of Bangkok. Not sure if the half time entertainment helped or not!

Action from Bangkok United v Bangkok Glass during the Thai Premier League 2010 can be found on Jakarta Casual TV.

Leo Stadium, Pathum Thani

2010-10-29T19:54:00.007+07:00

Half an impressive looking stadium in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok. Bangkok Glass are an ambitious, privately owned team that took over from the more established Krung Thai Bank.

Full directions to the stadium can be found at an English language website devoted to Bangkok Glass.

Action from a Thai Premier League 2010 game between Bangkok Glass and TTM Phichit can be found on Jakarta Casual TV while an interview with an English fan of the team can be found here.

Tugu Stadium, Jakarta

2010-10-29T19:40:00.005+07:00

Getting here by public transport is a pain in the arse. Just take a taxi. Any Blue Bird driver should know the Tugu area, relatively industrial and down to earth. Spartan stadium with nothing much in the area. Old school lower division English style stadium if you like.

Was used by Persitara North Jakarta a few years back, it's their spiritual home, but while they were in the Indonesia Super League they played elsewhere. Now they are in the second tier they may well be using it again.

Their fans are known as NJ Mania and despite being small in number they can kick up quite a racket.

Jurong Stadium, Singapore

2010-10-29T19:37:00.002+07:00

Must admit don't know too much about this stadium in the western suburbs. Not being used by the SLeague at the moment.

Bedok Stadium, Singapore

2010-10-29T19:33:00.005+07:00

Bedok Stadium lies midway between the MRT stations of Tanah Merah and, umm, Bedok! Also plenty of buses run along the main road back into the centre of Singapore.

As with most Singapore stadiums it's a sports stadium open to the public except on match days. One main stand with some benches along the opposite side of the field and open behind both goals

Woodlands Stadium, Singapore

2010-10-29T19:23:00.006+07:00

Woodlands Stadium is home to a small but passionate band of Woodlands Rams supporters

The MRT and highrise in the background makes for a totally Singaporean backdrop to the stadium.
Nearest MRT station is, oddly enough, Woodlands!

Hong Kong Football Stadium

2010-06-04T09:46:00.007+07:00

Thanks to Pat for these pictures

Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang

2010-04-10T06:15:00.004+07:00

It's where Arema play their home games but can be hard to get to by public transport. About one hour outside of Malang amid paddy fields and volcanoes adding to the theatre of the fans, known as Aremania

Gajayana Stadium, Malang

2010-04-10T06:08:00.005+07:00

The Gajayana is one of the nicest stadiums in Indonesia and also one of the most accessible, come out of Malang Station and keep walking straight on.

Used by Persema in the Indonesia Super League, Arema have also used the stadium in the past and for the AFC Cup 2010 Persiwa having been playing their home games here

Queenstown Stadium, Singapore

2010-03-10T18:27:00.006+07:00

Queenstown Stadium gets used by anybody and everybody. Liaonang played their SLeague home games here in 2007, Dalian in 2008 and now Etoile in 2010.

Short walk from Queenstown MRT

Surakul Stadium, Phuket

2010-02-23T13:34:00.003+07:00

Thanks to Pat for these images

PAT Stadium, Klong Toey, Bangkok

2009-09-08T18:38:00.007+07:00

Jurong East Stadium, Singapore

2009-06-17T00:29:00.004+07:00

Way out west, if you can call 25 minutes on the SMRT way out anywhere this stadium is used by Albirex Niigata for their home games and they even have a small souvenir stand set up for home games.

Take the train to Chinese Garden and hey you can wander round the gardens themselves before making the 10 minute walk to the stadium

Part of the complex has a couple of fast food joints so be prepared for the sight of pizza delivery boys during the game dropping off their orders! Beer is also available making this perhaps one of the most user friendly stadiums in the country.

If only it weren't so far from anywhere!

Gong Badak has fallen down...

2009-06-03T10:59:00.002+07:00

Gong Badak Stadium in Terengganu has collapsed. The stadium had been closed for renovations, it had only been open a year, but I guess now it needs more extensive repairs judging by these images.

TOT Thai Premier League

2009-05-23T06:10:00.001+07:00

TOT will be playing their home games in Kanchanaburi this season, not Bangkok. The stadium is straight past the railway station. I guess any motorcycle taxi will know the way...

MBPJ Stadium, Pelating Jaya

2009-05-23T05:59:00.006+07:00

Following in the footsteps of Belgian Pat last week I hit KL and took in the game between My Team and Kuala Muda at the MPBP Stadium in the industrial suburb of Pelating Jaya.

Getting there is a pain in the arse by public transport. Take a train to Kelana Jaya then look for the dedicated Stadium bus. But getting back is even worse thanks to the ridiculous 8.45 pm kick offs Malaysia loves so much.

Anyway I saw a great game with Kuala Muda winning 4-3. Images from the game itself can be found here.

Terengganu move stadium

2009-04-30T01:39:00.000+07:00

STARTING May 5, all M-League matches involving Terengganu teams are to be played at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium due to upgrading works at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak.

Terengganu FA secretary Abdullah Salleh said the change in venue had been accepted by the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) Competition Committee which met on Saturday.

"The state government and the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium secretariat had been informed of the changes," he said here today.

Abdullah added that tickets for Super and Premier League matches, involving Terengganu and T-Team, would remain at RM20 and RM10 for covered and uncovered seats respectively.He added that on May 5, Terengganu are scheduled to face Negri Sembilan in a Super League match.

The next game

2009-04-26T11:59:00.002+07:00

I have absolutely no idea when my next game is going to be. I had planned a trip south yesterday to take in PSMS v PKT at the Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung but they went and relocated to Palembang which is on another bloody island.

Next Saturday sees Pelita Jaya scheduled to host Persija at the Jalak Harupat Stadium in Soreang but...Soreang is bandit territory for the Jakarta side. It is right in the heart of Persib fan land and indeed to get there any travelling fans would have to pass Bandung. And that is unlikely.

Last season the game was played in Purnawarman Stadium, Purwakarta, also in Persib land and things got pretty bloody messy there, especially after the game.

I spoke yesterday with the Pelita Jaya coach who was preparing his side for their Singapore Cup tie against DPMM and he has no idea where the Persija game will be played.

I can't see Persija fans being allowed to travel, the hatred between them and Persib is just to great. If it goes ahead in Soreang then figure on the game being played behind closed doors.

Regarding an actual game it looks like my next one will be in Malaysia in about three weeks time. Watch this space!

Serangoon Stadium, Singapore

2009-03-16T08:44:00.005+07:00

A bit of a trek from the nearest MRT but right on a crossroads so easy peasy lemon squeezy by bus, Serangoon Stadium is your typical bog standard Singapore sports stadium. One main stand where you can get to sit on grey concrete and a running track round the pitch.

No Sleague teams play here but there will be National Football League fixtures most weekends. Perhaps even double headers as when I was there.

Gelora Sriwijaya, Jakabaring, Palembang

2009-03-11T08:16:00.004+07:00

This new stadium was built for the Indonesian Games a few years back and is one of the better ones in the country. It has been used for Asian Cup games when Bahrain one of the group games was played here back in 2007.

Two sides are covered ish. Meaning the roof is high and slender protecting the people at the back but that's about it. The rest get wet!

Capacity is perhaps 30-35,000.

The stadium is used by ISL side Sriwijaya who won the Cup/League double in 2007 and they often draw crowds in excess of 20,000.

Getting there is a piece of piss. There are only about six roads in the city of Palembang and all of them eventually lead to the Ampera Bridge. Cross that bridge and keep heading south, you won't miss it on your left.

There is only one exit/entrance to the car park round the stadium so getting in/out takes an age especially as there is no regulated traffic flow and people just park where they want!

A contender for World Cup 2022 if Indonesia wins the bid...

Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur

2009-03-09T11:41:00.006+07:00

This stadium was purpose built for Malaysia's independance from England back in 1957. Since then it has been the host venue for the Merdeka Cup, Ali v Bugner, Michael Jackson and someone called Avril Lavignie.

Now sits in dotage basking in it's memories when it grabbed centre stage 50 odd years ago. Football's main venue now is Bukit Jalil or Shah Alam in Selangor.

For the history buff or soppy old romantic the stadium backs on to Maharajalela Monorail Station.

PTIK Stadium, Blok M, Jakarta

2009-03-01T07:57:00.005+07:00

Not really a stadium you're likely to get to, this Police owned stadium has lights, a main stand and a great location near some of the best bars in Jakarta.

Opposite the main stand is a block of flats where local bobbies live!

Occassionally used for training, the odd friendly and by a side on the local expat league the Jakarta International Football League

Sriwedari Stadium, Solo

2009-02-23T19:08:00.006+07:00

Located right on Solo's main street, the name of which eludes me, but it's the one with the railway running down it, Sriwedari Stadium has been replaced by the Manahan Stadium as the home base of Persis. But with the newer stadium being renovated, this old lady has been hosting a few home games.

Never been to a game here myself, I have visited it twice, the first time in 1991 and more latterly 12 months ago. I guess I really need to see a game here before they knock it down.

Jalak Harupat Stadium, Soreang

2009-02-17T19:31:00.004+07:00

This stadium is really out in the boonies. Surrounded by mountains and paddy fields it is perhaps the most scenically located stadium certainly in Java.

Despite it's rural location, Soreang is little more than an overgrown village, the stadium is one of the best in the country and has staged Liga play off finals and internationals like Myanmar v Cambodia during last year's AFF Cup.

This season three domestic sides use it as their home base. IPL side Persikab can truly call this their home ground despite it being way too big for their needs. Pelita Jaya have also taken to using it, these pictures were taken from their home game against Persita, and so have local glamour club Persib.

From Bandung you could take an angkot or mini bus but why bother? Hire a car or borrow a taxi for a few hours and enjoy the rural scenery but don't drive yourself. Motorcycles come at you from all angles, it's like that old arcade game Asteroids!

Siliwangi Stadium, Bandung

2009-02-09T17:48:00.006+07:00

The main stand at Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung. The last word in luxury it ain't but at least it has individual plastic seats

You can't beat a bit or barbed wire on fences at football stadiums

The terrace where the home fans congregate. For this Indonesian Super League season, 2008/09, Persita and PSMS are using the stadium while Persib play at Jalak Harupat in nearby Soreang.

These images were taken at the game between PSMS and Persik which ended in a 2-1 win for PSMS.

Benteng Stadium, Tangerang

2009-02-09T16:50:00.008+07:00

These images come from the recent Indonesian Premier League game between Persikota and PSSB. These place don't have club shops, rather some geezer with a few coat hangers and a bag for loose change.

The main entrance where tickets are sold. This game cost 40,000 rupiah for the main stand called VIP

Empty banks of terracing behind one goal. Away fans, should they come, would be immediately to the right of the main stand just out of shot. There weren't any at this game!

The main terrace that runs round the pitch is half terrace, half grassy bank. It's coloured purple because the principle tenants, Persita, wear that horrendous colour, They share the stadium with Persikota.

Actually for the time being Persita play in Bandung while Benteng Stadium gets fitted with some floodlights.

The home end with a prominent blue mosque behind the goal.

Tangerang is an industrial overspill to Jakarta, separarted politically but connect by transport and residents many of whom live there and work in Jakarta. The best way to get to the stadium is by taxi...Blue Bird or Silver Birds are the best and usually the most reliable.

Match comments can be found here while action shots can be found here

Supachalasai Stadium, Pathumwan, Bangkok

2009-01-27T16:57:00.004+07:00

Easily reached by the National Stadium on the BTS and next door to plenty of malls makes this one of Bangkok's easisest stadiums to get to.

Thepsadin Stadium, Pathum Wan, Bangkok

2009-01-27T09:16:00.006+07:00

Easy to reach stadium right next to Supachalasai Stadium and a short walk from National Stadium BTS.

Neat and tidy with one covered stand and one open. Behind the goals are empty.

2009-01-16T17:00:00.000+07:00

Back when I was younger it was always my ambition to complete the 92 grounds that make up, or used to make up, the English football league. I even decided the 92nd ground would be Blackpool when they played Bolton. See, I've always been a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to football.

Much has changed since then. Clubs have moved to new stadiums, going to a game requires military precision planning and even the leagues have changed their name.

I never made the 92. I left the country. And now I'm living in the tropics with too much time on my hands and plenty of inspiration.

I have two other blogs relating to South East Asian football. Jakarta Casual is an overview of the game in the region focussing on Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Asian Football Pictures is about cross dressing sheep in Palmerston North.

And this? This will be purely about the stadiums. How to get to them, what they're like inside, who plays there along with pictures and souvenirs and odds n sods. All very anoraky I'm sure but never mind eh?