The original Chiang Mai is Blue cover art

The original Chiang Mai is Blue

The original Chiang Mai is Blue

By: Robert Scott
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In 2023-24 Simon Wise and Rob Scott started this podcast to cover Chiang Mai FC's season in T2 under new local ownership. The season was undiluted soap opera. Coaches were fired, staff not paid, players not paid, suppliers not paid. At the end of the year, with the club in massive debt and the owner in hiding, the club, despite finishing fourth, was relegated to T3 for failing to meet licensing requirements.


The club's very existence was in doubt. A deal orchestrated by the Sports Authority of Thailand tried to bring together Brazilian investors with an amateur team and sports academy - Christ FC - based in Mae Rim in the North of Chiang Mai. This partnership would adopt the name of Chiang Mai FC. Half way through the T3 season the Brazilian investors and sponsors were removed. Christ FC took over the management and operations of CMFC. Ichiban arrived as a welcome new sponsor.


In the meantime our podcast evolved to a broader coverage of Thai Leagues 2 and 3. Phil Williams joined the podcast in the 2024-2025 season. Following T2 is great fun. It is the most competitive, unpredictable, diverse, occasionally brilliant and often bizarre, league in Thai football stretching from Nongbua Lamphu in the North East to Chiang Mai in the North, to Trat in the East and down to Pattani in the South.


Simon decided to leave the podcast midway through the 2025-2026 season.


One of the lessons from last few years is not to take our Thai football too seriously - it is a great way to avoid disappointment. But it is also a great way to see and experience Thailand.


Thank you for listening. If you have any comments or suggestions please let us know.


All the best,


Phil and Rob





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Robert Scott Politics & Government
Episodes
  • The final countdown.....

    The final countdown.....
    May 20 2026

    Simon Causton from footballsiam.com joins Rob Scott to review the first leg of the Thai League 2 playoff final from Nongbua Pitchaya last weekend. We preview the second leg at Pattani this coming Saturday and also the Thai League 3 playoff semi finals.


    Some thoughts on the teams that have come down from T1 to T2 for next season; the Thai League 3 structure; some news updates and Simon talks about his recent visit for football in Japan and also his plans for footballsiam.


    Thanks for listening!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    58 mins
  • The playoff final that every neutral wanted: Nongbua Pitchaya v Pattani.

    The playoff final that every neutral wanted: Nongbua Pitchaya v Pattani.
    May 13 2026

    With Phil away this week James Baxter makes a very welcome return to the podcast.


    James and Rob discuss the T2 playoff semi final second legs and preview the Nongbua Pitchaya v Pattani play off final.


    James has some thoughts on the three teams relegated from Thai League 1.


    We update the T3 playoffs. WIth one week remaining the four semi-finalists are already decided.


    Plus dates for your diaries and any other business.


    Thanks James for helping out and thank you all for listening.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    59 mins
  • Marl Skógr Ironfist - conqueror at Chainat

    Marl Skógr Ironfist - conqueror at Chainat
    May 7 2026

    In the T2 playoffs Pattani take a 3-1 lead back home for the second leg against Chainat.

    Nongbua Pitchaya are a goal down to Police Tero.


    Phil looks at the relegation battles coming up in T1 this Sunday.


    Plus an update on the T3 playoffs after week four of six.


    As for the episode title - thank Grok!


    Marl / Marlon → Shortened to Marl, which echoes Old Norse names like Marl or Már (meaning "famous" or "sea").

    Silva → Latin for "forest/woodland" → translated directly to Skógr (Old Norse for "forest/wood").

    Ironfist → A classic Viking epithet reflecting his strong, muscular build and warrior presence in the image.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    39 mins
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