The 2020/21 season sees Chiang Mai FC playing in the Thai M150 Championship after relegation from League 1. We also have new owners after control of the club passed from Chiang Rai United to Bangkok Glass Pathum United. A team that is once again dominated by loan players, and even a loan manager.
To add a little spice to the season Chiang Mai United (JL Chiang Mai United before the change of name) is in the same league and has recruited among others Carlos Pareira as manager and Evson Patricio, last year’s player of the season for Chiang Mai.
So here is my preview of the new season:
Thai Championship preview 2020
And here is an early commentary on pre-season preparations.
New owners, new season, but so far little to cheer – Chiang Mai FC
Results and reports follow.
16 February 2020 Away Tigers Draw on Opening Day
Samut Sakhon 2 Chiang Mai FC 2 (Nattachai, Verdini)
23 February 2020 Away Toothless Tigers
Nakhon Pathum 2 Chiang Mai FC 0
26 February 2020 Home The Tigers Roar Back
Chiang Mai FC 5 Kasetsart FC 0 (Ryo 2, Sadney, Nattaphoom, Nattawut)
29 February 2020 Home Supersub sinks Cobo’s resilient Cobras
Chiang Mai FC 1 Khon Kaen United 0 (Nattaphoom)
And then, just like that, the 2020 season came to a grinding halt after just four games as the Covid-19 pandemic put an end to sport. and pretty much anything else that we used to consider as fun, around the world.
Two months of hardly ever leaving home start to take their toll after a while.
So when Dale from the It’s a Habit That Sticks blog asked me to write something about Chiang Mai’s football stadia I was more than happy to engage the brain for a few hours!
September 2020 and the season restarted:
12 September 2020 Away Saturday Night Fiver
Ayutthaya United 3 Chiang Mai FC 2
16 September 2020 Home Erivelto keeps Navy afloat
Chiang Mai FC 1 Navy 1 (Nattachai)
19 September 2020 Away Ryo Grande
Ranong United 1 Chiang Mai FC 2 (Ryo 2)
Ranong – an away trip turned sour
27 September 2020 Home Hornbills well stuffed
Chiang Mai FC 5 Chainat Hornbills 0 (Ryo 2, Kongnateechai 2, Nattachai)
3 October 2020 Away Anything to declare? Just three glorious goals.
MOF Customs 0 Chiang Mai FC 3 (Sadney 2, Ryo)
18 October 2020 Home The Njiva show
Chiang Mai FC 0 Nongbua Pitchaya 5
24 October 2020 Away Tigers end Phrae’s unbeaten run in Lanna Derby
Phrae FC 1 Chiang Mai FC 3 (Nieblas, Nattachai, Atthawit)
1 November 2020 Not good enough
Chiang Mai FC 1 Khon Kaen FC 1 (Nattachai)
8 November 2020 Nattapoom ends a tangerine dream
Chiang Mai FC 3 Uttaradit 1 FA Cup (Ryo, Nattaphoom 2)
15 November 2020 Breaking the Lines
Chiang Mai FC 3 Uthai Thani 0 (Nattachai, Ryo, Sadney)
21 November 2020 Chariots of Dire
Lampang FC 1 Chiang Mai FC 0
28 November 2020 Just desserts
Chiang Mai FC 2 Sisaket FC 1 (Sadney, Eakkaluk)
6 December 2020 Dome Alone 4
FA Cup: Dome FC 1 Chiang Mai FC 4 (Nattachai, Meedech, Ryo x2)
12 December 2020 Five go to Udon
Udon Thani FC 2 Chiang Mai FC 0
19 December 2020 CMFC pay the penalty for missed chances
Chiang Mai FC 1 Chiang Mai United 1
With half of the season eventually finished it was time for my personal mid-season review and awards!
Chiang Mai FC – 2020/2021 Mid season review and awards
And then back for a rushed second half of the season again interrupted by the blight of the Covid virus.
16 December 2020 Bernardo leads the Boxing Day blues
Chiang Mai FC 2 Nakhon Pathom FC 1 (Bernardo, Ryo)
At which point the season shut down again after a significant outbreak of Covid 19 initially from the fishing markets in Samut Sakhon.
The season restarted behind closed doors the weekend of 6 and 7 February with a plan to complete a full fixture list by playing two league matches every week. Given some of the travel distances this would be a punishing schedule.
There was also a last 16 FA Cup tie to be played.
3 February 2021 A good day to lose
Trat FC 1 Chiang Mai FC 0 Chang FA Cup Last 16
7 February 2021 Bamba leads the university challenge
Kasetsart 1 Chiang Mai FC 2 (Ryo, Sadney)
10 February 2021 Wild Thing, you make our hearts sing
Khon Kaen United 0 Chiang Mai FC 0
14 February 2021 Ryo, king of the Leo
Chiang Mai FC 1 Ayutthaya United 0 (Ryo)
17 February 2021 Super Subs rescue Chiang Mai.
Navy FC 2 Chiang Mai FC 2 (Sadney, Kongnateechai)
21 February 2021 Ranong dent Chiang Mai hopes
Chiang Mai FC 2 Ranong United 2 (Sadney, Bernardo)
24 February 2021 Big trouble in Little Chainat
Chainat Hornbill FC 3 Chiang Mai FC 1 (Bernardo)
28 February 2021 Invincible at the Leo
Chiang Mai FC 4 MOF Customs United 1 (Ryo x 2, Bamba, Nattachai)
4 March 2021 Swept aside With fans allowed back in the stadiums – at 25% of capacity,
Nongbua Pitchaya 4 Chiang Mai FC 1 (Bernardo)
7 March 2021 Ryo answers Chiang Mai prayers
Chiang Mai FC 1 Phrae United 0 (Ryo)
10 March 2021 The long road home
Khon Kaen FC 4 Chiang Mai FC 1 (Suchanon)
14 March 2021 The heat is on
Uthai Thani 0 Chiang Mai FC 2 (Apisit Sorada, Nattachai)
17 March 2021 The boys are back in town
Chiang Mai FC 2 Lampang FC 0 (Bernardo, Nattachai)
21 March 2021 Plodding, predictable and well beaten
Sisaket FC 2 Chiang Mai FC 0
24 March 2021 Thales torments Tigers
Chiang Mai FC 1 Udon Thani FC 3 (Ryo)
27 March 2021 Hanging on by a thread
Chiang Mai Utd 0 Chiang Mai FC )
31 March 2021 Sunset on the longest season
Chiang Mai FC 3 Samut Sakhon FC 1 (Somyotx2, Nattachai)