Ditto Svein with regard to the season ticket and shirt. (The pretty faces there could have persuaded me to buy anything). I changed my mind about the colour wanted, as the orange looks a lot better close up than on facebook. Assuming they match up size-wise to last year, I ordered only XL. Just goes to show “who ate all the pies” then Svein!
Cactus There are maps you can download from this website, or pick up a hard copy about town. If it helps, the main entrance is actually on the ring road, about 50 metres on the left (if one is coming from ‘old’ Tescos in the direction of Nongbualamphu) past the traffic lights crossroads with Phracha Raksa Rd(the Napalai Hotel Rd) - the last turn off before the airport road, if you prefer. Many fans do arrive at the rear entrance to the Institute too, cutting through, I guess, from Phosi Rd, like Udon Prison way.
“No sign of the new stands”. I did comment at the time that I thought this was dependent on winning promotion. Enough said!
I didn’t travel away to Kalasin, so this was my first view of the team. I could only recognise three faces from the starting XI or subs, so a massive shake up from last season. Incidentally, asked in the office for the names of the squad in English, so we non-Thais might attempt to put names to players. Maybe next week?
I enjoyed the game, which I thought was hard-fought throughout. In my opinion (other views welcomed) Udon looked fairly comfortable in maintaining their lead. As Svein said to me at the time, it was noticeable there were hardly any chances/goalmouth action outside of the goals themselves. Also, neither team had a ‘big’ guy at centre back or central striker (usually a foreigner), which appears the norm for most teams.
I was really looking for a ‘wow’ factor from Udon – alas, not in this game. Last season, I think most would agree, the foreign imports were the main strength of the team. A couple of class players there, to my mind. To them, I would add the goalkeeper and centre back. But all have gone.
Only my view here. A team of, shall we say, ‘lesser’ players can on occasions, by playing as a team rather than individuals and through determination, win through against supposed classier opposition. But I have concerns that could happen throughout a long season. Nothing would please me more than having a team of local players surprising everyone. But I do fear that with the League so dominated by better foreign players (and Clubs able and willing to pay the higher wages) that Udon may struggle, particularly in central attack and defence.
Hope I’m proved wrong and in any event, it won’t stop me cheering ‘em.
). I had to order the shirt included in the ticketprice. I ordered a XXXL orange shirt, but the blue is also available for those who want that instead, and sizes are up to 5XL so they should fit most farangs. 
