The football team that won over the nation

Monthongwittaya School's 7-a-side football team from Bang Nam Priao district of Chachoensao is now among Thailand’s most inspiring underdog stories, capturing national attention with their remarkable run in the 2025 7HD Football Champion Cup.

- Anucha Charoenpo

The small secondary school’s team, nicknamed the “Celtic of Bang Nam Priao” owing to its green jersey, has stunned Thai football fans with its fairy-tale run to the national final. The team fits its underdog image — no reputation, no ranking. Only a few expected the team to achieve much in a national tournament. Yet they defied the odds spectacularly.

Starting in the qualifying round of 503 teams on Oct 6, the team stunned the nation by defeating powerhouse teams such as Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality Sports School, Assumption Thonburi, Debsirin School, and Assumption College Sriracha.

Even though the team lost 2-1 to Chainat Provincial Administrative Organisation School in the final, they won the hearts of fans, businessmen, politicians, and influencers who rallied behind them. Their final match on Nov 8 at Supachalasai National Stadium drew around 30,000 fans while Channel 7HD reported a peak of 4.2 million concurrent viewers during the live broadcast.

Why did this grassroots football story become so popular? Because Monthongwittaya’s journey was not paved with rose petals, they travelled to matches in an old truck nicknamed Rot Khon Fun (the Dream Transport). This symbolised their perseverance, humble beginnings and their unexpected fighting spirit.