This Floating Football Field Has Become a Province’s Tourist Destination

The World Cup has grown into more than just a tournament to see which team is the best in football. It has inspired a lot of people around the world to try the sport and perhaps pursue a career in it to set foot on the world stage and meet their idols someday. This includes a group of youngsters from a small fishing village in Thailand who built their own football pitch. But what’s amazing about this feat is that their man-made pitch is not on land, but on top of the sea.

Set in Ko Panyi (also known as Koh Panyee) in Phang Nga Province, the floating pitch has become a tourist destination after its football team, Panyee FC, won consecutive regional championships from 2004 to 2011.

It all started with young football fans who formed their own club after watching the 1986 World Cup. As the village barely has any land to play on, they looked around for wood, old boats, or anything else they could use to build their floating football pitch. They honed their skills with whatever is available to them and soon joined youth competitions. To the surprise of many, they had games where they played barefooted because they’re more used to it!

The team’s victories eventually put their village on the map, turning their home into a destination for tourists inspired by their beginnings or simply for those who are curious about how the floating pitch works. Through the years, the pitch underwent renovations and has continued to be a training ground for aspiring football players, with some of the original youngsters serving as coaches.

The village built on stilts has also grown into a thriving lunch stop where several seafood restaurants and souvenir shops are lined up for tourists. This has helped their community stay afloat (pun intended), as they’ve found additional livelihoods apart from fishing.

If this piqued your interest and you would like to know more, you can also watch a short film about its inspiring story on YouTube or read Scott Riley’s debut picture book, “The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field.”