1996–97 Thailand Soccer League

Between 1916 and 1995, the Kor Royal Cup was the top level of club football competition. In 1996 the Thai Premier League (official name: Johnnie Walker Thailand Soccer League) was established by the Football Association of Thailand, sponsored by whiskey manufacturing brand Johnnie Walker.

Thai Premier League
Season1996/97
Dates17 August 1996 – 16 March 1997
ChampionsBangkok Bank
RelegatedThailand Tobacco Monopoly
Osotsapa
Bangkok Bank of Commerce
Rajvithi-Agfatech
Krung Thai Bank
Singha-Thamrongthai
1997–98 Asian Club ChampionshipBangkok Bank FC
1997–98 Asian Cup Winners CupRoyal Thai Air Force FC
Top goalscorerThailand Ampon Ampansuwan (TOT) (21)
Highest scoringRoyal Thai Air Force 4-3
Port Authority of Thailand
Rajvithi-Agfatech 4-3
Royal Thai Police
(7 goals)
1997

In its first season, 1996/97, the Thai Premier League consisted of 18 teams from the Kor Royal Cup. Top 4 teams in the final league table would be qualified for championship playoffs, and six teams at the bottom of the league table would be relegated to the Thailand Division 1 League which was to be created next season (1997).

The defending Champions of the Kor Royal Cup, Thai Farmers Bank FC, would enter the next edition of the Asian Club Championship.

Member clubs locations

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Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Thai Farmers Bank 34 18 10 6 56 25 +31 64 Qualification for the championship playoff
2 TOT 34 17 11 6 61 35 +26 62
3 Bangkok Bank 34 17 11 6 54 34 +20 62
4 Stock Exchange of Thailand 34 17 9 8 59 31 +28 60
5 UCOM Raj Pracha 34 16 12 6 62 36 +26 60
6 Sinthana 34 17 6 11 45 45 0 57
7 Royal Thai Air Force 34 14 12 8 48 35 +13 54
8 Royal Thai Army 34 14 12 8 60 50 +10 54
9 Royal Thai Navy 34 13 12 9 44 29 +15 51
10 Royal Thai Police 34 13 11 10 53 39 +14 50
11 Port Authority 34 9 14 11 44 39 +5 41
12 Singha Tero Sasana 34 9 14 11 37 44 −7 41
13 Tobacco Monopoly 34 7 14 13 37 44 −7 35 Relegation spot
14 Osotsapa 34 8 10 16 41 73 −32 34
15 Bangkok Bank of Commerce 34 7 11 16 34 47 −13 32
16 Rajvithi-Agfatech 34 8 8 18 43 71 −28 32
17 Krung Thai Bank 34 5 9 20 32 54 −22 24
18 Singha-Thamrongthai 34 1 6 27 26 101 −75 9
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head; 3rd goal difference; 4th goals scored

Championship playoff

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Top 4 of the league (Thai Farmers Bank, TOT, Bangkok Bank, Stock Exchange of Thailand) qualified for championship playoff.

Semifinals

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February 23, 1997

Team 1 Result Team 2
Stock Exchange of Thailand 2-0 Thai Farmers Bank
Bangkok Bank 3-2 TOT

Final

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March 16, 1997

Team 1 Result Team 2
Bangkok Bank 2-0 Stock Exchange of Thailand

Champions : Bangkok Bank (Qualification for the Asian Club Championship).

Season notes

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Asian Representation

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Annual awards

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Coach of the Year

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Player of the Year

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  •   Amporn Amparnsuwan - TOT

Top scorer

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Champions

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The league champion was Bangkok Bank. It was the team's first title.

References

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