Yapp’s journey in football began at a young age, right here in Phuket. He attended Phuket International School and later British International School, Phuket (BIS) where his passion for the beautiful game blossomed. Crucially, he honed his skills at the renowned Cruzeiro Academy at BIS, a breeding ground for talented young footballers.
“The Cruzeiro Academy was instrumental in my development,” Yapp reflects. “We were training twice a day, every day, from Monday to Saturday. The dedication and intensity were incredible. It really prepared me for the demands of professional football.”
The Cruzeiro Academy in Phuket has a proven track record of producing talented players who have gone on to achieve success at the professional level. Alumni like Micah and Jonah Duchowny, who are currently making waves in the Thai League, are a testament to the quality of coaching and development provided by the academy.
Yapp’s talent didn’t go unnoticed, and he soon had the opportunity to showcase his skills on a bigger stage. He had trials with Bayern Munich and represented their youth teams in international tournaments. He also played for Sporting CP in Portugal and even had a stint with the Brazilian Cruzeiro academy, gaining invaluable experience and exposure to different styles of play.
Despite these experiences abroad, Yapp ultimately decided to return to Thailand to begin his professional career.
“My aim was always to join a youth academy in Europe,” Yapp explains. “But it was difficult due to my English passport and the situation with Brexit. It was much harder to sign as a foreign player.”
Yapp’s first professional club in Thailand was BEC Tero Sasana, where he initially found it challenging to adapt to the Thai style of play. He subsequently had loan spells at Bangkok FC, where he gained valuable experience and playing time.
His breakthrough came last season when he joined Buriram United, the most successful club in Thailand. He quickly impressed with his performances for the youth team, earning a loan move to Nakhon Ratchasima FC this season to gain further first-team experience.
“I wanted to play and show everyone what I could do,” Yapp says. “I wanted to get my confidence back and score some goals.”
Yapp has certainly achieved that, scoring crucial goals and putting in impressive performances for the Swat Cats. He is now focused on returning to Buriram United next season and cementing his place in the first team.
“Buriram is the place where I want to be if I play in Thailand,” Yapp says. “It’s hands down the most professional club in Thailand.”
As a dual-nationality player, Yapp has the option to represent either England or Thailand. He has chosen to represent Thailand at the youth level and hopes to progress to the senior national team soon.
“My goal is to play for the first team and continue going forward with Thailand,” Yapp says. “I’m sure my mom would be proud.”
Yapp acknowledges that being a mixed-heritage player in Thailand comes with its own set of challenges.
“I have faced some challenges,” he admits. “It’s not completely the same as everyone else. I get treated differently sometimes.”
However, Yapp is grateful for the support he has received from his teammates and coaches, and he believes that the increasing number of mixed-heritage players in Thai football is helping to break down barriers and create a more inclusive environment.
“I think it’s great that there are more and more mixed-heritage players coming through,” Yapp says. “It’s helping to change the image of Thai football.”
Looking ahead, Yapp has ambitious goals for his career. He hopes to continue to improve his game in Thailand and eventually make a move to a European league.
“I want to rack up the stats and get a few more good, consistent performances in the Thai League,” Yapp says. “Then, I think Japan or maybe European divisions would be an interest of mine.”
With his talent, determination, and growing experience, Siam Yapp is a player with a bright future ahead of him. He is a symbol of the new generation of Thai footballers who are embracing their diverse heritage and taking the game to new heights. And for Phuket, he is a source of immense pride, a shining example of what can be achieved with hard work, dedication, and the support of a nurturing footballing community.
Simon Causton is the host of ‘A Thai Football Podcast’ and writer of the ’Football Siam’ blog which covers all things Thai football.