Chonburi FC

Early years (1996–2000)

In its early years, Chonburii-Sannibat Samut Prakan Football Club was Assumption College Sriracha's football team. The team was managed by Annop Singtothong, Thanasak Suraprasert, Sontaya Khunpluem, and Wittaya Khunpluem. The team competed and were victorious in many youth tournaments, including the Institute of Physical Education's youth football tournament.

In 1996, Sannibat Samut Prakan Association competed in the Khǒr Royal Cup and came in second place. The directors of the football team negotiated for a merger, which resulted in the creation of Chonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan. The team then competed in Thai Division 1 League, today known as Thai League 2.

Provincial league

The Chonburi Sports Association had the chance to compete in the Provincial League in 2000. As a result, Chonburi's provincial football team was separated from Chonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan, thus renaming themselves Chonburi Football Club, which competed in Thai Division 1 League. The team that competed in the Provincial League acquired their players from Assumption College Sriracha and Chulabhon's College Chonburi. They ended their first season in the Provincial League in third place.

In 2005, Chonburi won the Provincial League title by beating Nakhon Ratchasima at the Nakhon Ratchasima Municipal Stadium, and gained promotion to the 2006 Thailand Premier League with the Provincial League runners up, Suphanburi. This title was the first major success of the club.

In 2006, Chonburi were invited by Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to play in the 2006 Singapore Cup and reached the cup final, defeating local sides Home United, Albirex Niigata (S) and Balestier Khalsa along the way. In the final, they lost 2–3 to Tampines Rovers in extra time after leading 2–0. Chonburi then finished 8th in the 2006 Thai Premier League season.

Top flight league title

In 2007, Chonburi were again invited to participate in the 2007 Singapore Cup, but were defeated in the first round against Balestier Khalsa, in a replay of the previous season's semi-finals, where Chonburi lost 3–2. Chonburi went on to win the 2007 Kor Royal Cup. Coming to the end of this season, Chonburi became Thailand Premier League champions for the 2007 season. This was the first trophy in major league for the club. Head coach Jadet Meelarp won the 'Coach of the Year' award and Pipob On-Mo got 'Player of the Year' award. The club qualified to the 2008 AFC Champions League after winning the league.

In July 2008, the previous sponsor, Hemaraj Land and Development PLC signed a major sponsorship deal which would come into effect from 2009. The contract would run for three years and would amount to the sum of 18 million baht (about 350,000 Euros). This may be the largest completed sponsorship of a Thai football club which was ever completed.

At the end of the 2008 season, there was only enough for runner-up. The main reason for this was certainly the profligacy. With two games left in the season you still on the first place in the table, but a 0–0 draw against Samut Songkhram made to naught in the penultimate round of the dream title defense. Jadet Meelarp was dismissed. His successor was officially announced in mid-December 2008. Kiatisuk Senamuang was appointed the head coach of Chonburi.

AFC Champions League debut

In 2008, Chonburi made their debut in the 2008 AFC Champions League season being drawn in group G alongside Japanese club Gamba Osaka, Australian club Melbourne Victory and Korean club Chunnam Dragons. Chonburi played their first game against Gamba Osaka on 12 March, where the team was seconds away from their first ever win in their debut match in the tournament, but opponent Lucas Severino scored the equaliser for the opponent, equalising it at 1–1, which saw Chonburi register their first point in the tournament. On 20 March, the club achieved its first victory in the AFC Champions League against Melbourne Victory. The game was clouded by controversy when Melbourne Victory scored their only goal whilst a Chonburi player was down injured and his teammates were calling for the ball to be played off the park. It mattered little when Cameroonian striker Jules Baga scored a goal from 35 yards out and then followed it up with a second goal in extra time to condemn Melbourne Victory to their first loss in the competition 3–1. Chonburi finished the campaign with 5 points, finishing at the bottom of the group stage, thus knocking out from the tournament. Chonburi finished as the league runners-up in 2008 thus seeing the club qualified for the 2009 AFC Cup.

In the 2009 season, Chonburi played in the 2009 AFC Cup and was drawn in group G alongside Vietnamese club Hanoi ACB, Hong Kong club Eastern and Malaysian club Kedah FA. Chonburi had five wins and only lost one game, which was against Eastern at the Mong Kok Stadium on 5 May 2009. The club qualified to the round of 16 facing off against Indonesian club PSMS Medan which Chonburi thrash them 4–1 and qualifying to the quarter-finals where they would face Vietnamese club Bình Dương. However Chonburi suffered a 4–2 lost on aggregate thus knocking out from the tournament. The game against Medan was also the last game of star player Surat Sukha, who moved to Australia to signed with Melbourne Victory. Chonburi finished the 2009 season being league runner-up again, where they won the 2009 Kor Royal Cup.

Thai FA Cup champions

In the 2010 season, Chonburi finished the season in third place in the league in which the club went on to advanced all the way to the 2010 Thai FA Cup final facing off against Muangthong United on 28 November. The match were levelled at 1–1 bringing the game to extra time where Pipob On-Mo scored in the dying minute of the match in the 120th minute to bring the match to 2–1 thus helping Chonburi to win the 2010 Thai FA Cup.