Fortuna Köln

The Case For Them

Here is the argument for Fortuna Köln: Germany, Germany 3. Liga, and a ground called Südstadion. A second team should give you something your first one cannot, and this is a different country's whole weather system.

• You get a nickname

  Known as | founded =. That is your new shorthand, your search term and your excuse for buying a scarf.

• Easy weekend

  Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is about 15km from the ground, and Köln Süd station is 1km closer still. A home fixture is a genuinely doable two-night trip.

• The calendar you inherit

  Germany 3. Liga is cold-weather football: mud in February, breath visible under the lights, and a fixture list that rewards anyone who sticks it out. Germany does not do easy neutrals.

• Modern era club

  Formed in 1948, so the whole story is documented, arguable and still being written. Join now and you were basically there from the start.