Macclesfield

Make The Case

Here is the argument for Macclesfield: England, England National League North, and a ground called Moss Rose. A second team should give you something your first one cannot, and this is a different country's whole weather system.

• Easy weekend

  Manchester Airport (MAN) is about 16km from the ground, and Macclesfield railway station is 2km closer still. A home fixture is a genuinely doable two-night trip.

• The calendar you inherit

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

• Ground floor

  Founded in 2020. There is no dynasty to inherit and no bandwagon to be accused of joining, this is a club whose history you can genuinely watch happen.

• Something to defend

  The cabinet is not empty: NPL Premier Division (level 7) and NPL Division One West (level 8). Small enough to recite from memory, big enough to argue about in a pub.