Sarpsborg 08

The Case For Them

Here is the argument for Sarpsborg 08: Norway, Norway Eliteserien, and a ground called Sarpsborg Stadion, Sarpsborg, Norway. A second team should give you something your first one cannot, and this is a different country's whole weather system.

• Old enough to matter

  1928 is the founding date, old enough that the club has survived a war, a rebuild and at least one financial scare, young enough that the good years are still in living memory.

• Nothing won, everything to play for

  Trophyless, so far. That is the pitch: be there before the story turns.

• Close to the pitch

  Sarpsborg Stadion, Sarpsborg, Norway holds about 8,022. You can hear the defenders shouting at each other, which is the single best argument for lower-capacity football.

• Worth the journey

  Nearest airport is Sandefjord Airport, Torp (TRF), roughly 49km out. This is not a casual away day, which is precisely why the people who do it take it seriously.