Sporting Charleroi

Reasons To Adopt

Here is the argument for Sporting Charleroi: Belgium, Belgium Pro League, and a ground called Stade du Pays de Charleroi. A second team should give you something your first one cannot, and this is a different country's whole weather system.

• Something to defend

  The cabinet is not empty: Belgian First Division and Belgian Second Division. Small enough to recite from memory, big enough to argue about in a pub.

• Close to the pitch

  Stade du Pays de Charleroi holds about 15,000. You can hear the defenders shouting at each other, which is the single best argument for lower-capacity football.

• You get a nickname

  Known as Les Zèbres (The Zebras), Les Carolos. That is your new shorthand, your search term and your excuse for buying a scarf.

• Easy weekend

  Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) is about 5km from the ground, and Neuville is 0km closer still. A home fixture is a genuinely doable two-night trip.