Stoke City

Reasons To Adopt

Stoke City work as a second team because they come with their own geography: England, bet365 Stadium, and a set of rivalries you will absorb faster than you expect.

• The calendar you inherit

  England Championship 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.

• Deep roots

  Founded in 1868, Stoke City were playing organised football before floodlights, substitutes or televised highlights existed. You are adopting 158 years of accumulated grudges.

• Nothing won, everything to play for

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

• Proper ground

  bet365 Stadium takes roughly 30,089, big enough for atmosphere, small enough that you can learn where the singing corner is on your first visit.