Südtirol

The Case For Them

Here is the argument for Südtirol: Italy, Italy Serie B, and a ground called Stadio Marco Druso. 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: Serie C and Serie C2. Small enough to recite from memory, big enough to argue about in a pub.

• Close to the pitch

  Stadio Marco Druso holds about 5,500. 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 (in Italian and German) Biancorossi / Weiß-Rote (White and reds) Tirolesi / Tiro. That is your new shorthand, your search term and your excuse for buying a scarf.

• Easy weekend

  Bolzano Airport (BZO) is about 4km from the ground, and Rombrücke railway station is 0km closer still. A home fixture is a genuinely doable two-night trip.