Notts County are to play Juventus to mark the opening of the Italian side's new 41,000-seater stadium.

The ground is to open on Thursday, September 8, and County's invitation to the event dates back to a link between the clubs from the early twentieth-century.

In 1903, an Englishman who played for the Serie A club, John Savage, organised for the team to wear the black and white stripes of the Magpies, colours which they have kept ever since.

"I have to admit that when the offer first came in I was slightly taken aback and when we sat down to look at the fixture list, we've obviously got a home game against Walsall just two days later and then a trip to Exeter the following Tuesday," said chairman Ray Trew.

"However, given the historical relationship between our two clubs and the sheer prestige of the occasion, we were prepared to move heaven and earth to make this happen.

"I have spoken to [manager] Martin Allen and while it's not ideal obviously, given the schedule of fixtures around that time, he was in agreement that we simply couldn't pass up this opportunity."