Thursday 8 September, 2011 – Fifteen Years Ago. Notts County had made the trip to northern Italy, and Turin, for perhaps the unlikeliest of friendly matches. Their hosts, Italian giants, Juventus, and the reason, the grand opening of their new stadia, the Juventus (Allianz since 2017) Stadium.

Built on the former grounds of their previous home, the Stadio Delle Alpi, it was officially opened at the start of the 2011-12 campaign, one which would see La Vecchia Signora enjoy yet another, Serie A success.

At the time of this glamorous friendly for England’s oldest professional football club, County were residents of League One (the third tier), whilst their hosts, they were plying their trade in the upper echelons of one the best leagues in the world, Serie A.

The game was arranged by the hosts in order to honour a link dating back over a century; the Italian side had been formed as far back as 1897 and were named Sport-Club Juventus, renamed Foot-Ball Club Juventus a couple of years later.

Winning their first Italian Championship in 1905, it’s said that it was also around this time that they adopted the black & white striped colours of English side, Notts County, a strip in which the Italian giants are now famous for.

As for the friendly, over a century on, the then League One side held their own for a little over forty-five minutes of the contest, the two combatants going in goalless at the break, but it would be Antonio Conte’s hosts who’d eventually take the lead.

Having given away a penalty early in the second half, visiting shot-stopper, Rob Burch, was on-hand to save Juve substitute, Fabio Quagliarella’s spot-kick; however, another of the hosts’ half-time changes, Luca Toni, was there to put in the rebound.

With a heady bench of stars in which to choose from, and a starting line-up which consisted of Italian greats such as Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, and captain, Alessandro Del Piero, La Vecchia Signora were perhaps overwhelming favourites.

However, a late twist went in County’s favour when Lee Hughes equalised for the Magpies three minutes from time, ramming the ball home from close range after Alex Manninger, Juve’s second substitute goalkeeper, had seen a free-kick squirm from his grasp.

Prior to the game, a Nottingham bookmaker was taking bets on Hughes beating Del Piero to being the first to net in their new home; although Luca Toni took the plaudits for that, Hughes became the first away player to achieve the feat.

A famous occasion, and a famous result for Marton Allen’s County side, holding the Italian’s to a 1-1 draw, in their own backyard.

JUVENTUS – Gianluigi Buffon, Marco Motta, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Berzagli, Paolo De Ceglle, Arturo Vidal, Michele Pazienza, Simone Pepe, Alessandro Del Piero (capt), Eljero Elia, Alessandro Matri (subs list chosen from near thirty players, and included the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Quagliarella, Luca Toni, and Andrea Pirlo)

NOTTS COUNTY – Robert Burch, Julian Kelly, Krystian Pearce, Mike Edwards, Jude Sterling, Charlie Allen, Gavin Mahon, Neal Bishop (capt), Ricky Ravenhill, Ishmael Demontagnac, Karl Hawley (subs – Hamza Bencherif, Alan Sheehan, Lee Hughes, Jeff Hughes, Alan Judge, Stuart Nelson, Ben Burgess, Liam Chilvers, Haydn Hollis, George Nicolas, Curtis Thomson)

County captain, Neal Bishop, told the BBC afterwards that; “It was a special night to be part of.

“There were a few butterflies in the stomach during the opening ceremony but we’re very proud of the performance and the result.

“We’ve been looked after first class, no player played over 60 minutes so we will be raring to go for Saturday’s match against Walsall.”

Also, about opposing the likes of Buffon, Del Piero, Pirlo et al, he added; “It was a wonderful experience.

“Watching them play, how they would keep their heads up, pass forward and be willing to start again if needed was great to watch.”

Of those turning out for County, ‘keeper Rob Burch was at the end of his playing career, having had bit-part spells at numerous clubs (primarily on loan) before joining Lincoln City in 2008.

After a century of appearances there, he rejected a new contract in May 2010, the following month signing for Notts County on a free transfer, two-year deal, making nineteen appearances in his first season, before being released at the end of the second.

County scorer, Lee Hughes meanwhile, he was in the midst of a near three-decade long playing career when he turned up at County in 2009, going on to score 66 goals in near 150 appearances.

Hughes’ 2009-10 season had seen him become the first County player since Tommy Lawton to net thirty in a campaign; Lawton having done so back in the late 1940s.

Other standout players for County included Stockton-born midfielder, Neal Bishop, whose two-decade long career saw him appear over 190 times for County (2009-13), and near 80 times for local rivals Mansfield Town (2018-20), and French defender, Hamza Bencherif, who began his career with Nottingham Forest, moving to County (40 apps, 2011-13), and now plays for National League North side, Worksop Town, where he’s been since 2022.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC action from the Juventus Stadium in 2015.