Jackson delighted as City are paired with Leeds

The game will be the first meeting between the two sides in three years and City manager Peter Jackson says it is welcome news for everyone at Valley Parade.

“As soon as the cup draw was made, I knew how much this tie would mean to the football club and the fans,” he said.

“We haven’t had too much good news as a club in recent months so this is a nice boost for the fans, the players, and importantly, the finances.”

Over 20,000 supporters attended the last meeting between the two clubs, which Leeds won 2-1 in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Elland Road in September, 2008.

“I’m really, really looking forward to this match,” added Jackson. “They will clearly be firm favourites to win the match given their league status and the form they showed last season. We will probably have a squad that is still gelling together at that stage but we will go there and have a real go.

“I am just really delighted for anyone connected with the club because it seems to have got people buzzing around the place again.”

Leeds manager Simon Grayson also described the game as a ‘great draw for both sides’.

Grayson, who is good friends with Jackson, said: “There’s the local rivalry aspect and it’s a good game to have during the first week of the season.

“Any game at that stage of the season, whether it’s high profile or low profile, is good for the players because they are building relationships and need to play games. It should also attract a decent crowd with a good atmosphere so it’s a game we’ll be looking forward to.”

Huddersfield Town will visit League Two side Port Vale, who are now back under the guidance of manager Micky Adams following his ill-fated spell at Sheffield United.

Hull City host Macclesfield Town, who finished 15th in League Two last season.

Middlesbrough have been handed a first trip to Walsall’s Bescot Stadium. The two clubs last met 24 years ago when Walsall were still located at Fellows Park.

Former Sheffield Wednesday defender Dean Smith, the manager of the Swifts, said: “It’s a very exciting draw. Middlesbrough are a big club who have spent a number of seasons in the Premier League.”

Sheffield United have been sent on a revenge mission to Hartlepool United.

The Blades suffered the indignity of defeat to the League Two club at the same stage of the competition last season and manager Kevin Blackwell was sacked a few days later.

This time around, the Blades will be under the stewardship of Danny Wilson, who spent two years in charge at Victoria Park and led the Teessiders to promotion.

Barnsley manager Keith Hill and Sheffield Wednesday manager Gary Megson will also be facing former employers in the first round.

Hill, who quit Rochdale last month to take over at Barnsley, finished his playing career at Morecambe, who will visit Oakwell.

Megson spent a season in charge of Blackpool in the mid-Nineties and the Seasiders – relegated from the Premier League – are likely to provide a tough test for the Owls at Hillsborough.

Rotherham United’s new manager Andy Scott will be pitting his wits against former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson after the Millers were paired with Championship club Leicester City while Doncaster Rovers will be looking to progress at home to League One Tranmere Rovers.

The Blades’ trip to Hartlepool, however, is undoubtedly the eye-catching tie of the first round as far as the clubs in South Yorkshire are concerned.

New manager Wilson admits the Blades will need to learn lessons from last season’s 2-0 defeat which signalled the start of their slide towards relegation.

“I hope that, by the time this tie comes around, we have got the right players in and a strong mentality in the squad because we are going to need that this season,” said Wilson.

“What happened there last season is still fresh in the memory so it is a bit of deja vu.

“Hopefully, we might have learned a few lessons from what happened because they will be up for it again against a big club and looking for another scalp.”

Wilson, who quit Hartlepool in December 2008, knows just how tough Victoria Park can be for a visiting side.

“The fans there are very vocal and it feels like they are right on top of you because it is a particularly tight and compact stadium,” he said. “It is an uncompromising place for an away team but you have to get rid of your fear. It won’t be the best footballing tie, it will be a battle, but the pitch is always in good nick which allows you to get the ball down if you have a chance.”

This season’s Carling Cup requires a preliminary round for the first time involving Crawley Town and AFC Wimbledon.

The preliminary round is necessary because holders Birmingham City, relegated from the Premier League, will not start their involvement until round three due to Europa League commitments and so one club less is needed in the first round. Crawley and Wimbledon were the two clubs placed lowest in the domestic league system last season.

Ticket details and kick-off times for most of the games have yet to be confirmed but they will be staged during the week of August 8.