Huddersfield Town today learned their first fixture of the 2008/2009 with the Terriers given a West Yorkshire derby encounter with local rivals Bradford City.

The match to be played at the Galpharm Stadium during the week commencing August 11, 2008 and could depending on the venue of the first league fixture be Town's first home match of the 2008/2009 season.

The draw is an interesting one for Huddersfield Town with Bradford City expecting to bring a sizeable following for their first Town/City 'derby' since Town beat the Bantams 2-0 in March 2007 to help relegate Bradford to League Two.

With promotion high on the City agenda this season and more big gates at Valley Parade expected this could be a test for Stan Ternent's side very early on in the season. Town will be expecting to taste victory in and progress past the first stage in the competition since 2005/2006, if our own promotional aspirations from League One are to be given a early season boost.

It is even more teasing given the fact former Terrier Chris Brandon is in Bradford ranks now and striker Luke Beckett could be following Brandon in wearing the claret and amber stripes of Bradford City next season.

Last season Town went out of this competition at the first hurdle with a 1-0 defeat at Blackpool, the season before a disappointing 2-0 loss at Mansfield Town at the first stage ended Town's League Cup hopes who have a semi-final placing as a best finish in 1967/1968.

Against Bradford in the League Cup Town have never tasted defeat from the two matches played. The two legged affair in August 1997, saw Town take a 2-1 lead to Valley Parade after the first leg. A Wayne Burnett late equaliser for the Terriers levelled 1-1 in Bradford after the home side had taken an early lead.

The last 'cup win' at Valley Parade came in 1992 when Iain Dunn and Kieran O'Regan scored the goals in a 2-0 FA Cup win. The only other cup match played was an FA Cup 5th round tie when Town won 2-1 at Leeds Road in February 1930.

8,720 turned up to the League Cup first leg in 1997, due to the lack of City/Town derby match last season, significantly more are expected this season certainly travelling in the claret and amber of Bradford City. A big gate could be secured by Town if they do a special pricing initiative for this match, ticket news to follow later.

Recent history of matches between the two sides is with Town having won three of the last four matches and drawn the fourth.

This match will be the first in which a Town manager has been able to announce seven substitutes. For next season all FA and Carling Cup matches will allow seven named subs, although only three will be allowed to change with a starting eleven.

07/08 - Round 1 - Blackpool (away) - Lost 0-1 - out
06/07 - Round 1 - Mansfield Town (home) - Lost 0-2 - out
05/06 - Round 1 - Chesterfield (away) - Won 4-2 - through
05/06 - Round 2 - Blackburn (away) - Lost 1-3 - out
04/05 - Round 1 - Leeds United (away) - Lost 0-1 - out

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