NEW ground will be broken when Ipswich Town meet Kidderminster Harriers for the first time in August for their League Cup first round clash, writes Derek Davis.

NEW ground will be broken when Ipswich Town meet Kidderminster Harriers for the first time in August for their League Cup first round clash, writes Derek Davis.

The Blues were drawn at home on Wednesday, August 13 against the Third Division outfit in the newly-christened Carling Cup, which replaces the Worthington Cup after five years.

Harriers gained their Football League status at the same time as Ipswich won promotion to the Premiership in 2000. Although they have been in existence since 1886, Harriers have never played Ipswich before.

Town fans hoping to add the 6,300 capacity Aggborough Stadium, to their list of visited grounds will be disappointed this time, as the tie will be competed on the night.

Managed by Ian Britton, the north Worcestershire side include former Colchester United defender Scott Stamps, Peter Shilton's son Sam, Denmark's Bo Henricksen, ex Northampton Town double-promotion winner Sean Parrish and are skippered by veteran midfielder Sean Flynn, who has plied his trade at Coventry City, Derby County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Tranmere Rovers.

Britton was delighted to get the plum trip to Portman Road and said: "It is a great draw although it is a pity it is not at home. It is a great way for us to start the season."

The Kidderminster boss is used to managing on a shoestring with one of the lowest attendances in the country, but the club managed to go into the black in the last financial year making a £400,000 profit, thanks mainly to West Bromwich Albion's decision to buy back Lee Hughes and compensation paid by Hull City for 'poaching' Jan Molby.

Even so Britton has been told to recruit only from the Midlands so as not to pay relocation expenses and this has hampered his quest for new forwards after Drewe Broughton and Ian Foster left, leaving him with only Henricksen as a recognised striker.

Matt Gadsby has been brought in on a free transfer from Mansfield but Britton will be relying heavily on a crop of youngsters by the time they make the trip to Ipswich.

Meanwhile, Colchester United entertain Division Two rivals Plymouth Argyle. The two sides failed to produce a goal in either of their league encounters last season and Pilgrims boss Paul Sturrock was less than impressed with the draw.

He said: "It is disappointing but if you are going to do anything in these competitions, which we have not done for 11 years, you have to start somewhere."

Norwich City have been drawn away to big-spending Northampton Town, whose new owners are expecting big things from the Sixfields outfit.