ALDERSHOT Town are well and truly back with the big boys of the Football League, after being drawn away to Coventry City in the first round of the Carling Cup.

The match at the Ricoh Arena will be played in the week beginning Monday August 11, probably on either Tuesday 12 or Wednesday 13 August. That will be just a few days after Aldershot's first League Two fixture of the season, which will be announced on Monday.

Coventry have played at the Ricoh Arena since season 2005-06, after leaving their famous Highfield Road ground. The Arena has a capacity of more than 30,000.

Coventry, who won the FA Cup in 1987 and spent 34 consecutive years in the top flight from 1967-2001, survived a relegation battle by the skin of their teeth last season, finishing fourth-from-bottom of the Championship, one place and point above Leicester City, who were relegated. Fortunately for the Sky Blues, a 4-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic on the last day of the season did not prove decisive.

Their manager is Chris Coleman, who joined in February after a brief stint in charge of Real Sociedad in northern Spain last season, after being surprisingly sacked by Fulham the year before. Coleman took over in February of this year, after City were struggling under Ian Dowie. He is now in the manager's seat at Championship club Queens Park Rangers - where Gary Waddock was less than two years ago.

Elsewhere in the first round draw, Exeter City, who were promoted with Aldershot from the Blue Square Premier last season, have been rewarded with an exciting home draw, against Southampton.

More reaction on Aldershot's draw to follow.