Giant-killing is back on York City's agenda after landing a razzle-dazzle duel against Sunderland.

The sides will clash in the first week of the season in the new Worthington Cup, the £23 million successor to the Coca-Cola Cup.

City are at home first before then making an historic first trip to the Wearsiders' magnificent Stadium of Light on Tuesday, August 18.

The first clash - pencilled in for Tuesday, August 11 - may have to be all-ticket, said City club secretary Keith Usher, depending on how many Sunderland fans would make the trip to York.

The Minstermen could not have picked out a bigger plum with the tie echoing the glory Coca-Cola Cup conquests over Manchester United and Everton in 1995 and 1996 respectively.

There are also several intriguing links connecting the two clubs, led by former City midfielder Darren Williams, who last season starred so well at the heart of the Sunderland defence he gained international honours for England under-21s and 'B' teams.

Middlesbrough-born Williams began his League career with City in 1995, later starring in midfield in the epic clashes with Manchester United, before a £150,000 move to Sunderland in September 1996 after his City days were soured by a contract dispute.

Since then he has played in the Premiership from where Sunderland fell the season before last.

During last term the 21-year-old dynamo was a central figure in the Sunderland defence, whose dream of an instant return to the top-class was dashed in the Division One play-off final at Wembley where they were beaten by Charlton Athletic.

Williams enjoyed 'promotion' however to the international scene as one of the new breed of players coming through the England under-21 ranks.

Another City-Sunderland tie-up is represented by current Sunderland youth team coach Ricky Sbragia, who moved from Bootham Crescent to the Wearside club in 1994.

The Glasgow-born central defender held the same position at Bootham Crescent for seven years after retiring from playing. He starred in 179 League and Cup games for City between 1982-87.

City will entertain Sunderland - many punters' favourites to surge from Division One back into the Premiership next term - at Bootham Crescent on Tuesday, August 11, kick-off 7.45pm, four days after the start of the new 1998-99 term at Preston.

Said Usher: "Discussions will have to be held with Sunderland yet. But if they were likely to have several thousands of fans coming to York then we may have to make the tie here all-ticket."

The eagerly-awaited return at the 40,000-seater Stadium of Light will be in the week starting August 17.

Sunderland today completed the £500,000 signing of Danish under-21 goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

City have twice before met Sunderland in the old League Cup, each time in the opening round, with the clubs sharing a victory apiece.

In 1986 City stunned their then Roker Park hosts with a 4-2 first leg triumph decorated by a hat-trick from Keith Walwyn. In the return City were beaten 3-1 after extra-time, but edged into a second round showdown with Chelsea on the away-goals rule.

However, revenge was gained by Sunderland two years later when a goal-less draw at Bootham Crescent was followed by a 4-0 win at Roker Park.

Worthington Cup : first round draw

Huddersfield v Mansfield, Bolton v Hartlepool, Wigan v Rochdale, Wrexham v Halifax, Tranmere v Carlisle, Notts County v Manchester City, Grimsby v Preston, Darlington v Sheffield United, Oldham v Crewe, Bury v Burnley, Blackpool v Scunthorpe, Macclesfield v Stoke, SCARBOROUGH v Barnsley, Port Vale v Chester, YORK CITY v Sunderland, Rotherham v Chesterfield, Stockport v Hull, Bradford v Lincoln, Walsall v QPR, Bournemouth v Colchester, Plymouth v Portsmouth, Birmingham v Millwall, Bristol City v Shrewsbury, Southend v Gillingham, West Brom v Brentford, Barnet v Wolves, Luton v Oxford, Swindon v Wycombe, Leyton Orient v Bristol Rovers, Fulham v Cardiff, Swansea v Norwich, Exeter v Ipswich, Torquay v Crystal Palace, Northampton v Brighton, Peterborough v Reading, Cambridge v Watford

First leg ties to be played during the week starting August 10; second leg ties to be played during the week starting August 17.

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