With only seven teams to choose from in the north-west section it's easily the biggest tie that the Blues could have hoped to get, and like the Capital One Cup tie against Accrington Stanley, it will be another one where it is free entry into Brunton Park for season ticket holders. Those fans present hoping to see a bit more of an exciting game than the 0-0 League One stalemate than took place between the two sides last season in mid-March.
That was one of six draws between the teams in the 18 games they have played against each other at Brunton Park over the years, with United holding a slight advantage on North End victory-wise at seven to five. As far as this competition is concerned all three ties in it between the Blues and North End have come in Cumbria, with Carlisle first losing 2-1 in the 1986-87 season in the opening round after the group stage, with John Halpin netting for United and Nigel Jemson and Gary Brazil for Preston in front of 1,400 fans.
In the 1990-91 campaign meanwhile it was in the group stage where Carlisle drew 1-1 at home to North End, Tony Fyfe, as 1,826 specators looked on, scoring for the Blues while Graham Shaw netted for the visitors from the penalty spot. The final game again a group stage one as United won 2-0 in the 1993-94 season, with Peter Valentine and Darren Edmondson on the scoresheet in front of 3,909 fans inside Brunton Park.
So, it will be almost 20 years come the first week of September this year when the two sides meet again in the competition, with that game being probably the standout tie in the whole of the northern section, with trophy holders Chesterfield being drawn at home to Oldham Athletic. Down south meanwhile it's Swindon Town v Oxford United that is the one to watch while Northampton Town v MK Dons and Portsmouth v AFC Bournemouth are also good local derbies.
Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round Draw
North-West
Rochdale v Fleetwood Town
Carlisle United v Preston North End
Accrington Stanley v Morecambe
Port Vale v Tranmere Rovers
North-East
Rotherham United v York City
Chesterfield v Oldham Athletic
Coventry City v Burton Albion
Scunthorpe United v Notts County
South-West
Oxford United v Swindon Town
Bristol Rovers v Yeovil Town
Portsmouth v AFC Bournemouth
Exeter City v Aldershot Town
South-East
Southend United v AFC Wimbledon
Dagenham & Redbridge v Stevenage
Northampton Town v MK Dons
Crawley Town v Gillingham
*ties to be played in the week commencing Monday 3rd September