Just a month after the 2007-2008 season finished, the 2008-2009 season has begun after the draw for the Carling Cup First Round was made this morning.
Barnsley will make the trip to Cheshire to take on League One side Crewe Alexandra in the week commencing the 11th August 2008 (the first week of the 2008-2009 season).
This meeting will be the third time the two sides have met in the League Cup, Barnsley have won the two previous meetings (3-0 at Gresty Road and 4-0 at Oakwell in a two legged tie in 2000)
Crewe have though won the last three meetings between the sides, the latest one coming in 2003.
In terms of League Cup success, neither side has ever won the trophy since it was created in 1961. The furthest Barnsley have got is a Quarter-Final replay with Liverpool in 1983 which they lost 3-1 whilst the furthest Crewe have progressed is the 3rd round which they have reached on 10 occasions.
Last year The Reds were eliminated in the 2nd Round- 2-0 at Newcastle United whilst Crewe went out in the 1st Round 3-0 at home to Hull City.
Barnsley League Cup History:
| League Cup 1960-2008 | Venue | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
| Home | 65 | 26 | 15 | 24 | 99 | 76 | |
| Away | 68 | 19 | 16 | 33 | 83 | 119 | |
| Neutral | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 133 | 45 | 31 | 57 | 182 | 195 |
Crewe League Cup History:
| League Cup 1960-2008 | Venue | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
| Home | 64 | 28 | 15 | 21 | 100 | 89 | |
| Away | 61 | 12 | 14 | 35 | 76 | 133 | |
| Neutral | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 125 | 40 | 29 | 56 | 176 | 222 |
Full Carling Cup First Round Draw: 2008-2009:
Preston v Chesterfield
Chester v Leeds
Leicester v Stockport
Sheff Utd v Port Vale
Grimsby v Tranmere
Crewe v Barnsley
Hartlepool v Scunthorpe
Derby v Lincoln
Notts County v Doncaster
Sheff Wed v Rotherham
Shrewsbury v Carlisle
Wolves v Accrington
Bury v Burnley
Rochdale v Oldham
Nottm Forest v Morecambe
Huddersfield v Bradford
Macclesfield v Blackpool
Walsall v Darlington
Coventry v Aldershot
M K Dons v Norwich
Wycombe v Birmingham
Brighton v Barnet
Gillingham v Colchester
Southend v Cheltenham
Swansea v Brentford
Luton v Plymouth
Exeter v Southampton
Watford v Bristol Rovers
Bournemouth v Cardiff
Bristol City v Peterborough
Charlton v Yeovil
Millwall v Northampton
Swindon v QPR
Crystal Palace v Hereford
Dag & Red v Reading
Ipswich v Leyton Orient