NEALE Cooper and Micky Barron welcomed Hartlepool United's FA Cup draw.

Pool will entertain either Whitby or Bromsgrove in the first round on November 9 - Pool's first home tie against a non-league side since beating Conference side Southport in 1992.

However, they will want to forget the last occasion they entertained a side from below the Conference.

That was in 1985 when Frickly Athletic knocked Bill Horner's Pool out of the competition by a single goal.

"That's a good draw for once,'' said Barron.

"Anyone at home would have done us, but to get a team from non-league is good.

"Either team will come here looking for an upset, but it is up to us to be professional and put in the right performance.

"I'm sure Whitby will be delighted with the draw, they will bring a good following but at least we are at home and it doesn't mean our supporters have to go all over the country.''

Cooper added: "I won four Scottish Cups with Aberdeen, so the competition means something special to me.

"A good cup run can be worth a lot of money to the club.

"A home tie means a lot for us, that's all we can ask for.

"We will prepare for the game professionally like we would prepare for any game and look forward to it.''

Cooper is likely to visit The Turnbull Ground on Wednesday for the replay after the teams drew on Saturday.

Pool and Whitby drew in pre-season and the UniBond League side have Hartlepool-based Craig Veart in their ranks - his uncle Bobby was part of the Pool team in the early 70s - as well as Anthony Ormerod, who spent a loan spell at Pool from Middlesbrough three years ago.

Bromsgrove are currently mid-table in the Western Division of the Dr Martens League.

Read more about Hartlepool here.