Hereford United are celebrating today after being drawn at home to mighty Leicester City in the third round of the FA Cup.

United's reward for beating Hartlepool United 1-0 in yesterday's second round tie is a meeting with the side currently seventh in the FA Carling Premiership, on the weekend of December 11.

A sell-out crowd is expected at Edgar Street to see the likes of England international Emile Heskey and veteran goalscorer Tony Cottee come to town.

United's Director of Football Graham Turner said today: "It is a good draw. To be paired with a Premiership club at home is what the Cup is all about - it is one to look forward to.

"It is a nice reward for the players as well. They worked hard for the two victories over Football League clubs, and they now have a chance to pit their wits against the stars of the Premiership."

The game is likely to be all-ticket, and United should know later this week if the game will be played on the Saturday or switched to the Sunday or possibly the Monday for television purposes.

They earned £75,000 from Sky Television for allowing yesterday's tie to be televised live, and the cash-strapped Bulls can expect another bumper pay-day from the visit of Martin O'Neill's side.

Turner added: "I think it should be 3 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon unless someone else dictates otherwise. We certainly don't want it to be moved for any other reason than it being televised."

Rob Elmes' second-half goal was enough to seal victory over Third Division Hartlepool, to follow their victory by the same score over York City in the first round.

It will be the second time that Hereford have met Leicester in the FA Cup. They met in the fourth round in 1982 when Leicester, whose side included a young Gary Lineker, won 1-0 at Edgar Street.

That same season Leicester met a Shrewsbury Town side managed by Turner in the quarter-finals, Leicester running out 5-2 winners.