2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup

The 2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the SPFL Trust Trophy due to sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 32nd season of the competition. The total number of participating clubs is 53, including clubs from Wales and Northern Ireland. The competition began on 1 August 2023 with the first round and the final is scheduled for the weekend of 23/24 March 2024.

2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup
CountryScotland
Other club(s) fromNorthern Ireland
Wales
Dates1 August 2023 – 24 March 2024
Teams54
Defending championsHamilton Academical
Matches played44
Goals scored146 (3.32 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Niyah Joseph
Robbie Muirhead
(4 goals)
All statistics correct as of 14 October 2023.

Thirty teams from the Championship, League One and League Two compete, along with four teams from the Highland Football League and four from the Lowland Football League. In addition to this, Under-21 teams from 11 of the 12 clubs competing in the Scottish Premiership are represented. This season also includes guest clubs, with two sides each coming from Northern Ireland's NIFL Premiership and Wales' Cymru Premier.[2]

Format
Round Date Fixtures Clubs New entries
First Round[3] 1–2 August 2023 11 53 → 42 3 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League Two (8th–10th)
4 teams from 2022–23 Lowland Football League (1st–4th)
4 teams from 2022–23 Highland Football League (1st–4th)
11 U21 teams from 2023–24 Scottish Premiership
Second Round[3] 15–16 August 2023 10 42 → 32 2 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League One (9th–10th)
7 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League Two (1st–7th)
Third Round[3] 9–10 September 2023 16 32 → 16 Teams from 2022–23 Scottish Championship (2nd–10th)
8 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League One (1st–8th)
2 teams from 2022–23 NIFL Premiership (4th and 6th)
2 teams from 2022–23 Cymru Premier (1st and 5th)
Fourth Round[3] 14–15 October 2023 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals[3] 18–19 November 2023 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals[3] 3–4 February 2024 2 4 → 2
Final[3] 23–24 March 2023 1 2 → 1

First round

The first round featured 3 clubs from 2022–23 Scottish League Two, 4 clubs from the 2022–23 Scottish Highland Football League, 4 clubs from the 2022–23 Scottish Lowland Football League and 11 of the 12 under-21 teams of the 2023–24 Scottish Premiership, with Ross County not entering an under-21 team.[3]

The draw was made on 4 July 2023 at 13:00 and broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised and all non-Under 21 teams were seeded. The matches were played on 1 and 2 August 2023.[2]

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Teams in bold advanced to the second round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams

Matches
1 August 2023 Brechin City 2–2
(5–3 p)		Heart of Midlothian BBrechin
19:30
  • MacLeod 22'
  • McGrath 36'
 [4]
  • Kirk 76' (pen.)
  • Friel 80'
 Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 474
Referee: George Calder
Penalties
  • Loudon soccer ball with check mark
  • McGrath soccer ball with check mark
  • MacLeod soccer ball with check mark
  • McArthur soccer ball with check mark
  • Heenan soccer ball with check mark
  • soccer ball with check mark Kirk
  • soccer ball with red X Sandilands
  • soccer ball with check mark Wilson
  • soccer ball with check mark McLuckie
1 August 2023 Elgin City 2–0St Johnstone BElgin
19:30
  • MacLeman 20'
  • Barron 75'
 [5] Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 478
Referee: Daniel Graves
2 August 2023 Hibernian B 1–1
(3–2 p)		Formartine UnitedEdinburgh
19:30
  • Landers 45'
 [6]
  • Park 42'
 Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 107
Referee: Alex Shepherd
Penalties
  • McAllister soccer ball with check mark
  • MacIntyre soccer ball with check mark
  • Megwa soccer ball with check mark
  • Zaid soccer ball with check mark
  • soccer ball with check mark Park
  • soccer ball with red X Campbell
  • soccer ball with red X Rodger
  • soccer ball with check mark Smith
2 August 2023 Brora Rangers1–1
(2–4 p)		 Aberdeen B Brora
19:45 J. MacRae 28' [7] Bavidge 82' Stadium: Dudgeon Park
Attendance: 275
Referee: Ryan Lee
Penalties
  • soccer ball with red X Hamilton
  • soccer ball with check mark Marshall
  • soccer ball with check mark Lobban
  • soccer ball with check mark Emslie
  • soccer ball with check mark Bavidge
2 August 2023 Dundee B 4–0Buckie ThistleForfar
20:00
  • Mohammed 1'
  • Wilkie 17'
  • Mutale 23'
  • Anderson 61'
 [8] Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 116
Referee: Colin Whyte

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Teams in bold advanced to the second round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams

Matches
1 August 2023 St Mirren B2–2
(2–4 p)		 Albion Rovers Paisley
19:30
  • Turner 51'
  • Sutherland 90'
 [9]
  • Joseph 27'
  • Fagan 41'
 Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 363
Referee: Greg Soutar
Penalties
  • Gilmartin soccer ball with red X
  • Gaffney soccer ball with check mark
  • Foster soccer ball with check mark
  • Lennon soccer ball with red X
  • soccer ball with check mark Joseph
  • soccer ball with check mark Wilson
  • soccer ball with check mark McCaw
  • soccer ball with check mark McMahon
1 August 2023 Tranent 0–0
(3–1 p)		Motherwell BTranent
19:45 [10] Stadium: Foresters Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Jordan Curran
Penalties
1 August 2023 The Spartans0–3 Rangers B Edinburgh
19:45 [11]
Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 273
Referee: Ross Hardie
1 August 2023 Kilmarnock B 3–1Bonnyrigg RoseKilmarnock
19:45
  • Wales 18'
  • Warnock 21'
  • Brown 52'
 [12] Faye 46' Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 181
Referee: Andy Gamble
2 August 2023 University of Stirling 4–0Livingston BStirling
19:45
  • Russell 3'
  • Malcolm 70'
  • McIvor-Redwood 72'
  • Tallen 87'
 [13] Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 98
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
2 August 2023 Celtic B1–3 East Kilbride Airdrie
19:45 Vata 12' [14]
  • Biggar 6'
  • Samson 57'
  • Kelly 82'
 Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 338
Referee: Peter Stuart

Second round

The second round featured the 11 winners from the previous round, along with 2 clubs from 2022–23 Scottish League One and 7 clubs from 2022–23 Scottish League Two.

The draw for the second round was also made on 4 July 2023 at 13:00 on the live broadcast from the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised, but not seeded. The matches were played on 15 and 16 August 2023.[2]

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches
15 August 2023 Brechin City0–4 Hibernian B Brechin
19:30 [15]
  • Molotnikov 13'
  • Megwa 37'
  • Smith 77', 83'
 Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 400
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
15 August 2023 Aberdeen B3–5 Peterhead Pitmedden
19:45
[16]
Stadium: North Lodge Park
Attendance: 384
Referee: Ross Clark
15 August 2023 Dundee B0–0
(3–5 p)		 East Fife Dundee
19:45 [17] Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 309
Referee: Greg Soutar
Penalties
15 August 2023 Elgin City 0–0
(4–3 p)		Forfar AthleticElgin
19:45 [18] Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 349
Referee: Jordan Curran
Penalties

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches
15 August 2023 Albion Rovers 2–0TranentCoatbridge
19:45
  • Joseph 75', 87'
 [19] Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 157
Referee: Andy Gamble
15 August 2023 Annan Athletic 3–1StranraerAnnan
19:45
[20]
  • McDonald 38'
 Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 301
Referee: Gavin Duncan
15 August 2023 Stirling Albion0–3 East Kilbride Stirling
19:45 [21]
Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 329
Referee: Stewart Luke
15 August 2023 Stenhousemuir1–2 Rangers B Stenhousemuir
20:00
  • Lynch 60'
 [22]
Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 269
Referee: Ryan Lee
16 August 2023 Clyde1–3 University of Stirling Hamilton
19:45
  • Scullion 55'
 [23]
Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 222
Referee: Alex Shepherd
16 August 2023 Kilmarnock B1–1
(8–9 p)		 Dumbarton Kilmarnock
19:45
  • Wales 65'
 [24]
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 300
Referee: Daniel Graves
Penalties
  • Warnock soccer ball with check mark
  • A. Brown soccer ball with check mark
  • Wales soccer ball with check mark
  • Brannan soccer ball with check mark
  • Davies soccer ball with check mark
  • Sanders soccer ball with check mark
  • E. Brown soccer ball with check mark
  • Craic soccer ball with check mark
  • Smith soccer ball with red X

Third round

The third round featured the 10 winners from the previous round, along with the bottom club from 2022–23 Scottish Premiership, 2nd-10th from 2022–23 Scottish Championship, 8 clubs from 2022–23 Scottish League One, 2 clubs from 2022–23 NIFL Premiership and 2 clubs from 2022–23 Cymru Premier.

Draw

The draw was made on 17 August 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[25]

Teams that entered the competition in the third round.

Teams in bold advanced to the fourth round.

Championship League One Teams from other countries

NIFL Premiership

Cymru Premier

Matches
5 September 2023 Ayr United0–1 Falkirk Ayr
19:45 [26]
  • Henderson 30'
 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,423
Referee: Steven Kirkland
8 September 2023 Hibernian B0–3 The New Saints Edinburgh
18:00 [27]
Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 119
Referee: Iain Snedden
9 September 2023 East Fife 2–1Albion RoversMethil
13:00
[28]
  • Joseph 31'
 Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 448
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
9 September 2023 Raith Rovers 3–0CliftonvilleKirkcaldy
14:00
[29] Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,561
Referee: Grant Irvine
9 September 2023 Edinburgh City1–4 East Kilbride Edinburgh
15:00
  • Peter 61'
 [30]
  • Flanagan 43'
  • McDonald 47'
  • Roy 63'
  • Lyon 76'
 Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 231
Referee: Dan McFarlane
9 September 2023 Annan Athletic 0–2 Peterhead Annan
15:00 [31]
Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 326
Referee: Scott Lambie
9 September 2023 Cove Rangers0–2 Montrose Aberdeen
15:00 [32]
  • Brown 58'
  • Hester 87'
 Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 520
Referee: Alastair Grieve
9 September 2023 Dumbarton1–3 Kelty Hearts Dumbarton
15:00
[33]
Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 427
Referee: Duncan Williams
9 September 2023 University of Stirling2–3 Airdrieonians Stirling
15:00
  • McAninch 18', 54' (pen.)
 [34]
Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 609
Referee: Alan Muir
9 September 2023 Greenock Morton 2–1Elgin CityGreenock
15:00
[35]
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,016
Referee: Ross Hardie
9 September 2023 Dundee United 3–0Dunfermline AthleticDundee
15:00
[36] Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 2,408
Referee: Craig Napier
9 September 2023 Arbroath 4–2Inverness Caledonian ThistleArbroath
15:00
[37]
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 780
Referee: Steven McLean
9 September 2023 Partick Thistle2–3 Queen of the South Glasgow
15:00
[38]
Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,307
Referee: Euan Anderson
9 September 2023 Coleraine1–3 Hamilton Academical Coleraine, Northern Ireland
15:45
[39]
Stadium: The Showgrounds
Attendance: 906
Referee: Chris Morrison
9 September 2023 Bala Town0–3 Queen's Park Bala, Wales
17:15 [40]
Stadium: Maes Tegid
Attendance: 317
Referee: Aaron Wyn Jones
26 September 2023 Rangers B 4–1Alloa AthleticGreenock
19:45
[41]
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 139
Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Fourth round

The draw was made on 14 September 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[42]

No new teams enter in this round.

Teams in Italics were unknown at the time of the draw.

Championship League One League Two Lowland League Premiership B teams Teams from other countries

Cymru Premier

Matches
14 October 2023 Raith Rovers 3–1MontroseKirkcaldy
15:00
[43]
  • Watson 72'
 Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,388
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
14 October 2023 East Kilbride2–5 Hamilton Academical East Kilbride
15:00
  • McGowan 31'
  • Ferguson 53'
 [44]
Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 583
Referee: Chris Fordyce
14 October 2023 Falkirk 1–0Queen's ParkFalkirk
15:00
[45] Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 2,427
Referee: Scott Lambie
14 October 2023 Queen of the South1–2 Arbroath Dumfries
15:00
  • Doherty 12'
 [46]
Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 786
Referee: Duncan Williams
14 October 2023 Greenock Morton 4–1Kelty HeartsGreenock
15:00
[47]
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,056
Referee: Steven Kirkland
14 October 2023 The New Saints 2–2
(5–4 p)		East FifeOswestry, England
17:15
[48]
Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 512
Referee: Huw Jones
Penalties
14 October 2023 Peterhead0–2 Dundee United Peterhead
17:30
Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 1,322
Referee: Calum Scott
7 November 2023 Rangers B v Airdrieonians Greenock
19:45 Stadium: Cappielow

Quarter-finals

The quarter-final and semi-final draws were made on 19 October 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[49]

Championship League One Teams from other countries To Be Decided

Cymru Premier

Matches
17 November 2023 Falkirk v Dundee United Falkirk
19:40 Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
17 November 2023 Hamilton Academical v Raith Rovers Hamilton
19:45 Stadium: New Douglas Park
18 November 2023 The New Saints v Arbroath Oswestry, England
14:30 Stadium: Park Hall
TBC Greenock Morton v Rangers B or Airdrieonians Greenock
TBC Stadium: Cappielow

Semi-finals

Matches
3/4 February 2024 Falkirk or Dundee United v The New Saints or Arbroath
TBC
3/4 February 2024 Hamilton Academical or Raith Rovers v Greenock Morton or Rangers B or Airdrieonians
TBC


References
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