2021–22 South Challenge Cup

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South Challenge Cup 2021–22
Region	Scotland England (2 teams)
Dates	11 September 2021 – 22 May 2022
Number of teams	161
← 2020–21	2022–23 →

The 2021–22 SFA South Region Challenge Cup will be the 15th edition of the annual knockout cup competition for senior non-league clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. This season sees the tournament increase from 142 to a record 161 teams thanks to additional clubs joining the East of Scotland Football League and West of Scotland Football League.

Format

The South Challenge Cup features 161 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (58), South of Scotland Football League (12), and West of Scotland Football League (75). The reserve teams of Stirling University, Caledonian Braves, and Stranraer, as well Celtic Colts and Rangers Colts, do not take part.

For the first time since 2015–16, the first and second rounds are regionalised, with north-east, south-east, south-west, and north-west sections each containing 40 or 41 clubs.

The draw is unseeded, with matches proceeding to extra time and penalties if they are tied after 90 minutes.

Calendar

Round	Main date	Fixtures	Clubs
First Round	11 September 2021	33	161 → 128
Second Round	16 October 2021	64	128 → 64
Third Round	20 November 2021	32	64 → 32
Fourth Round	5 February 2022	16	32 → 16
Fifth Round	5 March 2022	8	16 → 8
Quarter-Finals	2 April 2022	4	8 → 4
Semi-Finals	30 April 2022	2	4 → 2
Final	22 May 2022	1	2 → 1

First round

The draw for the regionalised first and second rounds took place on Friday 4 June 2021. Each zone features 8 fixtures in the first round with 24 clubs receiving a bye to the second round (except the South-East zone featuring 9 matches and 23 byes).