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2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup

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Scottish Challenge Cup
2023–24
Region Scotland
Northern Ireland
Wales
Dates 1 August 2023–24 March 2024
Number of teams 54
Defending champions Hamilton Academical
Champions Airdrieonians
Runner-up The New Saints
Total matches played 52
Total goals scored 173
Top goal scorer Brad Young
(5 goals)
 ← 2022–23
2024–25 → 

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

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.

Format[]

Round Date Fixtures Clubs New entries
First Round 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 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 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 14–15 October 2023 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals 18–19 November 2023 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals 3–4 February 2024 2 4 → 2
Final 23–24 March 2023 1 2 → 1

First round[]

The first round featured 3 clubs from 2022 to 2023 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.

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.

North Section[]

Draw[]

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams

Matches[]

1 August 2023 Brechin City 2–2
(5–3 pen)
 Heart of Midlothian B Brechin  
19:30 MacLeod Goal 22'
McGrath Goal 36' 		Kirk Goal 76' (pen.)
Friel Goal 80' 		Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 474
Referee: George Calder
  Penalties  
Loudon
McGrath
MacLeod
McArthur
Heenan 		  Kirk
Missed Sandilands
Wilson
McLuckie
1 August 2023 Elgin City 2–0 St Johnstone B Elgin  
19:30 MacLeman Goal 20'
Barron Goal 75' 		Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 478
Referee: Daniel Graves
2 August 2023 Hibernian B 1–1
(3–2 pen)
 Formartine United Edinburgh  
19:30 Landers Goal 45' Park Goal 42' Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 107
Referee: Alex Shepherd
  Penalties  
McAllister
MacIntyre
Megwa
Zaid 		  Park
Missed Campbell
Missed Rodger
Smith
2 August 2023 Brora Rangers 1–1
(2–4 pen)
 Aberdeen B Brora  
19:45 J. MacRae Goal 28' Bavidge Goal 82' Stadium: Dudgeon Park
Attendance: 275
Referee: Ryan Lee
  Penalties  
A. MacRae Missed
Nicolson Missed
Brindle
Sutherland 		  Missed Hamilton
Marshall
Lobban
Emslie
Bavidge
2 August 2023 Dundee B 4–0 Buckie Thistle Forfar  
20:00 Mohammed Goal 1'
Wilkie Goal 17'
Mutale Goal 23'
Anderson Goal 61' 		Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 116
Referee: Colin Whyte

South Section[]

Draw[]

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams

Matches[]

1 August 2023 St Mirren B 2–2
(2–4 pen)
 Albion Rovers Paisley  
19:30 Turner Goal 51'
Sutherland Goal 90' 		Joseph Goal 27'
Fagan Goal 41' 		Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 363
Referee: Greg Soutar
  Penalties  
Gilmartin Missed
Gaffney
Foster
Lennon Missed 		  Joseph
Wilson
McCaw
McMahon
1 August 2023 Tranent 0–0
(3–1 pen)
 Motherwell B Tranent  
19:45 Stadium: Foresters Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Jordan Curran
  Penalties  
Higginbotham
Ross
Watson 		  McGinley
Missed Maguire
Missed Adam
Missed Ross
1 August 2023 The Spartans 0–3 Rangers B Edinburgh  
19:45 Fraser Goal 37'
Ishaka Goal 48'
Lowry Goal 57' (pen.) 		Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 273
Referee: Ross Hardie
1 August 2023 Kilmarnock B 3–1 Bonnyrigg Rose Kilmarnock  
19:45 Wales Goal 18'
Warnock Goal 21'
Brown Goal 52' 		Faye Goal 46' Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 181
Referee: Andy Gamble
2 August 2023 University of Stirling 4–0 Livingston B Stirling  
19:45 Russell Goal 3'
Malcolm Goal 70'
McIvor-Redwood Goal 72'
Tallen Goal 87' 		Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 98
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
2 August 2023 Celtic B 1–3 East Kilbride Airdrie  
19:45 Vata Goal 12' Biggar Goal 6'
Samson Goal 57'
Kelly Goal 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 to 2023 Scottish League One and 7 clubs from 2022 to 2023 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.

North Section[]

Draw[]

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches[]

15 August 2023 Brechin City 0–4 Hibernian B Brechin  
19:30 Molotnikov Goal 13'

Megwa Goal 37' Smith Goal 77', 83'

Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 400
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
15 August 2023 Aberdeen B 3–5 Peterhead Pitmedden  
19:45 Stewart Goal 18'

Bavidge Goal 56' (pen.) Marshall Goal 72'

Ross Goal 49'

McCarthy Goal 62' Jordon Brown Goal 82', 83' Shanks Goal 86'

Stadium: North Lodge Park
Attendance: 384
Referee: Ross Clark
15 August 2023 Dundee B 0–0
(3–5 pen)
 East Fife Dundee  
19:45 Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 309
Referee: Greg Soutar
  Penalties  
Richardson Missed

Lamb Barnett Robertson

  Murdoch

Shepherd Healy Newton Walls

15 August 2023 Elgin City 0–0
(4–3 pen)
 Forfar Athletic Elgin  
19:45 Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 349
Referee: Jordan Curran
  Penalties  
Dingwall

MacEwan Wright Missed Harvey Cruickshank

  Munro

Whatley Missed Morrison Whyte Missed Thomson

South Section[]

Draw[]

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches[]

15 August 2023 Albion Rovers 2–0 Tranent Coatbridge  
19:45 Joseph Goal 75', 87' Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 157
Referee: Andy Gamble
15 August 2023 Annan Athletic 3–1 Stranraer Annan  
19:45 Kilsby Goal 44'

Docherty Goal 51' Smith Goal 55'

McDonald Goal 38' Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 301
Referee: Gavin Duncan
15 August 2023 Stirling Albion 0–3 East Kilbride Stirling  
19:45 Lyon Goal 18'

Kelly Goal 82' Stirling Goal 84'

Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 329
Referee: Stewart Luke
15 August 2023 Stenhousemuir 1–2 Rangers B Stenhousemuir  
20:00 Lynch Goal 60' McPake Goal 59'

Lovelace Goal 90'

Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 269
Referee: Ryan Lee
16 August 2023 Clyde 1–3 University of Stirling Hamilton  
19:45 Scullion Goal 55' McKinlay Goal 33'

Šuľa Goal 86' (o.g.) Stokes Goal 90'

Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 222
Referee: Alex Shepherd
16 August 2023 Kilmarnock B 1–1
(8–9 pen)
 Dumbarton Kilmarnock  
19:45 Wales Goal 65' Pignatiello Goal 40' Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 300
Referee: Daniel Graves
  Penalties  
Warnock

A. Brown Wales Brannan Davies Sanders E. Brown Craic Smith Missed

  Hilton

Wilson Orsi Blair T. Wallace Wylde MacLean Durnan Lynas

Third round[]

The third round featured the 10 winners from the previous round, along with the bottom club from 2022 to 2023 Scottish Premiership, 2nd-10th from 2022 to 2023 Scottish Championship, 8 clubs from 2022 to 2023 Scottish League One, 2 clubs from 2022 to 2023 NIFL Premiership and 2 clubs from 2022 to 2023 Cymru Premier.

Draw[]

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

Teams that entered the competition in the third round.

Championship League One Teams from other countries

NIFL Premiership

Cymru Premier

Matches[]

5 September 2023 Ayr United 0–1 Falkirk Ayr  
19:45 [1] Henderson Goal 30' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,423
Referee: Steven Kirkland
8 September 2023 Hibernian B 0–3 The New Saints Edinburgh  
18:00 [2]
  • McGregor Goal 4' (o.g.)
  • Clark Goal 36'
  • Young Goal 54'
 Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 119
Referee: Iain Snedden
9 September 2023 East Fife 2–1 Albion Rovers Methil  
13:00
  • Page Goal 56'
  • McManus Goal 79'
 [3] Joseph Goal 31' Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 448
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
9 September 2023 Raith Rovers 3–0 Cliftonville Kirkcaldy  
14:00
  • Masson Goal 50'
  • Vaughan Goal 69'
  • Hamilton Goal 73'
 [4] Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,561
Referee: Grant Irvine
9 September 2023 Edinburgh City 1–4 East Kilbride Edinburgh  
15:00 Peter Goal 61' [5]
  • Flanagan Goal 43'
  • McDonald Goal 47'
  • Roy Goal 63'
  • Lyon Goal 76'
 Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 231
Referee: Dan McFarlane
9 September 2023 Annan Athletic 0–2 Peterhead Annan  
15:00 [6]
  • McCarthy Goal 15'
  • Shanks Goal 55'
 Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 326
Referee: Scott Lambie
9 September 2023 Cove Rangers 0–2 Montrose Aberdeen  
15:00 [7]
  • Brown Goal 58'
  • Hester Goal 87'
 Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 520
Referee: Alastair Grieve
9 September 2023 Dumbarton 1–3 Kelty Hearts Dumbarton  
15:00 Ruth Goal 34'
  • Lyon Goal 11'
  • Biabi Goal 16', 76'
 Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 427
Referee: Duncan Williams
9 September 2023 University of Stirling 2–3 Airdrieonians Stirling  
15:00 McAninch Goal 18', 54' (pen.)
  • O'Connor Goal 36'
  • McCabe Goal 37'
  • McStravick Goal 58'
 Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 609
Referee: Alan Muir
9 September 2023 Greenock Morton 2–1 Elgin City Greenock  
15:00
  • Muirhead Goal 30'
  • McGrattan Goal 63'
 Harvey Goal 16' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,016
Referee: Ross Hardie
9 September 2023 Dundee United 3–0 Dunfermline Athletic Dundee  
15:00
  • Moult Goal 18'
  • Comrie Goal 34' (o.g.)
  • Glass Goal 37'
 Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 2,408
Referee: Craig Napier
9 September 2023 Arbroath 4–2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Arbroath  
15:00
  • Gold Goal 34'
  • O'Brien Goal 41'
  • Stewart Goal 70'
  • Steele Goal 84'
  • Brooks Goal 43'
  • Hyde Goal 90'
 Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 780
Referee: Steven McLean
9 September 2023 Partick Thistle 2–3 Queen of the South Glasgow  
15:00
  • Lawless Goal 11' (pen.)
  • Stanway Goal 48'
 Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,307
Referee: Euan Anderson
9 September 2023 Coleraine 1–3 Hamilton Academical Coleraine, Northern Ireland  
15:45 Lynch Goal 24'
  • Smith Goal 11'
  • Zanatta Goal 48'
  • Barjonas Goal 82'
 Stadium: The Showgrounds
Attendance: 906
Referee: Chris Morrison
9 September 2023 Bala Town 0–3 Queen's Park Bala, Wales  
17:15
  • Turner Goal 20'
  • Hepburn Goal 44'
  • Paton Goal 90'
 Stadium: Maes Tegid
Attendance: 317
Referee: Aaron Wyn Jones
26 September 2023 Rangers B 4–1 Alloa Athletic Greenock  
19:45
  • McCausland Goal 5'
  • Curtis Goal 86'
  • Graham Goal 88'
  • Lyall Goal 90' (pen.)
  • Neill Goal 44'
 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.

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
  • Rangers B

Cymru Premier

Matches[]

14 October 2023 Raith Rovers 3–1 Montrose Kirkcaldy  
15:00 Smith Goal 32'

Easton Goal 57' Mullin Goal 67'

Watson Goal 72' Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,388
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
14 October 2023 East Kilbride 2–5 Hamilton Academical East Kilbride  
15:00 McGowan Goal 31'

Ferguson Goal 53'

Mumbongo Goal 17'

Arnott Goal 20' (o.g.) MacDonald Goal 37' (pen.), 80' Murray Goal 38'

Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 583
Referee: Chris Fordyce
14 October 2023 Falkirk 1–0 Queen's Park Falkirk  
15:00 Allan Goal 5' (pen.) Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 2,427
Referee: Scott Lambie
14 October 2023 Queen of the South 1–2 Arbroath Dumfries  
15:00 Doherty Goal 12' Bird Goal 54'

McKenna Goal 90'

Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 786
Referee: Duncan Williams
14 October 2023 Greenock Morton 4–1 Kelty Hearts Greenock  
15:00 Muirhead Goal 3', 56', 64'

Crawford Goal 70'

Lyon Goal 11' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,056
Referee: Steven Kirkland
14 October 2023 The New Saints 2–2
(5–4 pen)
 East Fife Oswestry, England  
17:15 Young Goal 14'

Brobbel Goal 76' (pen.)

Trouten Goal 35'

McManus Goal 60'

Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 512
Referee: Huw Jones
  Penalties  
Cieślewicz

Holden Brobbel Young Routledge

  McManus

Walls Nicol Trouten Mitchell Missed

14 October 2023 Peterhead 0–2 Dundee United Peterhead  
17:30 Middleton Goal 7'

Watt Goal 71'

Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 1,322
Referee: Calum Scott
7 November 2023 Rangers B 2–4 Airdrieonians Greenock  
19:45 Gentles Goal 5'

Dowell Goal 62'

Gallagher Goal 11'

McGill Goal 22', 54' McCabe Goal 90'

Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: N/A
Referee: Steven Kirkland

Quarter-finals[]

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

Teams in Italics were unknown at the time of the quarter-final draw.

Championship League One Teams from other countries

Cymru Premier

Matches[]

17 November 2023 Falkirk 4–2 Dundee United Falkirk  
19:40
  • Morrison Goal 4', 71'
  • Lang Goal 65'
  • Yeats Goal 69'
 [8]
  • Cudjoe Goal 23'
  • Watt Goal 33'
 Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 2,891
Referee: Grant Irvine
17 November 2023 Hamilton Academical 1–4 Raith Rovers Hamilton  
19:45 Zanatta Goal 73' [9]
  • Stanton Goal 8'
  • Hamilton Goal 58', 61'
  • Easton Goal 90'
 Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 971
Referee: Iain Snedden
18 November 2023 The New Saints 4–1 Arbroath Oswestry, England  
14:30 [10] Bird Goal 9' Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 587
Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones
18 November 2023 Greenock Morton 0–0
(5–6 pen)
 Airdrieonians Greenock  
15:00 [11] Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,269
Referee: Ross Hardie
  Penalties  
*Gillespie
  • Oakley
  • Blues
  • Crawford
  • Wilson
  • McGrattan Missed
   *Fordyce
  • Telfer
  • McCabe
  • Todorov
  • Frizzell
  • Ballantyne

Semi-finals[]

Matches[]

2 February 2024 Raith Rovers 0–1 Airdrieonians Kirkcaldy  
19:40 Report Todorov Goal 6' Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 2,640
Referee: Colin Steven
3 February 2024 Falkirk 0–1 The New Saints Falkirk  
19:40 Report] Young Goal 26' Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 3,582
Referee: Chris Graham

Final[]

Main article: 2024 Scottish Challenge Cup final
24 March 2024 The New Saints 1–2 Airdrieonians Falkirk  
16:15 Clark Goal 12' Report McStravick Goal 22'
Todorov Goal 67' (pen.) 		Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 3,191
Referee: Matthew MacDermid

External links[]

Scottish Challenge Cup
Scottish Challenge Cup seasons

2010–11 · 2011–12 · 2012–13 · 2013–14 · 2014–15 · 2015–16 · 2016–17 · 2017–18 · 2018–19 · 2019–20 · 2020–21 · 2021–22 · 2022–23 ·

Scottish Challenge Cup finals

2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 ·

2023–24 in Scottish football
Domestic leagues
SPFL (Premiership · Championship · League One · League Two) · Highland · Lowland · Midlands · North Caledonian · North Region Junior · East of Scotland · South of Scotland · West of Scotland
Domestic cups
Scottish Cup (Final) · League Cup (Group stage · Final) · Challenge Cup (Final) · South Region Challenge Cup
European competitions
Champions League (Final)Europa League (Final) ·  · Europa Conference League (Final)
National teams
Senior: UEFA Euro 2024 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying · Women's: Euro 2025 qualifying · Women's Nations League
Club seasons
Premiership
Aberdeen · Celtic · Dundee · Heart of Midlothian · Hibernian · Kilmarnock · Livingston · Motherwell · Rangers · Ross County · St Johnstone · St Mirren
Championship
Airdrieonians · Arbroath · Ayr United · Dundee United · Dunfermline Athletic · Greenock Morton · Inverness Caledonian Thistle · Partick Thistle · Queen's Park · Raith Rovers
2022-23                                                        2024-25
  1. ↑ Ayr United vs. Falkirk - 5 September 2023. Soccerway (5 September 2023). Retrieved on 5 September 2023.
  2. ↑ Hibernian II vs. The New Saints - 8 September 2023. Soccerway (8 September 2023). Retrieved on 8 September 2023.
  3. ↑ East Fife vs. Albion Rovers - 9 September 2023. Soccerway (9 September 2023). Retrieved on 9 September 2023.
  4. ↑ Raith Rovers vs. Cliftonville - 9 September 2023. Soccerway (9 September 2023). Retrieved on 9 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Edinburgh City vs. East Kilbride - 9 September 2023. Soccerway (9 September 2023). Retrieved on 9 September 2023.
  6. ↑ Annan Athletic vs. Peterhead - 9 September 2023. Soccerway (9 September 2023). Retrieved on 9 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Cove Rangers vs. Montrose - 9 September 2023. Soccerway (9 September 2023). Retrieved on 9 September 2023.
  8. ↑ Falkirk vs. Dundee United - 17 November 2023. Soccerway (17 November 2023). Retrieved on 18 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Hamilton Academical vs. Raith Rovers - 17 November 2023. Soccerway (17 November 2023). Retrieved on 18 November 2023.
  10. ↑ The New Saints vs. Arbroath - 18 November 2023. Soccerway (18 November 2023). Retrieved on 19 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Greenock Morton vs. Airdrieonians - 18 November 2023. Soccerway (18 November 2023). Retrieved on 19 November 2023.
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