2023–24 Scottish Junior Cup Explained

Scottish Junior Cup
Year:2023–24
Country:Scotland
Num Teams:112
Defending Champions:Cumnock Juniors
Winners:Darvel (1st title)
Second:Arthurlie
Matches:110
Goals:445
Prev Season:2022–23
Next Season:2024–25
Updated:2 June 2024

The 2023–24 Scottish Junior Cup (known as the Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup[1] due to sponsorship reasons), was the 137th season of the Scottish Junior Cup, the national knockout tournament for member clubs of the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA). A total of 112 clubs entered the competition, four more than in 2022–23.

Camelon Juniors, Caledonian Locomotives (previously Rossvale), Hall Russell United, Kello Rovers, Pollok, Pumpherston, and Whitehills returned to take part in the competition while Finnart and Rossvale (formerly Rossvale Academy) entered for the first time. Glasgow Perthshire, Harthill Royal, and Livingston United did not compete, along with Aberdeen University who also withdrew from their league and Syngenta who had folded.

Defending champions Cumnock Juniors were eliminated in the second round by local rivals Auchinleck Talbot. Darvel defeated Auchinleck in the semi-final en route to claiming the trophy for the first time.

Calendar

The dates for each round of the 2023–24 tournament were as follows:

RoundMain dateMatchesClubs
First round2 September 202348112 → 64
Second round7 October 20233264 → 32
Third round4 November 20231632 → 16
Fourth round2 December 2023816 → 8
Quarter-finals10 February 202448 → 4
Semi-finals13 April & 20 April 202424 → 2
Final2 June 202412 → 1
Drawn matches proceed direct to a penalty shootout, with no extra time. The semi-finals reverted back to being played home and away over two legs after two seasons as single legs at neutral venues.

First round

The 15 clubs taking part in the Scottish CupAuchinleck Talbot, Beith Juniors, Benburb, Camelon Juniors, Carluke Rovers, Carnoustie Panmure, Culter, Cumnock Juniors, Darvel, Glenafton Athletic, Irvine Meadow XI, Lochee United, Pollok, Rutherglen Glencairn, and Tayport — received a bye into the second round draw along with St Anthony's.

Home teamScoreAway team
2 September 2023
Arbroath Victoria4–2Dundee St James
Banchory St Ternan0–8Maybole Juniors
Blairgowrie0–3Troon
Brechin Victoria0–2Bellshill Athletic
Bridge of Don Thistle 0–0
(4–3 p)
Maryhill
Buchanhaven Hearts0–0
(4–5 p)
Ardeer Thistle
Burghead Thistle1–3Lesmahagow Juniors
Coupar Angus1–3Rothie Rovers
Cruden Bay1–6Stoneywood-Parkvale
Cumbernauld United0–4Dundee North End
Dalry Thistle 3–1Royal Albert
Dufftown0–3Lochee Harp
Ellon United1–3Downfield
Forres Thistle 1–5Letham
Fraserburgh United1–4Shotts Bon Accord
Gartcairn2–2
(5–4 p)
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Glentanar2–2
(4–3 p)
Deveronside
Hermes 3–1Armadale Thistle
Hurlford United3–2Sunnybank
Irvine Victoria 7–0Forfar West End
Islavale2–2
(6–7 p)
Greenock Juniors
Johnstone Burgh3–0East Craigie
Kilbirnie Ladeside1–1
(2–4 p)
Ashfield
Home teamScoreAway team
Kilsyth Rangers0–4Arthurlie
Lanark United1–3Craigmark Burntonians
Largs Thistle5–0Lugar Boswell Thistle
Larkhall Thistle3–0Thorniewood United
Longside1–2Colony Park
Lossiemouth United0–0
(3–4 p)
Hall Russell United
Maud1–4Dundee Violet
Muirkirk Juniors3–3
(9–10 p)
East Kilbride Thistle
Nairn St. Ninian0–4Ardrossan Winton Rovers
New Elgin1–4Banks O' Dee Junior
Newmains United0–6Dyce
Petershill 7–0Cambuslang Rangers
Pumpherston 0–3Finnart
Saltcoats Victoria2–4Forfar United
Scone Thistle1–1
(2–4 p)
Kello Rovers
St Cadoc's2–1Blantyre Victoria
St Roch's3–1Bathgate Thistle
Stonehaven 1–0Kirriemuir Thistle
Stoneyburn 1–1
(2–4 p)
East End
Vale of Clyde1–3Glasgow United
Vale of Leven2–1Newmachar United
West Calder United1–2Montrose Roselea
Whitehills 2–7Caledonian Locomotives
Wishaw Juniors1–2Rossvale
Yoker Athletic0–3Broughty Athletic

Second round

Matches

Home teamScoreAway team
6 October 2023
Petershill1–5St Cadoc's
Banks O' Dee Junior1–2Montrose Roselea
7 October 2023
Arbroath Victoria1–4Benburb
Ardeer Thistle0–1Larkhall Thistle
Ardrossan Winton Rovers2–3Downfield
Bridge of Don Thistle6–1Irvine Victoria
Broughty Athletic0–2Bellshill Athletic
Caledonian Locomotives2–1Glasgow United
Camelon Juniorsw/oStonehaven
Colony Park0–1Rothie Rovers
Culter4–2Craigmark Burntonians
Cumnock Juniors2–3Auchinleck Talbot
Hall Russell United2–5Lesmahagow Juniors
Hermes1–1
(3–1 p)
Beith Juniors
Lochee Harp3–4Irvine Meadow XI
Lochee United3–2Maybole Juniors
Rossvale1–4Darvel
St Anthony's3–2Stoneywood-Parkvale
Home teamScoreAway team
14 October 2023
Carnoustie Panmure3–2Letham
Dundee Violet3–0Deveronside
East End5–0East Kilbride Thistle
Finnart2–1Dyce
Kello Rovers2–3Gartcairn
Vale of Leven1–0Carluke Rovers
17 October 2023
Pollok2–2
(7–8 p)
Dalry Thistle
18 October 2023
Greenock Juniors1–4Glenafton Athletic
4 November 2023
Ashfield 1–3Largs Thistle
Forfar United1–6Arthurlie
Hurlford United 6–0Tayport
Johnstone Burgh3–0Dundee North End
Rutherglen Glencairn2–0Troon
Shotts Bon Accord 0–0
(6–5 p)
St. Roch's

Third round

Matches

Home teamScoreAway team
4 November 2023
Bellshill Athletic3–1Lesmahagow Juniors
Bridge of Don Thistle1–1
(2–4 p)
Auchinleck Talbot
Caledonian Locomotives4–2Carnoustie Panmure
Culter 0–2Lochee United
Finnart1–4Larkhall Thistle
Glenafton Athletic1–2Darvel
St. Anthony's2–2
(5–6 p)
Benburb
Stonehaven 2–0East End
Vale of Leven4–2Montrose Roselea
11 November 2023
Downfield1–0Dalry Thistle
Dundee Violet0–3St Cadoc's
Gartcairn2–3Largs Thistle
Hermes0–8Hurlford United
Johnstone Burgh3–1Irvine Meadow XI
Rothie Rovers4–3Shotts Bon Accord
Rutherglen Glencairn3–3
(3–4 p)
Arthurlie

Fourth round

Matches

Home teamScoreAway team
2 December 2023
Largs Thistle2–2
(0–3 p)
Lochee United
9 December 2023
Stonehaven0–1St Cadoc's
16 December 2023
Hurlford United3–2Caledonian Locomotives
Benburb2–3Arthurlie
Rothie Rovers1–4Bellshill Athletic
Vale of Leven1–4Auchinleck Talbot
Darvel4–0Larkhall Thistle
27 January 2024
Johnstone Burgh2–2
(4–3 p)
Downfield

Quarter-finals

Matches

Home teamScoreAway team
10 February 2024
Darvel3–0Lochee United
Johnstone Burgh3–3
(4–1 p)
St Cadoc's
Bellshill Athletic1–2Arthurlie
Auchinleck Talbot3–0Hurlford United

Semi-finals

First leg

----

Second leg

Darvel won 2–1 on aggregate.----Arthurlie won 4–3 on aggregate.

Final

The Final of the Scottish Junior Cup was played at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld on Sunday 2 June with a 4.05pm kick off. The game was televised live by BBC Alba.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup . 29 July 2022 . Scottish Junior FA . en.