2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup Explained

Scottish Challenge Cup
Year:2023–24
Country:Scotland
Northern Ireland
Wales
Dates:1 August 2023 – 24 March 2024
Num Teams:53
Defending Champions:Hamilton Academical
Winners:Airdrieonians
Second:The New Saints
Matches:52
Goals:173
Scoring Leader:Brad Young
(5 goals)
Prev Season:2022–23
Next Season:2024–25
Updated:24 March 2024

The 2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the SPFL Trust Trophy due to sponsorship reasons,[1] 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 competed, 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 were represented. This season also included guest clubs, with two sides each coming from Northern Ireland's NIFL Premiership (Cliftonville and Coleraine) and the Welsh Cymru Premier (TNS and Bala Town).[2]

Format

RoundDateFixturesClubsNew entries
First Round[3] 1–2 August 20231153 → 423 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 Round15–16 August 20231042 → 322 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League One (9th–10th)
7 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League Two (1st–7th)
Third Round9–10 September 20231632 → 16Teams 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 Round14–15 October 2023816 → 8
Quarter-finals18–19 November 202348 → 4
Semi-finals3–4 February 202424 → 2
Final24 March 202412 → 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.

Matches

South Section

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Matches

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

South Section

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches

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.[4]

Teams that entered the competition in the third round.

Matches

Fourth round

The draw was made on 14 September 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[5]

No new teams enter in this round.

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

Matches

Quarter-finals

The quarter-final and semi-final draws were made on 19 October 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[6]

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

Matches

Semi-finals

Matches

Final

See main article: 2024 Scottish Challenge Cup final.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 28 March 2022 . SPFL Trust Trophy sponsorship extended . SPFL . 1 August 2023.
  2. Web site: 15 June 2023 . SPFL Trust Trophy 2023/24 . SPFL . 1 August 2023.
  3. Web site: SPFL Trust Trophy Format SPFL . 2023-08-01 . spfl.co.uk.
  4. Web site: SPFL TRUST TROPHY THIRD-ROUND DRAW . Scottish Professional Football League . 17 August 2023 . 17 August 2023.
  5. Web site: SPFL TRUST TROPHY ROUND 4 DRAW . Scottish Professional Football League . 14 September 2023 . 14 September 2023.
  6. Web site: SPFL TRUST TROPHY DRAWS . Scottish Professional Football League . 19 October 2023 . 19 October 2023.