2024–25 Scottish Challenge Cup Explained

Scottish Challenge Cup
Year:2024–25
Country:Scotland
England
Dates:30 July 2024 – 30 March 2025
Num Teams:52
Defending Champions:Airdrieonians
Matches:20
Goals:68
Scoring Leader:Paul McLean (3 goals)
Prev Season:2023–24
Updated:14 August 2024

The 2024–25 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the SPFL Trust Trophy due to sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 33rd season of the competition. The total number of participating clubs will be 52. The competition began on 30 July 2024 with the first round and the final will take place on either the weekend of 22/23 or 29/30 March 2025.

Thirty teams from the Championship, League One and League Two compete, along with five teams from the Highland Football League and six 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.[2]

Format

RoundDateFixturesClubsNew entries
First Round[3] 30–31 July 20241152 → 416 teams from 2023–24 Lowland Football League (East Kilbride, Bo'ness United, Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath, Berwick Rangers & East Stirlingshire)
5 teams from 2023–24 Highland Football League (1st–5th)
11 U21 teams from 2024–25 Scottish Premiership
Second Round13–14 August 2024941 → 327 teams from 2023–24 Scottish League Two (4th–10th)
Third Round7–8 September 20241632 → 161 team from 2023–24 Scottish Premiership (12th)
9 teams from 2023–24 Scottish Championship (2nd–10th)
10 teams from 2023–24 Scottish League One
3 teams from 2023–24 Scottish League Two (1st–3rd)
Fourth Round12–13 October 2024816 → 8
Quarter-finals12–13 November 202448 → 4
Semi-finals28–29 January 202524 → 2
Final22/23 or 29/30 March 202512 → 1

First round

The first round featured 5 clubs from the 2023–24 Scottish Highland Football League, 6 clubs from the 2023–24 Scottish Lowland Football League and 11 of the 12 under-21 teams of the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership, with Ross County not entering an under-21 team.

The draw was made on 8 July 2024 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 30 & 31 July 2024.

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

Note

Second round

The second round featured the 11 winners from the previous round, along with 7 clubs from 2023 to 2024 Scottish League Two.

The draw for the second round was made on 8 July 2024 along with the first round draw. The draw was regionalised, but not seeded. The matches were played on 13 and 14 August 2024.

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 will feature the 9 winners from the previous round, along with all ten clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two.

The draw was made on 19 August 2024 at 15:00 and broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[4]

Draw

Teams that enter the competition in the third round.

Matches

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 28 March 2022 . SPFL Trust Trophy sponsorship extended . SPFL . 1 August 2023.
  2. Web site: 27 May 2024 . SPFL Trust Trophy 2024/25 . SPFL . 29 July 2024.
  3. Web site: SPFL Trust Trophy Format SPFL . 2024-07-29 . spfl.co.uk.
  4. Web site: SPFL Trust Trophy third-round draw . SPFL . 19 August 2024 . 19 August 2024.