The North and South Region Challenge Cups are regional senior non-league competitions run by the Scottish Football Association. The southern tournament is open to full member non-league clubs in the south of the country, while similar stipulations applied to its northern counterpart.
The Challenge Cup competitions replaced the Scottish Qualifying Cup North and South competitions in 2007, after the SFA decided to allow full member clubs at non-league level direct entry to the Scottish Cup proper, and as a consequence the Qualifying Cups were scrapped. To compensate clubs for the demise of the tournaments, two new ones were put in their place.[1]
| SFA North Region Challenge Cup | |
| Founded: | 2007 |
| Abolished: | 2009 |
| Most Successful Club: | Huntly, Inverurie Locos (1 title each) |
The North competition was scrapped in 2009.
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Huntly | 1–0 | Deveronvale | [2] | |
| 2008–09 | Inverurie Locos | 3–1 | Cove Rangers |
| SFA South Region Challenge Cup | |
| Founded: | 2007 |
| Number Of Teams: | 163 |
| Current Champions: | East Kilbride (4th title) |
| Most Successful Club: | The Spartans and East Kilbride (4 titles) |
| Current: | 2024–25 South Challenge Cup |
| Website: | southchallengecup.co.uk |
The South Challenge Cup features 163 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (57), South of Scotland Football League (11), and West of Scotland Football League (79).
The reserve teams of Stirling University and Stranraer, as well as Celtic B and Hearts B, do not take part. It is an unseeded straight knock-out tournament, without replays. It is currently an all-in draw from the start, having previously seen the opening rounds regionalised at times during the competition's history.
The competition is named the CarMatKings South Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons in 2024–25.
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Annan Athletic | 3–2 | Edinburgh City | Netherdale, Galashiels | [3] [4] |
| 2008–09 | The Spartans | 6–0 | Edinburgh University | Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh | [5] |
| 2009–10 | The Spartans (2) | 3–1 | Gretna 2008 | Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh | [6] [7] |
| 2010–11 | The Spartans (3) | 3–0 | Edinburgh City | [8] | |
| 2011–12 | Stirling University | 4–2 | Duns | Netherdale, Galashiels | [9] [10] [11] |
| 2012–13 | Whitehill Welfare | 3–1 | Dalbeattie Star | Galabank, Annan | [12] |
| Club | Wins | Last win | Runners-up | Last final lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Spartans | 4 | 2023 | — | — | |
| East Kilbride | 4 | 2024 | — | — | |
| Whitehill Welfare | 2 | 2016 | — | — | |
| BSC Glasgow / Broomhill | 1 | 2015 | 2 | 2020 | |
| Civil Service Strollers | 1 | 2018 | 1 | 2015 | |
| Annan Athletic | 1 | 2008 | — | — | |
| Stirling University | 1 | 2012 | — | — | |
| Dunipace | 1 | 2020 | — | — | |
| Auchinleck Talbot | 1 | 2022 | — | — | |
| Edinburgh City | — | — | 3 | 2016 | |
| Dalbeattie Star | — | — | 2 | 2014 | |
| Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | — | — | 2 | 2022 | |
| Edinburgh University | — | — | 1 | 2009 | |
| Gretna 2008 | — | — | 1 | 2010 | |
| Duns | — | — | 1 | 2012 | |
| Cumbernauld Colts | — | — | 1 | 2017 | |
| Drumchapel United | — | — | 1 | 2023 | |
| Kirkintilloch Rob Roy | — | — | 1 | 2024 |