2019–20 South Challenge Cup

The 2019–20 SFA South Region Challenge Cup was the 13th edition of the annual cup competition for senior non-league clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. This season saw the competition increase to 70 teams despite the demise of Selkirk and withdrawal of Eyemouth United, thanks to the relegation of Berwick Rangers to the Lowland League plus the addition of Glenrothes and Kinnoull to the East of Scotland Football League.

2019–20 South Challenge Cup
SFA South Region Challenge Cup
Tournament details
CountryScotland
England (2 teams)
Dates24 August 2019 – 15 August 2021
Teams70
Defending championsEast Kilbride
Final positions
ChampionsDunipace (1st title)
Runner-upBroomhill
Tournament statistics
Matches played68
Goals scored250 (3.68 per match)
Attendance8,397 (123 per match)

All statistics correct as of 15 August 2021.

The defending champions were East Kilbride, who beat Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2–1 in the final on 26 May 2019. The competition was won by Dunipace for the first time, beating Broomhill 3–1 in the final, which had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and took place almost two years after the first round matches.

Format

edit

The competition featured 70 teams from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (39), South of Scotland Football League (14), as well as SFA member club Glasgow University of the Caledonian Amateur Football League. The reserve teams of Stirling University, Caledonian Braves, and Stranraer do not take part.

The draw was unseeded, with matches proceeding to extra time and penalties if they are tied after 90 minutes.

Calendar

edit
Round Main date[1] Fixtures Clubs
First Round 24 August 2019 6 70 → 64
Second Round 14 September 2019 32 64 → 32
Third Round 12 October 2019 16 32 → 16
Fourth Round 9 November 2019 8 16 → 8
Quarter-Finals 7 March 2020 4 8 → 4
Semi-Finals 27 December 2020
31 July 2021
2 4 → 2
Final 15 August 2021 1 2 → 1

First round

edit

The first round took place on Saturday 24 August 2019. The draw for the first and second rounds took place at the South of Scotland Football League's AGM on Thursday 30 May 2019.[2] 58 clubs received a bye to the second round, with 12 taking part in the first round.

24 August 2019 Broxburn Athletic 4–0TynecastleBroxburn
15:00 Stadium: Albyn Park
Attendance: 109[3]
24 August 2019 Coldstream1–3 Dunipace Coldstream
14:30 Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 83[3]
24 August 2019 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 4–0Dalkeith ThistleEdinburgh
14:30 Stadium: Saughton Enclosure
Attendance: 49[3]
24 August 2019 Oakley United4–4 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)
Easthouses Lily MW Oakley
14:30 Stadium: Blairwood Park
24 August 2019 Ormiston 6–1Dumfries YMCAOrmiston
14:30 Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 40[3]

Second round

edit

The second round took place on the weekend of Saturday 14 September 2019. The six winners from the first round joined the 58 clubs who received a bye.

Seven days after the draw Kinnoull joined the East of Scotland League following the withdrawal of Eyemouth, and were permitted to take-on their home tie against The Spartans.

14 September 2019 Blackburn United 8–1St. Cuthbert WanderersBlackburn
14:30 Stadium: New Murrayfield Park
Attendance: 59[4]
14 September 2019 Bo'ness United1–2 (a.e.t.) BSC Glasgow Camelon
14:30 Stadium: Carmuirs Park
Attendance: 275[4]
14 September 2019 Bonnyton Thistle 5–2Lothian Thistle Hutchison ValeKilmarnock
15:00 Stadium: Synergy Arena
Attendance: 20[4]
14 September 2019 Broxburn Athletic 3–1Edinburgh UniversityBroxburn
14:30 Stadium: Albyn Park
Attendance: 96[4]
14 September 2019 Burntisland Shipyard1–2 Threave Rovers Burntisland
14:30 Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 69[4]
14 September 2019 Caledonian Braves 4–0Crossgates PrimroseMotherwell
15:00 Stadium: Alliance Park
Attendance: 50[4]
14 September 2019 Creetown0–5 Craigroyston Creetown
15:00 Stadium: Castlecary Park
Attendance: 57[4]
14 September 2019 Dunbar United 1–0 (a.e.t.)Abbey ValeDunbar
14:30 Stadium: New Countess Park
Attendance: 110[4]
14 September 2019 Edinburgh United1–2 Dunipace Edinburgh
14:30 Stadium: Paties Road Stadium
Attendance: 37[4]
14 September 2019 Glenrothes 3–0LochmabenGlenrothes
14:30 Stadium: Warout Stadium
Attendance: 105[4]
14 September 2019 Haddington Athletic0–5 Camelon Juniors Haddington
14:30 Stadium: Millfield Park
Attendance: 94[4]
14 September 2019 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2–1Whitehill WelfareHill of Beath
14:30 Stadium: Keir's Park
Attendance: 133[4]
14 September 2019 Kinnoull0–3 The Spartans Perth
14:30 Stadium: Tulloch Park
Attendance: 65[4]
14 September 2019 Leith Athletic1–5 East Kilbride Edinburgh
15:00 Stadium: Peffermill 3G
Attendance: 68[4]
14 September 2019 Linlithgow Rose 5–1Gretna 2008Linlithgow
14:30 Stadium: Prestonfield
Attendance: 283[4]
14 September 2019 Lochar Thistle0–5 East Stirlingshire Dumfries
15:00 Stadium: Maxwelltown High School
Attendance: 78[4]
14 September 2019 Musselburgh Athletic 5–0Mid-AnnandaleMusselburgh
14:30 Stadium: Olivebank Stadium
Attendance: 183[4]
14 September 2019 Penicuik Athletic 5–2Dundonald BluebellPenicuik
14:30 Stadium: Penicuik Park
Attendance: 177[4]
14 September 2019 Sauchie Juniors1–2 Civil Service Strollers Sauchie
14:30 Stadium: Beechwood Park
Attendance: 126[4]
14 September 2019 St Andrews United2–3 Jeanfield Swifts St Andrews
14:30 Stadium: Barnetts Park
Attendance: 90[4]
14 September 2019 Tranent Juniors 2–1Berwick RangersTranent
14:30 Stadium: Foresters Park
Attendance: 303[4]
14 September 2019 Tweedmouth Rangers1–2 Upper Annandale Berwick-upon-Tweed
14:30 Stadium: Old Shielfield
Attendance: 45[4]
14 September 2019 Vale of Leithen1–6 Kelty Hearts Innerleithen
15:00 Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 105[4]
14 September 2019 Wigtown & Bladnoch0–2 Heriot-Watt University Wigtown
15:00 Stadium: Trammondford Park
Attendance: 26[4]
15 September 2019 Heston Rovers 4–0OrmistonDumfries
15:00 Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 62[4]
  1. ^
    A-Arniston Rangers were unable to field a team and withdrew from the competition.[5]

Third round

edit

The third round took place on Saturday 12 October 2019.

Draw

edit

The draw for the third round took place on Sunday 15 September 2019 after the final second round match at Palmerston Park.[6]

Lowland League East of Scotland Premier Division East of Scotland First Division South of Scotland League

Matches

edit
12 October 2019 Blackburn United1–2 East Stirlingshire Blackburn
14:30 Stadium: New Murrayfield Park
Attendance: 170[7]
12 October 2019 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 3–0Threave RoversBonnyrigg
15:00 Stadium: New Dundas Park
Attendance: 436[7]
12 October 2019 Caledonian Braves 5–3Musselburgh AthleticMotherwell
15:00 Stadium: Alliance Park
Attendance: 104[7]
12 October 2019 Camelon Juniors 4–1Heriot-Watt UniversityCamelon
14:30 Stadium: Carmuirs Park
Attendance: 130[7]
12 October 2019 Civil Service Strollers1–2 (a.e.t.) Kelty Hearts Edinburgh
15:00 Stadium: Christie Gillies Park
Attendance: 237[7]
12 October 2019 Craigroyston0–6 Preston Athletic Edinburgh
14:30 Stadium: St Mark's Park
Attendance: 55[7]
12 October 2019 Dunbar United1–2 Broxburn Athletic Dunbar
14:30 Stadium: New Countess Park
Attendance: 196[7]
12 October 2019 Dunipace 3–1GlenrothesDenny
14:300 Stadium: Westfield Park
Attendance: 100[7]
12 October 2019 Easthouses Lily MW0–4 East Kilbride Easthouses
14:30 Stadium: Newbattle Complex
Attendance: 84[7]
12 October 2019 Heston Rovers0–6 Linlithgow Rose Dumfries
15:00 Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 166[7]
12 October 2019 Nithsdale Wanderers1–4 Bonnyton Thistle Sanquhar
15:00 Stadium: Lorimer Park
Attendance: 75[7]
12 October 2019 Penicuik Athletic2–3 Hill of Beath Hawthorn Penicuik
14:30 Stadium: Penicuik Park
Attendance: 230[7]
12 October 2019 Upper Annandale0–3 Tranent Juniors Moffat
15:00 Stadium: Moffat Academy
Attendance: 83[7]

Fourth round

edit

The fourth round took place on Saturday 9 November 2019.

Draw

edit
Lowland League East of Scotland Premier Division East of Scotland First Division South of Scotland League

Matches

edit
8 November 2019 BSC Glasgow 6–1Preston AthleticAlloa
20:00 Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 75[8]
9 November 2019 Broxburn Athletic2–4 Tranent Juniors Broxburn
14:30 Stadium: Albyn Park
Attendance: 204[8]
9 November 2019 Caledonian Braves 3–0Bonnyton ThistleMotherwell
15:00 Stadium: Alliance Park
9 November 2019 Camelon Juniors 2–1Linlithgow RoseCamelon
13:30 Stadium: Carmuirs Park
Attendance: 372[8]
9 November 2019 Dunipace 1–0Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticDenny
14:30 Stadium: Westfield Park
Attendance: 209[8]
9 November 2019 East Kilbride 1–0East StirlingshireEast Kilbride
15:00 Stadium: K Park
Attendance: 150[8]
9 November 2019 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
Cumbernauld ColtsHill of Beath
14:30 Stadium: Keir's Park
Attendance: 110[8]
9 November 2019 Kelty Hearts 2–0Stirling UniversityKelty
15:00 Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 303[8]

Quarter-finals

edit

The quarter-finals took place on Saturday 7 March 2020.

Draw

edit

The draw took place at a meeting of the East of Scotland League's board on 27 November 2019.[9]

Lowland League East of Scotland Premier Division East of Scotland First Division

Matches

edit
6 March 2020 BSC Glasgow 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)
Kelty HeartsAlloa
19:45 Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 212
7 March 2020 Caledonian Braves0–1 Dunipace Motherwell
15:00 Stadium: Alliance Park
7 March 2020 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 5–1Tranent JuniorsHill of Beath
14:30 Stadium: Keir's Park
Attendance: 172

Semi-finals

edit

The semi-finals were scheduled to take place on Saturday 4 April 2020, but the matches were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The semi-final draw was made on 5 August 2020 with no date being scheduled for the matches, until they were rescheduled in December 2020.[10]

Draw

edit
Lowland League East of Scotland Premier Division East of Scotland First Division

Matches

edit
27 December 2020 BSC Glasgow 1–0East KilbrideAlloa
15:00 Christie   66' Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Chris Hughes
31 July 2021 Hill of Beath Hawthorn2–4 Dunipace Hill of Beath
14:30
  • Reid   14' (pen.)
  • Connelly   57'
  • Denham   8'
  • A. Grant   54'
  • Langton   59'
  • D. Grant   87'
Stadium: Keir's Park
Attendance: 120

Final

edit

The final was scheduled to take place on Sunday 24 May 2020, however the match was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until the following year. It was postponed for a second time and later rescheduled to take place early in the 2021–22 season.

BSC Glasgow renamed to Broomhill in July 2021. Both teams played in their away strips.

Route to the final

edit

Broomhill (BSC Glasgow at the time) received a bye in the first round before they began their campaign away to East of Scotland League Premier Division side Bo'ness United. Fellow Lowland League club Gala Fairydean Rovers were next up, then Preston Athletic of the EOSFL First Division. They won on penalties against eventual Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts shortly before the March 2020 lockdown. Their semi-final took place 7 months later where they knocked out reigning champions East Kilbride.

Dunipace's route to the final saw them defeat fellow East of Scotland League First Division sides Coldstream, Edinburgh United, and Glenrothes, before seeing off Lowland League clubs Bonnyrigg Rose and Caledonian Braves. Their semi-final took place after a delay of 14 months, away to Hill of Beath Hawthorn of the EOSFL Premier Division.

Broomhill1–3Dunipace
  • Cusick   30'
  • Herron   6'
  • Morrison   24'
  • D. Grant   87'
Attendance: 450
Referee: Lorraine Watson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Broomhill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dunipace

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Scottish Lowland Football League Season 2019-20 Fixture List" (PDF). Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  2. ^ "70 TEAMS IN SOUTH REGION CHALLENGE CUP DRAW FOR NEW SEASON". DG News-Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Severs, David. "Weekend 24/8/19 and midweek attendance / headcount". Twitter. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Severs, David. "Weekend attendance / headcount". Twitter. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. ^ "University of Stirling vs Arniston Rangers". Scottish Lowland Football League. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  6. ^ "SFA South Region Challenge Cup draw". East of Scotland Football Association & League. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Severs, David. "Midweek & weekend att / headcount 12/10/19 / headcount". Twitter. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Severs, David. "Midweek & weekend att / headcount 10/11/19 / headcount". Twitter. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  9. ^ "South Region Challenge Cup". Twitter. East of Scotland Football League. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  10. ^ FC, East Kilbride. "EK to face BSC Glasgow in 2019/20 SFA South Region Challenge Cup semi-final". eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-06.