2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup

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.

2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup
Tournament details
CountryScotland
Northern Ireland
Wales
Dates1 August 2023 – 24 March 2024
Teams53
Defending championsHamilton Academical
Final positions
ChampionsAirdrieonians
Runner-upThe New Saints
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Goals scored173 (3.33 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Brad Young
(5 goals)

All statistics correct as of 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

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Round Date Fixtures Clubs New entries
First Round[3] 1–2 August 2023 11 53 → 42 3 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 Round[3] 15–16 August 2023 10 42 → 32 2 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League One (9th–10th)
7 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League Two (1st–7th)
Third Round[3] 9–10 September 2023 16 32 → 16 Teams 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 Round[3] 14–15 October 2023 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals[3] 18–19 November 2023 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals[3] 3–4 February 2024 2 4 → 2
Final[3] 24 March 2024 1 2 → 1

First round

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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.[3]

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.[2]

North Section

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Draw

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Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams

Matches

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1 August 2023 Brechin City 2–2
(5–3 p)
Heart of Midlothian BBrechin
19:30
  • MacLeod   22'
  • McGrath   36'
[4]
  • Kirk   76' (pen.)
  • Friel   80'
Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 474
Referee: George Calder
Penalties
  • Loudon  
  • McGrath  
  • MacLeod  
  • McArthur  
  • Heenan  
  •   Kirk
  •   Sandilands
  •   Wilson
  •   McLuckie
1 August 2023 Elgin City 2–0St Johnstone BElgin
19:30
  • MacLeman   20'
  • Barron   75'
[5] Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 478
Referee: Daniel Graves
2 August 2023 Hibernian B 1–1
(3–2 p)
Formartine UnitedEdinburgh
19:30
  • Landers   45'
[6]
  • Park   42'
Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 107
Referee: Alex Shepherd
Penalties
  • McAllister  
  • MacIntyre  
  • Megwa  
  • Zaid  
  •   Park
  •   Campbell
  •   Rodger
  •   Smith
2 August 2023 Brora Rangers1–1
(2–4 p)
Aberdeen B Brora
19:45 J. MacRae   28' [7] Bavidge   82' Stadium: Dudgeon Park
Attendance: 275
Referee: Ryan Lee
Penalties
  •   Hamilton
  •   Marshall
  •   Lobban
  •   Emslie
  •   Bavidge
2 August 2023 Dundee B 4–0Buckie ThistleForfar
20:00
[8] Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 116
Referee: Colin Whyte

South Section

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Draw

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Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams

Matches

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1 August 2023 St Mirren B2–2
(2–4 p)
Albion Rovers Paisley
19:30
  • Turner   51'
  • Sutherland   90'
[9]
  • Joseph   27'
  • Fagan   41'
Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 363
Referee: Greg Soutar
Penalties
  • Gilmartin  
  • Gaffney  
  • Foster  
  • Lennon  
  •   Joseph
  •   Wilson
  •   McCaw
  •   McMahon
1 August 2023 Tranent 0–0
(3–1 p)
Motherwell BTranent
19:45 [10] Stadium: Foresters Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Jordan Curran
Penalties
1 August 2023 The Spartans0–3 Rangers B Edinburgh
19:45 [11]
  • Fraser   37'
  • Ishaka   48'
  • Lowry   57' (pen.)
Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 273
Referee: Ross Hardie
1 August 2023 Kilmarnock B 3–1Bonnyrigg RoseKilmarnock
19:45
  • Wales   18'
  • Warnock   21'
  • Brown   52'
[12] Faye   46' Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 181
Referee: Andy Gamble
2 August 2023 University of Stirling 4–0Livingston BStirling
19:45
  • Russell   3'
  • Malcolm   70'
  • McIvor-Redwood   72'
  • Tallen   87'
[13] Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 98
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
2 August 2023 Celtic B1–3 East Kilbride Airdrie
19:45 Vata   12' [14]
  • Biggar   6'
  • Samson   57'
  • Kelly   82'
Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 338
Referee: Peter Stuart

Second round

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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.[2]

North Section

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Draw

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Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches

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15 August 2023 Brechin City0–4 Hibernian B Brechin
19:30 [15]
  • Molotnikov   13'
  • Megwa   37'
  • Smith   77', 83'
Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 400
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
15 August 2023 Aberdeen B3–5 Peterhead Pitmedden
19:45
[16]
Stadium: North Lodge Park
Attendance: 384
Referee: Ross Clark
15 August 2023 Dundee B0–0
(3–5 p)
East Fife Dundee
19:45 [17] Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 309
Referee: Greg Soutar
Penalties
  • Richardson  
  • Lamb  
  • Barnett  
  • Robertson  
15 August 2023 Elgin City 0–0
(4–3 p)
Forfar AthleticElgin
19:45 [18] Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 349
Referee: Jordan Curran
Penalties

South Section

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Draw

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Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches

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15 August 2023 Albion Rovers 2–0TranentCoatbridge
19:45
  • Joseph   75', 87'
[19] Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 157
Referee: Andy Gamble
15 August 2023 Annan Athletic 3–1StranraerAnnan
19:45
[20]
  • McDonald   38'
Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 301
Referee: Gavin Duncan
15 August 2023 Stirling Albion0–3 East Kilbride Stirling
19:45 [21]
  • Lyon   18'
  • Kelly   82'
  • Stirling   84'
Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 329
Referee: Stewart Luke
15 August 2023 Stenhousemuir1–2 Rangers B Stenhousemuir
20:00
  • Lynch   60'
[22]
Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 269
Referee: Ryan Lee
16 August 2023 Clyde1–3 University of Stirling Hamilton
19:45
  • Scullion   55'
[23]
  • McKinlay   33'
  • Šuľa   86' (o.g.)
  • Stokes   90'
Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 222
Referee: Alex Shepherd
16 August 2023 Kilmarnock B1–1
(8–9 p)
Dumbarton Kilmarnock
19:45
  • Wales   65'
[24]
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 300
Referee: Daniel Graves
Penalties
  • Warnock  
  • A. Brown  
  • Wales  
  • Brannan  
  • Davies  
  • Sanders  
  • E. Brown  
  • Craic  
  • Smith  

Third round

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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

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The draw was made on 17 August 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[25]

Teams that entered the competition in the third round.

Championship League One Teams from other countries

NIFL Premiership

Cymru Premier

Matches

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5 September 2023 Ayr United0–1 Falkirk Ayr
19:45 [26]
  • Henderson   30'
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,423
Referee: Steven Kirkland
8 September 2023 Hibernian B0–3 The New Saints Edinburgh
18:00 [27]
Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 119
Referee: Iain Snedden
9 September 2023 East Fife 2–1Albion RoversMethil
13:00
[28]
  • Joseph   31'
Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 448
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
9 September 2023 Raith Rovers 3–0CliftonvilleKirkcaldy
14:00
[29] Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,561
Referee: Grant Irvine
9 September 2023 Edinburgh City1–4 East Kilbride Edinburgh
15:00
  • Peter   61'
[30]
  • Flanagan   43'
  • McDonald   47'
  • Roy   63'
  • Lyon   76'
Stadium: Meadowbank Stadium
Attendance: 231
Referee: Dan McFarlane
9 September 2023 Annan Athletic 0–2 Peterhead Annan
15:00 [31]
Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 326
Referee: Scott Lambie
9 September 2023 Cove Rangers0–2 Montrose Aberdeen
15:00 [32]
  • Brown   58'
  • Hester   87'
Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 520
Referee: Alastair Grieve
9 September 2023 Dumbarton1–3 Kelty Hearts Dumbarton
15:00
[33]
Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 427
Referee: Duncan Williams
9 September 2023 University of Stirling2–3 Airdrieonians Stirling
15:00
  • McAninch   18', 54' (pen.)
[34]
Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 609
Referee: Alan Muir
9 September 2023 Greenock Morton 2–1Elgin CityGreenock
15:00
[35]
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,016
Referee: Ross Hardie
9 September 2023 Dundee United 3–0Dunfermline AthleticDundee
15:00
[36] Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 2,408
Referee: Craig Napier
9 September 2023 Arbroath 4–2Inverness Caledonian ThistleArbroath
15:00
[37]
  • Brooks   43'
  • Hyde   90'
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 780
Referee: Steven McLean
9 September 2023 Partick Thistle2–3 Queen of the South Glasgow
15:00
[38]
Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,307
Referee: Euan Anderson
9 September 2023 Coleraine1–3 Hamilton Academical Coleraine, Northern Ireland
15:45
[39]
Stadium: The Showgrounds
Attendance: 906
Referee: Chris Morrison
9 September 2023 Bala Town0–3 Queen's Park Bala, Wales
17:15 [40]
Stadium: Maes Tegid
Attendance: 317
Referee: Aaron Wyn Jones
26 September 2023 Rangers B 4–1Alloa AthleticGreenock
19:45
[41]
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 139
Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Fourth round

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The draw was made on 14 September 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[42]

No new teams enter in this round.

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

Championship League One League Two Lowland League Premiership B teams Teams from other countries

Cymru Premier

Matches

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14 October 2023 Raith Rovers 3–1MontroseKirkcaldy
15:00
[43]
  • Watson   72'
Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,388
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
14 October 2023 East Kilbride2–5 Hamilton Academical East Kilbride
15:00
  • McGowan   31'
  • Ferguson   53'
[44]
Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 583
Referee: Chris Fordyce
14 October 2023 Falkirk 1–0Queen's ParkFalkirk
15:00
[45] Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 2,427
Referee: Scott Lambie
14 October 2023 Queen of the South1–2 Arbroath Dumfries
15:00
  • Doherty   12'
[46]
Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 786
Referee: Duncan Williams
14 October 2023 Greenock Morton 4–1Kelty HeartsGreenock
15:00
[47]
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,056
Referee: Steven Kirkland
14 October 2023 The New Saints 2–2
(5–4 p)
East FifeOswestry, England
17:15
[48]
Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 512
Referee: Huw Jones
Penalties
14 October 2023 Peterhead0–2 Dundee United Peterhead
17:30 [49]
Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 1,322
Referee: Calum Scott
7 November 2023 Rangers B2–4 Airdrieonians Greenock
19:45
[50]
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: N/A
Referee: Steven Kirkland

Quarter-finals

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The quarter-final and semi-final draws were made on 19 October 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[51]

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

Championship League One Teams from other countries

Cymru Premier

Matches

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17 November 2023 Falkirk 4–2Dundee UnitedFalkirk
19:40
[52]
Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 2,891
Referee: Grant Irvine
17 November 2023 Hamilton Academical1–4 Raith Rovers Hamilton
19:45
[53]
Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 971
Referee: Iain Snedden
18 November 2023 The New Saints 4–1ArbroathOswestry, England
14:30
[54]
Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 587
Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones
18 November 2023 Greenock Morton0–0
(5–6 p)
Airdrieonians Greenock
15:00 [55] Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,269
Referee: Ross Hardie
Penalties

Semi-finals

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Matches

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2 February 2024 Raith Rovers0–1 Airdrieonians Kirkcaldy
19:40 [56]
Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 2,640
Referee: Colin Steven
3 February 2024 Falkirk0–1 The New Saints Falkirk
19:40 [57]
Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 3,582
Referee: Chris Graham

Final

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24 March 2024 The New Saints1–2 Airdrieonians Falkirk
16:15
  • Clark   12'
[58]
Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 3,191
Referee: Matthew MacDermid

References

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  1. ^ "SPFL Trust Trophy sponsorship extended". SPFL. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "SPFL Trust Trophy 2023/24". SPFL. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "SPFL Trust Trophy Format | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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  33. ^ "Dumbarton vs. Kelty Hearts - 9 September 2023". Soccerway. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
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  46. ^ "Queen of the South vs. Arbroath - 14 October 2023". Soccerway. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
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  50. ^ "Rangers II vs. Airdrieonians - 7 November 2023". Soccerway. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
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  53. ^ "Hamilton Academical vs. Raith Rovers - 17 November 2023". Soccerway. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  54. ^ "The New Saints vs. Arbroath - 18 November 2023". Soccerway. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  55. ^ "Greenock Morton vs. Airdrieonians - 18 November 2023". Soccerway. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  56. ^ "Raith Rovers vs. Airdrieonians - 2 February 2024". Soccerway. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  57. ^ "Falkirk vs. The New Saints - 3 February 2024". Soccerway. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  58. ^ "The New Saints vs. Airdrieonians - 24 March 2024". Soccerway. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
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