2024–25 Scottish Challenge Cup

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.

2024–25 Scottish Challenge Cup
Tournament details
CountryScotland
England
Dates30 July 2024 – 30 March 2025
Teams52
Defending championsAirdrieonians
Tournament statistics
Matches played47
Goals scored152 (3.23 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Findlay Curtis
Cameron Elliott
Craig Johnston
Stevie May
Paul McLean
(3 goals)

All statistics correct as of 12 November 2024.

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

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Round Date Fixtures Clubs New entries
First Round[3] 30–31 July 2024 11 52 → 41 6 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 Round[3] 13–14 August 2024 9 41 → 32 7 teams from 2023–24 Scottish League Two (4th–10th)
Third Round[3] 7–8 September 2024 16 32 → 16 1 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 Round[3] 12–13 October 2024 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals[3] 12–13 November 2024 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals[3] 28–29 January 2025 2 4 → 2
Final[3] 22/23 or 29/30 March 2025 1 2 → 1

First round

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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.[3]

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.[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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30 July 2024 Fraserburgh 1–1
(5–4 p)
Heart of Midlothian BFraserburgh
19:30
  • Butcher   73'
[4]
  • Ross   29'
Stadium: Bellslea Park
Attendance: 211
Referee: Jamie McCunnie
Penalties
  • Simpson  
  • Butcher  
  • West  
  • Wood  
  • Buchan  
  • Hay  
  •   Sandilands
  •   Forrester
  •   Ross
  •   Stevenson
  •   Plank
  •   Lister
30 July 2024 Banks O'Dee 1–0Aberdeen BAberdeen
19:45
  • Philipson   33'
[5] Stadium: Spain Park
Attendance: 460
Referee: Steven MacDonald
30 July 2024 Dundee B 2–0Formartine UnitedBrechin
19:45
  • Mohammed   14'
  • Sweenie-Rowe   19'
[6] Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 145
Referee: Ryan Kennedy
30 July 2024 Buckie Thistle1–3 Dundee United B Buckie
20:00
[7]
  • Stirton   18'
  • Cameron   81'
  • O'Donnell   88'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 640
Referee: Michael McCart
31 July 2024 St Johnstone B 2–1Brechin CityPerth
19:45
[8]
  • Robertson   28'
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 259
Referee: Connor Ashwood

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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30 July 2024 Berwick Rangers 3–0
(awarded)[A]
St Mirren BBerwick-upon-Tweed, England
19:45
  • McNamara   34'
  • Devers   50'
[9]
  • Sutherland   4'
  • Mooney   7'
  • McCormick   12'
Stadium: Shielfield Park
Attendance: 288
Referee: Keiran Trayner
30 July 2024 Cowdenbeath 4–2Kilmarnock BCowdenbeath
19:45
  • McLean   11', 74'
  • McDonald   72'
  • Kerr   90'
[10]
Stadium: Central Park
Attendance: 171
Referee: Andrew Craven
30 July 2024 East Kilbride 3–0Celtic BEast Kilbride
19:45
[11] Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 330
Referee: Ross Menzies
30 July 2024 Hibernian B3–3
(2–4 p)
Albion Rovers Edinburgh
19:45
[12]
  • McMahon   18'
  • Home   53'
  • Paton   90'
Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 140
Referee: Harry Bruce
Penalties
  •   Duncan
  •   McCaw
  •   Prince
  •   Home
  •   Paton
30 July 2024 Motherwell B0–0
(7–8 p)
East Stirlingshire Motherwell
19:45 [13] Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 338
Referee: Ross Birrell
Penalties
  • Booth  
  • Ferrie  
  • Ross  
  • Nelson  
  • Lawson  
  • Tomany  
  • Flatman  
  • McDermott  
  • Marshall  
  • Williamson  
  •   Spence
  •   Flynn
  •   Gomis
  •   Reilly
  •   O'Neill
  •   Curtis
  •   Pyper
  •   Campbell
  •   Liddell
  •   Brown
30 July 2024 Rangers B 3–1Bo'ness UnitedGreenock
20:00
  • Nsio   24'
  • Stevens   32'
  • Curtis   43'
[14]
  • Malcolm   1'
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 266
Referee: Jamie Wilkie
Note
  1. ^
    A: Berwick Rangers were awarded a technical 3−0 win over St Mirren B, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 3–2 to St Mirren.[15]

Second round

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The second round featured the 11 winners from the previous round, along with 7 clubs from 2023–24 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.[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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13 August 2024 Dundee United B 0–0
(3–1 p)
Dundee BDundee
18:30 [16] Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 681
Referee: Peter Stuart
Penalties
  • O'Donnell  
  • Mwangi  
  • Dewar  
  •   Lorimer
  •   Richardson
  •   Clark
  •   Graham
13 August 2024 East Fife 2–1St Johnstone BMethil
19:45
[17]
Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 295
Referee: Joel Kennedy
13 August 2024 Elgin City 2–1Banks O'DeeElgin
19:45
[18]
  • Antoniazzi   22'
Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 370
Referee: Ryan Lee
13 August 2024 Fraserburgh 2–1Forfar AthleticFraserburgh
20:00
  • Barbour   76'
  • Wood   86'
[19]
  • Reekie   19'
Stadium: Bellslea Park
Attendance: 254
Referee: Daniel Graves

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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13 August 2024 Albion Rovers3–4 Cowdenbeath Coatbridge
19:45
  • Reid   22'
  • Kennedy   65', 68'
[20]
  • Fernie   58' (o.g.)
  • Sutherland   64'
  • Docherty   83' (pen.)
  • McLean   88'
Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 158
Referee: Andy Gamble
13 August 2024 Dumbarton 4–0Berwick RangersDumbarton
19:45
[21] Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 240
Referee: Gary Hanvidge
13 August 2024 Stranraer 2–1Bonnyrigg RoseStranraer
19:45
[22]
Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 341
Referee: Alex Shepherd
14 August 2024 Clyde2–3 Rangers B Hamilton
19:45
  • Dunachie   43' (pen.)
  • Leitch   85'
[23]
  • Lowry   59', 90'
  • Burnside   69'
Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 607
Referee: Gary Hanvidge
14 August 2024 East Stirlingshire2–2
(1–3 p)
East Kilbride Stenhousemuir
19:45
[24]
Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 170
Referee: Alastair Grieve
Penalties
  • Murray  
  • Spence  
  • Penker  
  • Curtis  

Third round

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The third round featured the nine winners from the previous round, along with all ten clubs from both the Championship and League One, and three clubs from League Two.

The draw was made on 19 August 2024 at 15:00 and broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[25]

Draw

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Teams that entered the competition in the third round.

Matches

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3 September 2024 Hamilton Academical 4–0Dundee United BHamilton
19:45
[26] Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 308
Referee: Stewart Luke
7 September 2024 Stranraer1–5 Annan Athletic Stranraer
15:00
  • Dunlop   29'
[27]
Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 469
Referee: Alastair Grieve
7 September 2024 East Fife0–2 Dunfermline Athletic Methil
15:00 [28]
Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 1,264
Referee: Iain Snedden
7 September 2024 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–0Stirling AlbionInverness
15:00
[29] Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 774
Referee: Ryan Lee
7 September 2024 East Kilbride 3–2Cove RangersEast Kilbride
15:00
[30]
Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 253
Referee: Joel Kennedy
7 September 2024 Peterhead 1–0DumbartonPeterhead
15:00
  • Barry   66'
[31] Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 586
Referee: Greg Soutar
7 September 2024 Kelty Hearts 3–1Elgin CityKelty
15:00
  • Johnston   32', 40'
  • Williamson   58'
[32]
  • Cameron   84'
Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 268
Referee: Sean Murdoch
7 September 2024 Partick Thistle1–3 Alloa Athletic Glasgow
15:00
[33]
Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 1,969
Referee: Duncan Williams
7 September 2024 The Spartans0–2 Livingston Edinburgh
15:00 [34]
Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 681
Referee: Steven Kirkland
7 September 2024 Arbroath 3–0MontroseArbroath
15:00
[35] Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,051
Referee: George Calder
7 September 2024 Cowdenbeath0–1 Greenock Morton Cowdenbeath
15:00 [36]
  • Garrity   62'
Stadium: Central Park
Attendance: 379
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
7 September 2024 Stenhousemuir 1–1
(5–4 p)
FalkirkStenhousemuir
15:00
[37]
Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 2,426
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Penalties
  • Alston  
  • Aitken  
  • O'Reilly  
  • Taylor  
  • Meechan  
7 September 2024 Queen of the South0–3 Airdrieonians Dumfries
15:00 [38]
Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 957
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
8 September 2024 Ayr United 3–2Raith RoversAyr
13:00
[39]
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,750
Referee: Graham Grainger
8 September 2024 Queen's Park 1–0Edinburgh CityGlasgow
15:00
[40] Stadium: Lesser Hampden
Attendance: 597
Referee: Peter Stuart
17 September 2024 Rangers B 5–0FraserburghStirling
19:45
  • Allan   16'
  • West   23' (o.g.)
  • Eadie   49'
  • Adamson   61'
  • Gentles   80'
[41] Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 381
Referee: Jordan Curran

Fourth round

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The draw was made on 10 September 2024 at 13:00 and broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.[42]

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

Teams in bold progressed to the quarter-finals.

Championship League One League Two Lowland League Premiership U21 teams

Matches

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11 October 2024 Hamilton Academical0–1 Greenock Morton Hamilton
19:40 [43]
Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 711
Referee: Ross Hardie
11 October 2024 Annan Athletic1–4 Queen's Park Annan
19:45
  • Maxwell   85'
[44]
Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 423
Referee: Gavin Duncan
11 October 2024 Alloa Athletic 1–0ArbroathAlloa
19:45
[45] Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 480
Referee: Euan Anderson
12 October 2024 Dunfermline Athletic 2–1Kelty HeartsDunfermline
13:00
[46]
  • Johnston   15'
Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 1,821
Referee: Graham Grainger
12 October 2024 Airdrieonians1–1
(5–6 p)
East Kilbride Airdrie
13:30
  • Gallagher   86'
[47]
Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 703
Referee: Greg Soutar
Penalties
12 October 2024 Ayr United 2–1PeterheadAyr
14:00
[48]
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,698
Referee: George Calder
12 October 2024 Livingston 2–2
(5–4 p)
Inverness Caledonian ThistleLivingston
14:00
[49]
Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 943
Referee: Colin Steven
Penalties
22 October 2024 Rangers B 4–1StenhousemuirStirling
19:45
[50]
Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 525
Referee: Alastair Grieve

Quarter-finals

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The draw was made on 16 October 2024 at 13:00 and broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel along with the semi-finals draw.[51]

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

Teams in bold progressed to the semi-finals.

Championship League One Lowland League Premiership U21 teams

Matches

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12 November 2024 East Kilbride 3–2Ayr UnitedEast Kilbride
19:40
[52]
Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 605
Referee: Ryan Lee
12 November 2024 Livingston 2–1Greenock MortonLivingston
19:45
[53]
Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 858
Referee: Chris Graham
12 November 2024 Dunfermline Athletic 1–0Alloa AthleticDunfermline
19:45
[54] Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 1,400
Referee: Duncan Williams
3 December 2024 Queen's Park v Rangers B Glasgow
19:45 Stadium: Lesser Hampden

Semi-finals

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The draw was made on 16 October 2024 at 13:00 along with the quarter-finals draw.

Matches

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28/29 January 2025 Queen's Park or Rangers B v East Kilbride
TBC
28/29 January 2025 Dunfermline Athletic v Livingston Dunfermline
TBC Stadium: East End Park

Final

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References

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  32. ^ "Kelty Hearts vs. Elgin City - 7 September 2024". Soccerway. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
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  49. ^ "Livingston vs. Inverness CT - 12 October 2024". Soccerway. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
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