2021–22 Scottish Challenge Cup

Football tournament season

The 2021–22 Scottish Challenge Cup known as the SPFL Trust Trophy due to sponsorship reasons,^[1] was the 30th season of the competition. The total number of participating clubs was 50, down from 58, with only Scottish clubs competing due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. The competition began on 10 August 2021 with the first round and ended on 3 April 2022 with the final at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.

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 of the clubs competing in the Scottish Premiership were represented. This season no clubs from Northern Ireland, Wales, Republic of Ireland or England entered the competition to reduce unnecessary travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2]

Format

First round

The first round featured 6 clubs from 2020–21 Scottish League One, all clubs from 2020–21 Scottish League Two, 4 clubs from the 2020–21 Scottish Highland Football League, 4 clubs from the 2020–21 Scottish Lowland Football League and the 12 Under 21 teams of the 2021–22 Scottish Premiership.

The draw was made on 6 July 2021 at 14:00 and was broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised and seeded. Matches were played on 10, 11 and 17 August 2021.

Livingston and Ross County were unable to field B teams for the first round and withdrew from the competition. Their scheduled opponents, Albion Rovers and Stirling Albion, were awarded byes into the second round.^[3]

North Section

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Matches

Fraserburgh v Cowdenbeath

Stenhousemuir v Dundee United B

East Fife v St Johnstone B

Hibernian B v Elgin City

Brora Rangers v Aberdeen B

Forfar Athletic v Formartine United

Dundee B v Peterhead

Brechin City v Buckie Thistle

Ross County B v Stirling Albion

South Section

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Matches

Stranraer v Motherwell B

St Mirren B v Kelty Hearts

Queen's Park v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

Falkirk v East Kilbride

Dumbarton v Rangers B

Celtic B v Annan Athletic

Broomhill v Clyde

Edinburgh City v Heart of Midlothian B

Livingston B v Albion Rovers

Notes

1. A: Livingston and Ross County were unable to field B teams for the first round and withdrew from the competition.^[3]
2. B: Stranraer were awarded a 3–0 win over Motherwell B who were unable to fulfil the fixture as a number of players were self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.^[19]
3. C: Originally due to start at 19:45, kick-off in the Queen's Park vs Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic match was delayed by 30 minutes due to traffic congestion around Firhill Stadium.

Second round

The second round featured the 18 first round winners who were joined by all teams from the 2020–21 Scottish Championship and the top four teams from the 2020–21 Scottish League One.

The draw was made on 6 July 2021 at 14:00 and was broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised and seeded. Matches were played on 31 August, 3, 4, 5 and 14 September 2021.

North section

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches

Montrose v Stirling Albion

Aberdeen B v Arbroath

Cove Rangers v Stenhousemuir

Cowdenbeath v Alloa Athletic

Raith Rovers v Forfar Athletic

Elgin City v Dunfermline Athletic

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Buckie Thistle

Peterhead v East Fife

Notes

1. D: Elgin City were awarded a technical 3–0 win over Dunfermline Athletic who were unable to fulfil the fixture as a number of players were self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.^[27]

South section

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Matches

Hamilton Academical v Heart of Midlothian B

Airdrieonians v Queen's Park

Stranraer v Partick Thistle

Albion Rovers v St Mirren B

Celtic B v Greenock Morton

Kilmarnock v Falkirk

Queen of the South v Broomhill

Rangers B v Ayr United

Notes

1. E: Rangers B were awarded a technical 3–0 win over Ayr United who fielded two ineligible players.^[36] The match had originally finished 3–0 to Ayr United.

Final stages

On 7 July 2021, a bracket was published for the rest of the tournament, from the third round (last 16) onwards.^[37]

Bracket

Third round

The third round featured the 16 second round winners and matches were played on 6, 8, 9 and 27 October 2021.

Matches

Hamilton Academical v Aberdeen B

Kilmarnock v Queen's Park

Queen of the South v Partick Thistle

Raith Rovers v East Fife

Montrose v Greenock Morton

Cove Rangers v Albion Rovers

Elgin City v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Alloa Athletic v Rangers B

Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played on 30 November and 1 December 2021.

Matches

Hamilton Academical v Kilmarnock

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Raith Rovers

Cove Rangers v Rangers B

Queen of the South v Greenock Morton

Semi-finals

The semi-finals are to be played on 1 and 2 March 2022.

Matches

Cove Rangers v Queen of the South

Kilmarnock v Raith Rovers

Final

The final took place on 3 April 2022.

3 April 2022

16:15

Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

Attendance: 4,452

Referee: Grant Irvine

Notes

Notes

1. Note 1: The 2020–21 tournament was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland.

References

1. "Challenge Cup to be rebranded SPFL Trust Trophy from season 2021/22". The Edinburgh Reporter. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
2. "SPFL Trust Trophy format & dates". SPFL. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
3. "SPFL Trust Trophy R1 details". Scottish Professional Football League. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
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