The 2022–23 SFA South Region Challenge Cup was the 16th edition of the annual knockout cup competition for senior non-league clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. The tournament entry increased from 161 to a record 163 teams thanks to additional clubs joining the West of Scotland Football League.
The defending champions were Auchinleck Talbot of the West of Scotland League, who beat Lowland League champions Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 3–1 in the final on 22 May 2022. However they went out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, losing 2–1 to Caledonian Braves.
The Spartans lifted the trophy for a record fourth time, completing a league and cup double after also winning the Lowland League. They beat Drumchapel United 2–1 in the final.
Format The South Challenge Cup features 163 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (59), South of Scotland Football League (10), and West of Scotland Football League (79). The reserve teams of Stirling University, Caledonian Braves, and Stranraer, as well as Celtic B, Heart of Midlothian B, and Rangers B, do not take part. Newburgh were debarred due to a breach of rules.
The first and second rounds were regionalised, with north-east, south-east, south-west, and north-west sections each containing 40 or 41 clubs.
The draws are unseeded, with matches proceeding to extra time and penalties if they were tied after 90 minutes.
Calendar Round Main date Fixtures Clubs First Round 20 August 2022 35 163 → 128 Second Round 10 September 202215 October 2022 64 128 → 64 Third Round 15 October 202219 November 2022 32 64 → 32 Fourth Round 4 February 2023 16 32 → 16 Fifth Round 4 March 2023 8 16 → 8 Quarter-Finals 1 April 2023 4 8 → 4 Semi-Finals TBC 2 4 → 2 Final 28 May 2023 1 2 → 1
First round The draw for the regionalised first and second rounds took place on Sunday 26 June 2022. Each zone features 9 fixtures in the first round with 23 clubs receiving a bye to the second round (except the South-West zone featuring 8 matches and 24 byes). North-East zone
South-East zone South-West zone North-West zone
Second round North-East zone South-East zone South-West zone North-West zone
Third round The majority of the third round ties took place on the weekend of 19 November 2022, reverting to an open draw with 32 fixtures being played.
Fourth round Draw Lowland LeagueEast of Scotland LeagueSouth of Scotland LeagueWest of Scotland LeagueBo'ness United Caledonian Braves East Kilbride The Spartans Tranent Juniors University of StirlingPremier Division Broxburn Athletic Dundonald Bluebell Linlithgow Rose Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale Sauchie Juniors First Division Dunipace Newtongrange Star Second Division Thornton Hibs Third Division Bo'ness Athletic Fauldhouse UnitedLochar Thistle Newton StewartPremier Division Auchinleck Talbot Clydebank Cumnock Juniors Glenafton Athletic Kilwinning Rangers Troon First Division Drumchapel United Gartcairn Rossvale St Cadoc's Second Division Maryhill Maybole Juniors Third Division Vale of Clyde Fourth Division Threave Rovers
Matches
Fifth round Draw The draw for the fifth round was made on 6 February 2023, live on the West of Scotland Football League YouTube channel.
Teams in Italics were unknown at the time of the draw. Lowland LeagueEast of Scotland LeagueWest of Scotland LeagueCaledonian Braves East Kilbride The Spartans Tranent Juniors University of StirlingPremier Division Dundonald Bluebell Sauchie JuniorsPremier Division Auchinleck Talbot Clydebank Cumnock Juniors Kilwinning Rangers First Division Drumchapel United Gartcairn Second Division Maryhill Third Division Vale of Clyde Fourth Division Threave Rovers
Matches
Quarter-finals Draw Lowland LeagueEast of Scotland LeagueWest of Scotland LeagueCaledonian Braves The Spartans University of StirlingPremier Division Sauchie JuniorsPremier Division Auchinleck Talbot Kilwinning Rangers First Division Drumchapel United Gartcairn
Matches
Semi-finals Draw Lowland LeagueWest of Scotland LeagueCaledonian Braves The SpartansFirst Division Drumchapel United Gartcairn
Matches
Final
References