The 2023 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the SPFL Trust Trophy final for sponsorship reasons, was a football match that took place on 26 March 2023 between Raith Rovers and Hamilton Academical. It was the 30th final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the now defunct Scottish Football League, and the eighth since the SPFL was formed. It also marked the return of non-Scottish teams to the competition for the first time since the 2019–20 edition.

Route to the final

The competition is a knock-out tournament and was contested by 49 teams from Scotland in 2022–23, as well as 2 teams each from Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

Raith Rovers As a 2021–22 Scottish Championship club, Raith Rovers were given a bye to the third round. The 2023 final was Raith's fourth Challenge Cup final and third consecutive final, having split the 2020 edition with Inverness Caledonian Thistle after the final was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and were reigning champions after winning the 2022 edition against Queen of the South. They also won the 2014 final against Rangers, making them undefeated in all four finals they had been involved in prior.

Round Opposition Score Third round Cove Rangers (a) 1–0 Fourth round Greenock Morton (h) 1–1 4–2 Quarter-final Queen's Park (a) 1–0 Semi-final Dundee (a) 2–2 4–3

Hamilton Academical As a 2021–22 Scottish Championship club, Hamilton Academical were given a bye to the third round. This was Hamilton's first Challenge Cup final since the 2012 edition. The 2023 final was Hamilton's fifth Challenge Cup final, having won the cup in 1991 and 1992, and finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2012.

Round Opposition Score Third round Rangers B (a) 3–0 Fourth round Inverness Caledonian Thistle (h) 2–0 Quarter-final Clyde (h) 3–2 Semi-final Queen of the South (h) 2–1

Match details

GK 1 Jamie MacDonaldRB 4 Ross MillenCB 5 Ryan Nolan CB 12 Tom Lang LB 3 Liam Dick RM 16 Sam StantonCM 6 Brad Spencer CM 20 Scott BrownLM 23 Dylan EastonCAM 10 Lewis Vaughan FW 77 Esmaël Gonçalves Substitutes:GK 13 Andrew McNeilGK 17 Robbie ThomsonDF 15 Kieran NgwenyaDF 30 Adam MassonMF 7 Aidan Connolly MF 22 Ethan Ross FW 11 Connor McBride Manager: Ian Murray GK 1 Ryan FultonCB 4 Daniel O'Reilly CB 15 Dylan McGowanCB 3 Matthew Shiels RWB 22 Reghan TumiltyCM 14 Marley Redfern CM 18 Reegan MimnaughCM 8 Scott MartinLWB 11 Lewis Smith CAM 23 Lucas De BolleFW 9 Benny Ashley-Seal Substitutes:GK 31 Jamie SmithDF 5 Brian Easton DF 12 Tom Sparrow DF 25 Fergus OwensDF 37 Chris McGinnFW 10 Dario Zanatta FW 16 Dylan StephensonFW 17 Jean-Pierre Tiéhi FW 19 Andy WinterManager: John RankinMan of the match: Ryan Fulton (Hamilton Accies)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.

References