The 2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the SPFL Trust Trophy due to sponsorship reasons, 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.
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).
Format RoundDateFixturesClubsNew entriesFirst Round1–2 August 20231153 → 423 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 PremiershipSecond Round15–16 August 20231042 → 322 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League One (9th–10th)7 teams from 2022–23 Scottish League Two (1st–7th)Third Round9–10 September 20231632 → 16Teams 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 Round14–15 October 2023816 → 8Quarter-finals18–19 November 202348 → 4Semi-finals3–4 February 202424 → 2Final24 March 202412 → 1
First round 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.
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.
North Section
Draw Teams that entered the competition in the first round.
Seeded TeamsUnseeded TeamsElgin City Brechin City Buckie Thistle Brora Rangers Formartine UnitedAberdeen B Dundee B Heart of Midlothian B Hibernian B St Johnstone B
Matches
South Section
Draw Teams that entered the competition in the first round.
Seeded TeamsUnseeded TeamsBonnyrigg Rose Albion Rovers The Spartans University of Stirling Tranent East KilbrideCeltic B Kilmarnock B Livingston B Motherwell B Rangers B St Mirren B
Matches
Second round 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.
North Section
Draw Teams that entered the competition in the second round. Peterhead East Fife Forfar Athletic
Matches
South Section
Draw Teams that entered the competition in the second round. Clyde Stirling Albion Dumbarton Annan Athletic Stenhousemuir Stranraer
Matches
Third round 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 The draw was made on 17 August 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.
Teams that entered the competition in the third round.
ChampionshipLeague OneTeams from other countriesAirdrieonians Arbroath Ayr United Dundee United Dunfermline Athletic Greenock Morton Inverness Caledonian Thistle Partick Thistle Queen's Park Raith RoversAlloa Athletic Cove Rangers Edinburgh City Falkirk Hamilton Academical Kelty Hearts Montrose Queen of the SouthNIFL Premiership Cliftonville Coleraine Cymru Premier The New Saints Bala Town
Matches
Fourth round The draw was made on 14 September 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.
No new teams enter in this round.
Teams in Italics were unknown at the time of the draw.
ChampionshipLeague OneLeague TwoLowland LeaguePremiership B teamsTeams from other countriesAirdrieonians Arbroath Dundee United Greenock Morton Queen's Park Raith RoversFalkirk Hamilton Academical Kelty Hearts Montrose Queen of the SouthEast Fife PeterheadEast KilbrideRangers BCymru Premier The New Saints
Matches
Quarter-finals
The quarter-final and semi-final draws were made on 19 October 2023 at 13:00 live on the SPFL YouTube Channel.
Teams in Italics were unknown at the time of the quarter-final draw.
ChampionshipLeague OneTeams from other countriesAirdrieonians Arbroath Dundee United Greenock Morton Raith RoversFalkirk Hamilton AcademicalCymru Premier The New Saints
Matches
Semi-finals
Matches
Final
References
External links