The Challenge Cup is a competition traditionally for the clubs outwith the top division of Scottish Professional football.
It was initiated as an annual competition in 1991 following a successful one-off Centenary Cup, which was contested to commemorate 100 years of the Scottish Football League.
The format changed little for the first 25 years of the competition, though north-east and south-west regionalisation has become a feature in recent years. Highland and Lowland League champions have also been invited to take part.
2016-17 saw controversial and radical change, with the addition of the U20 teams of Premiership clubs, invited Northern Irish and Welsh clubs and three more clubs from each of the Lowland and Highland Leagues. League of Ireland representatives were added in 2017-18 followed by two English ‘National League’ clubs last season.
Ross County are the current holders. Tunnock’s are the new title sponsors this season, taking over the mantle from Irn Bru.
2019-20 COMPETITION (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
First Round (Aug 6 unless stated)
North Section
- Albion Rovers 1-4 Heart of Midlothian U21
- Brora Rangers 6-0 Aberdeen U21
- Fraserburgh 2-3 Ross County U21
- Hibernian U21 3-4 Elgin City
- Livingston U21 1-3 Formartine United
- St Johnstone U21 1-4 Cove Rangers
South Section
- Berwick Rangers 1-2 Rangers U21
- Kelty Hearts 4-0 Kilmarnock U21
- Queen’s Park 2-2(3-4p) Celtic U21 (@ Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie)
- St Mirren U21 1-0 East Kilbride
- Hamilton Accies U21 4-0 BSC Glasgow (Aug 7)
- Motherwell U21 1-0 Spartans (Aug 7 @ Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie)
Second Round (Aug 13 unless stated)
North Section
- Heart of Midlothian U21 3-1 Cowdenbeath (@ Prestonfield, Linlithgow)
- Brechin City 4-5 Elgin City
- Brora Rangers 1-2 Cove Rangers
- East Fife 0-2 Stirling Albion
- Ross County U21 2-3 Raith Rover
- Montrose 2-1 Forfar Athletic
- Peterhead 0-0(6-7p) Formartine United
South Section
- Annan Athletic 1-1(5-6p) Kelty Hearts
- Clyde 4-0 Motherwell U21
- Dumbarton 0-1 St Mirren U21
- Falkirk 1-1(6-5p) Celtic U21
- Hamilton Accies U21 0-1 Airdrieonians
- Stenhousemuir 2-1 Edinburgh City
- Stranraer 0-2 Rangers U21
Third Round (Sept 7 unless stated)
- Waterford (Ire) 3-1 Heart of Midlothian U21 (Sep 6)
- Airdrieonians 3-2 Bohemians (Ire)
- Clyde 3-2 Queen of the South
- Connahs Quay Nomads (Wal) 1-0 Cove Rangers – S4C
- Dunfermline Athletic 1-2 Alloa Athletic
- Dundee United 0-0(3-4p) Arbroath
- Formartine United 0-3 Glenavon (NI)
- Kelty Hearts 1-1(2-4p) Solihull Moors (Eng)
- Inverness Caley Thistle 3-1 Greenock Morton
- Montrose 0-2 Partick Thistle
- Raith Rovers 2-0 Falkirk
- Stenhousemuir 1-1(3-1p) The New Saints (Wal)
- St Mirren U21 1-0 Stirling Albion
- Wrexham (Eng) 1-1(6-5p) Ayr United
- Dundee 1-2 Elgin City (Sep 8)
- Ballymena United (NI) 0-1 Rangers U21 (Sep 18)
Fourth Round (Oct 12)
- Stenhousemuir 3-2 Waterford (Ire) (Oct 11) – BBC Alba
- Airdrieonians 0-2 Elgin City
- Arbroath 0-2 Clyde
- Inverness Caley Thistle 3-0 Alloa Athletic
- Raith Rovers 3-1 Glenavon (NI)
- Partick Thistle 2-0 Connah’s Quay Nomads (Wal) – S4C
- Wrexham (Eng) 4-1 St Mirren U21
- Solihull Moors (Eng) 3-3(3-4p) Rangers U21 (Oct 29)
Quarter Finals (Nov 16)
- Raith Rovers 3-2 Elgin City (Nov 15) – BBC Alba
- Inverness Caley Thistle 0-0(4-2p) Clyde
- Rangers U21 2-0 Wrexham (Eng)
- Stenhousemuir 1-4 Partick Thistle
Semi Finals
- Partick Thistle 1-2 Raith Rovers (Feb 14) – BBC Alba
- Inverness Caley Thistle 2-1 Rangers U21 (Feb 16) – BBC Alba
Final
- Raith Rovers – Inverness Caley Thistle
Scottish Football Fixtures 