2020–21 South Challenge Cup

Football tournament season
2020–21 South Challenge Cup
The SoccerShop Challenge Cup
Tournament details
CountryScotland
England (2 teams)
Dates24 October 2020 – 26 April 2021
(tournament abandoned)
Teams121 (142 initially entered)
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Goals scored251 (4.83 per match)
Attendance0 (0 per match)

The 2020–21 SFA South Region Challenge Cup (known as The SoccerShop Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons)[1] was the 14th edition of the annual knockout cup competition for senior non-league clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. This season sees the tournament increase from 70 to 121 teams thanks to additional clubs joining the East of Scotland Football League and the inclusion of 67 clubs from the inaugural West of Scotland Football League.

Arniston Rangers and Cumbernauld Colts are not competing due to a breach of rules in the previous season's competition.[2] A number of clubs withdrew before the start of the tournament, including those who declined to take part in the WoSFL.

Due to Scottish Government restrictions, games were played behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 11 January 2021 the competition was suspended by the Scottish Football Association due to the escalating pandemic situation.[3] With the season already complete for each of the four leagues competing in the tournament, the competition was declared null and void on 26 April 2021.[4]

Format

The South Challenge Cup initially featured 142 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (47), South of Scotland Football League (12), and West of Scotland Football League (67). The reserve teams of Stirling University, Caledonian Braves, and Stranraer do not take part.

The draw is unseeded, with matches proceeding to extra time and penalties if they are tied after 90 minutes.

Calendar

Round Main date[5] Fixtures Clubs
First round 24 October 2020 14 142 → 128
Second round 21 November 2020 64 128 → 64
Third round 6 February 2021 32 64 → 32
Fourth round 6 March 2021 16 32 → 16
Fifth round 3 April 2021 8 16 → 8
Quarter-Finals 24 April 2021 4 8 → 4
Semi-Finals 15 May 2021 2 4 → 2
Final 6 June 2021 1 2 → 1

First round

The draw for the first and second rounds took place on Saturday 5 September 2020 and was broadcast live on the Official Catchup YouTube channel. The majority of the first round fixtures took place on the weekend of Saturday 24 October 2020.[1][6]

The Spartans v Kinnoull
23 October 2020 The Spartans 4–0KinnoullEdinburgh
19:45 Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 0
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic v Newtongrange Star
24 October 2020 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2–0Newtongrange StarBonnyrigg
15:00 Stadium: New Dundas Park
Attendance: 0
Broxburn Athletic v Creetown
24 October 2020 Broxburn Athletic 6–0CreetownBroxburn
14:30 Stadium: Albyn Park
Attendance: 0
Easthouses Lily MW v Larkhall Thistle
24 October 2020 Easthouses Lily MW 5–3Larkhall ThistleEasthouses
14:30 Stadium: Newbattle Complex
Attendance: 0
Irvine Victoria v St Anthony's
24 October 2020 Irvine Victoria3–3 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)		 St Anthony's Irvine
14:00 Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 0
Jeanfield Swifts v Lochgelly Albert
24 October 2020 Jeanfield Swifts 5–0Lochgelly AlbertPerth
14:30 Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 0
Maybole Juniors v Vale of Leven
24 October 2020 Maybole Juniors2–3 Vale of Leven Maybole
14:00 Stadium: Ladywell Stadium
Attendance: 0
Threave Rovers v Ormiston
24 October 2020 Threave Rovers 7–2OrmistonCastle Douglas
15:00 Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 0
Vale of Clyde v East Kilbride Thistle
24 October 2020 Vale of Clyde 4–1 (a.e.t.)East Kilbride ThistleGlasgow
14:00 Stadium: Fullarton Park
Attendance: 0
Sauchie Juniors v Kilwinning Rangers
4 November 2020 Sauchie Juniors 2–1Kilwinning RangersSauchie
19:30 Stadium: Beechwood Park
Attendance: 0
  1. ^
    A: Dunbar United, Kilbirnie Ladeside, and Pollok withdrew from the competition.

Second round

The majority of the second round fixtures took place on the weekend of 21 November 2020.[6] A number of teams received a bye to the third round after 18 teams from the West of Scotland League withdrew from the competition.

East Stirlingshire v The Spartans
20 November 2020 East Stirlingshire3–4 (a.e.t.) The Spartans Falkirk
19:45 Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 0
Annbank United v Vale of Leven
21 November 2020 Annbank United2–3 Vale of Leven Ayr
13:30 Stadium: Dam Park Stadium
Ardeer Thistle v Tranent Juniors
21 November 2020 Ardeer Thistle0–12 Tranent Juniors Stevenston
13:30 Stadium: Ardeer Stadium
Bellshill Athletic v Cumbernauld United
21 November 2020 Bellshill Athletic2–3 Cumbernauld United Bellshill
13:30 Stadium: Rockburn Park
Blackburn United v Newburgh
21 November 2020 Blackburn United 3–1NewburghBlackburn
14:30 Stadium: New Murrayfield Park
Broxburn Athletic v Irvine Meadow XI
21 November 2020 Broxburn Athletic0–3 Irvine Meadow XI Broxburn
14:30 Stadium: Albyn Park
Coldstream v Crossgates Primrose
21 November 2020 Coldstream 2–0Crossgates PrimroseColdstream
14:30 Stadium: Home Park
Craigmark Burntonians v Bonnyton Thistle
21 November 2020 Craigmark Burntonians 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		Bonnyton ThistleCumnock
13:30 Stadium: Townhead Park
Dalkeith Thistle v BSC Glasgow
21 November 2020 Dalkeith Thistle0–6 BSC Glasgow Dalkeith
14:30 Stadium: King's Park
Darvel v Easthouses Lily MW
21 November 2020 Darvel 3–2Easthouses Lily MWDarvel
13:30 Stadium: Recreation Park
Dunipace v Mid-Annandale
21 November 2020 Dunipace 5–3Mid-AnnandaleDenny
14:30 Stadium: Westfield Park
Eyemouth United v Muirkirk Juniors
21 November 2020 Eyemouth United1–3 Muirkirk Juniors Eyemouth
13:30 Stadium: Warner Park
Forth Wanderers v Threave Rovers
21 November 2020 Forth Wanderers 4–2Threave RoversCarluke
13:30 Stadium: John Cumming Stadium
Glenrothes v St Cadoc's
21 November 2020 Glenrothes1–5 St Cadoc's Kirkcaldy
15:00 Stadium: Stark's Park
Haddington Athletic v Abbey Vale
21 November 2020 Haddington Athletic 3–1Abbey ValeHaddington
14:30 Stadium: Millfield Park
Heriot-Watt University v Drumchapel United
21 November 2020 Heriot-Watt University 3–2Drumchapel UnitedEdinburgh
15:00 Stadium: Riccarton Campus
Jeanfield Swifts v Caledonian Braves
21 November 2020 Jeanfield Swifts 3–1Caledonian BravesPerth
13:30 Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Johnstone Burgh v Maryhill
21 November 2020 Johnstone Burgh 2–1MaryhillGlasgow
13:30 Stadium: New Tinto Park
Kennoway Star Hearts v St. Roch's
21 November 2020 Kennoway Star Hearts0–3 St. Roch's Star
13:30 Stadium: Treaton Park
Kilsyth Rangers v Rossvale
21 November 2020 Kilsyth Rangers2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)		 Rossvale Kilsyth
13:30 Stadium: Duncansfield Park
Largs Thistle v Dalbeattie Star
21 November 2020 Largs Thistle 2–1Dalbeattie StarLargs
13:30 Stadium: Barrfields Park
Leith Athletic v Tweedmouth Rangers
21 November 2020 Leith Athletic 3–0Tweedmouth RangersEdinburgh
15:00 Stadium: Peffermill 3G
Lochmaben v Kirkcaldy & Dysart
21 November 2020 Lochmaben3–6 Kirkcaldy & Dysart Lochmaben
13:30 Stadium: Whitehills Park
Newton Stewart v Yoker Athletic
21 November 2020 Newton Stewart1–3 Yoker Athletic Newton Stewart
15:00 Stadium: Blairmount Park
Renfrew v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
21 November 2020 Renfrew 3–0Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticRenfrew
14:00 Stadium: New Western Park
Rosyth v Camelon Juniors
21 November 2020 Rosyth3–5 Camelon Juniors Rosyth
14:30 Stadium: Fleet Grounds
St Anthony's v East Kilbride
21 November 2020 St Anthony's1–3 East Kilbride Glasgow
13:30 Stadium: McKenna Park
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Tynecastle
21 November 2020 St Cuthbert Wanderers0–3 Tynecastle Kirkcudbright
15:00 Stadium: St Mary's Park
Troon v Preston Athletic
21 November 2020 Troon3–4 (a.e.t.) Preston Athletic Troon
13:30 Stadium: Portland Park
Upper Annandale v Berwick Rangers
21 November 2020 Upper Annandale1–4 Berwick Rangers Lockerbie
15:00 Stadium: New King Edward Park
Vale of Leithen v Heston Rovers
21 November 2020 Vale of Leithen 5–1
(Abandoned)		 Heston Rovers Innerleithen
13:30 Stadium: Victoria Park
Whitehill Welfare v Carluke Rovers
21 November 2020 Whitehill Welfare 2–0Carluke RoversRosewell
14:30 Stadium: Ferguson Park
Edinburgh South v Blantyre Victoria
22 November 2020 Edinburgh South4–5 (a.e.t.) Blantyre Victoria Dalkeith
14:30 Stadium: King's Park
Beith Juniors v Clydebank
28 November 2020 Beith Juniors0–3 (a.e.t.) Clydebank Beith
13:30 Stadium: Bellsdale Park
Newmains United v Edinburgh University
30 January 2021 Newmains United v Edinburgh University Newmains
13:30 Stadium: Victoria Park
Replay
Vale of Leithen v Heston Rovers
6 February 2021 Vale of Leithen v Heston Rovers Innerleithen
15:00 Stadium: Victoria Park

Third round

The third round was due to take place on the weekend of Saturday 6 February 2021. The draw for the third round took place on Friday 12 December 2020 and was broadcast live on the Official Catchup YouTube channel.

Due to teams withdrawing in the previous rounds, Gartcairn and Port Glasgow received a bye to the fourth round.[7]

Neilston v Darvel
Neilston v Darvel Neilston
Stadium: Brig O' Lea Stadium

References

  1. ^ a b The Soccer Shop:Direct [@TheSoccerShopD] (September 4, 2020). "What team are you hoping for in the 1st round? You looking for a bye? 😉What ties would be the one you'd just love to see? Let us know! We'd love to hear from fans from all clubs in the cup! 🙌" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ East of Scotland Football League [@EastScotlandFA] (September 3, 2020). "Copied from @SOSFLeague - you guys know about these two teams' absence?" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Scottish FA Board confirms three-week suspension of professional football beneath SPFL Championship | Scottish FA". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  4. ^ "South Region Challenge Cup update!". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  5. ^ "The East of Scotland Football League Season 2020–21 Fixture List" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ a b "The Soccer Shop Challenge Cup round 1 & 2 Draw". Scottish Lowland League. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  7. ^ "The Soccer Shop Challenge Cup 3rd Round draw". East of Scotland Football League. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
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