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2024–25 South Challenge Cup

{{Infobox football tournament season

|title=South Challenge Cup

|year=2024–25

|other_titles=SFA South Region Challenge Cup

|image=

|image_size=

|caption=

|country=Scotland
England (2 teams)

|num_teams=163

|defending_champions=East Kilbride

|winners=East Kilbride

|second=Auchinleck Talbot

|dates={{nowrap|17 August 2024 – 30 March 2025}}

|matches=152

|goals=641

|attendance=

|scoring_leader=

|prev_season=2023–24

|next_season=2025–26

|updated=6 April 2025

}}

The 2024–25 SFA South Region Challenge Cup (known as the FinestCarMats.co.uk South Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons){{Cite tweet |number=1823665180418433031 |user=SouthChallenge |title=The #CarMatKings South Challenge Cup gets underway this weekend with our first non regionalised first round.}} was the 18th edition of the annual knockout cup competition for senior non-league football clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. For a third season in a row, the tournament entry was a joint record 163 teams.

The defending champions were four-time winners East Kilbride. They successfully retained their title for the first time with a 2–0 win over Auchinleck Talbot in the final as part of a non-league treble, after also winning the Lowland League and Lowland League Cup.

Format

The South Challenge Cup featured 163 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (57), South of Scotland Football League (11), and West of Scotland Football League (79). The reserve teams of Stirling University and Stranraer, as well as Celtic B and Heart of Midlothian B, do not take part. Carluke Rovers were debarred due to a previous breach of rules.

In a change to previous seasons there is was regionalisation and it was an all-in draw from the first round.{{Cite tweet |number=1805606636125290561 |user=SouthChallenge |title=🚨Announcement🚨}} The draws were unseeded, with matches proceeding to extra time and penalties if they were tied after 90 minutes.

Calendar

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Round

!Main date{{cite web |title=The Scottish Lowland Football League Season 2024-25 Fixture List |url=https://slfl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Scottish-Lowland-Football-League-Season-2024-25-Fixture-List.pdf |access-date=14 August 2024}}

!Fixtures

! style="width:100px" |Clubs

First Round

|17 August 2024

|35

|163 → 128

Second Round

|14 September 2024

|64

|128 → 64

Third Round

|12 October 2024

|32

|64 → 32

Fourth Round

|16 November 2024

|16

|32 → 16

Fifth Round

|21 December 2024

|8

|16 → 8

Quarter-Finals

|1 February 2025

|4

|8 → 4

Semi-Finals

|1 March 2025

|2

|4 → 2

Final

|30 March 2025

|1

|2 → 1

First round

The first round draw was published on 11 July 2024.{{Cite tweet |number=1811492911839838553 |user=SouthChallenge |title=First Round Draw}}{{cite web |title=South Challenge Cup 24-25 |url=https://scottishfootballfixtures.wordpress.com/national-cups-play-offs-24-25-2/south-challenge-cup-24-25/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |website=Scottish Football Fixtures}}

cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" border="0"

| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"

! width="195" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="195" |Away team

colspan="3" |17 August 2024
align="right" |Ardeer Thistle

| align="center" |0–4

|Clydebank

align="right" |Ardrossan Winton Rovers

| align="center" |3–4 aet

|Broxburn Athletic

align="right" |Auchinleck Talbot

| align="center" |1–0

|Hutchison Vale

align="right" |Benburb

| align="center" |2–0

|Yoker Athletic

align="right" |Blantyre Victoria

| align="center" |2–2 aet

(2–4 pen)

|Lochgelly Albert

align="right" |Broomhill

| align="center" |0–1

|Thornton Hibs

align="right" |BSC Glasgow

| align="center" |4–3 aet

|St Peter's

align="right" |Burntisland Shipyard

| align="center" |1–6

|Glenrothes

align="right" |Caledonian Locomotives

| align="center" |2–2 aet

(5–4 pen)

|Lochmaben

align="right" |Cambuslang Rangers

| align="center" |2–3

|Vale of Leven

align="right" |Creetown

| align="center" |2–1

|Tynecastle

align="right" |Cumbernauld Colts

| align="center" |4–3

|Linlithgow Rose

align="right" |Dalbeattie Star

| align="center" |1–2

|Blackburn United

align="right" |Dundonald Bluebell

| align="center" |0–4

|Troon

align="right" |Edinburgh Community

| align="center" |2–3

|Newton Stewart

align="right" |Edinburgh South

| align="center" |2–3{{efn-ua|Venue reversed after original draw.|name=Reversed}}

|Bellshill Athletic

align="right" |Fauldhouse United

| align="center" |0–8

|Albion Rovers

| valign="top" |

class="wikitable"

! width="180" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="180" align="left" |Away team

align="right" |Glasgow Perthshire

| align="center" |2–3

|Drumchapel United

align="right" |Glasgow United

| align="center" |5–3

|University of Stirling

align="right" |Greenock Juniors

| align="center" |3–1

|Glenvale

align="right" |Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

| align="center" |2–3

|Lesmahagow

align="right" |Kilsyth Rangers

| align="center" |1–2

|Hurlford United

align="right" |Kinnoull

| align="center" |1–2

|Newburgh

align="right" |Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

| align="center" |2–0

|Mid Annandale

align="right" |Lanark United

| align="center" |3–2

|Whitburn

align="right" |Lochar Thistle

| align="center" |3–4

|East Stirlingshire

align="right" |Luncarty

| align="center" |2–5

|Kilbirnie Ladeside

align="right" |Maybole Juniors

| align="center" |0–1

|Caledonian Braves

align="right" |Petershill

| align="center" |1–4

|Darvel

align="right" |Pumpherston

| align="center" |0–5

|Irvine Victoria

align="right" |Shotts Bon Accord

| align="center" |2–1 aet

|Rutherglen Glencairn

align="right" |St Andrews United

| align="center" |w/o

|Gartcairn

align="right" |Vale of Clyde

| align="center" |5–1 aet

|Stoneyburn

align="right" |Whitehill Welfare

| align="center" |2–0

|Kennoway Star Hearts

align="right" |Wishaw

| align="center" |0–0 aet

(4–1 pen)

|Oakley United

|}

{{notelist-ua}}

Second Round

The second round draw was published on 11 July 2024.{{Cite tweet |number=1811488795696525531 |user=SouthChallenge |title=Second Round Draw}} Remaining in the competition were 128 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (13), East of Scotland Football League (42), South of Scotland Football League (7), and West of Scotland Football League (66).

cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" border="0"

| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"

! width="195" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="195" |Away team

colspan="3" |14 September 2024
align="right" |Abbey Vale

| align="center" |0–3

|Dalkeith Thistle

align="right" |Albion Rovers

| align="center" |2–1 aet

|Dunipace

align="right" |Arniston Rangers

| align="center" |2–0

|Cumbernauld Colts

align="right" |Arthurlie

| align="center" |3–0

|Easterhouse FA

align="right" |Bathgate Thistle

| align="center" |0–1

|Girvan

align="right" |Beith Juniors

| align="center" |4–1

|Armadale Thistle

align="right" |Berwick Rangers

| align="center" |2–1

|Heriot-Watt University

align="right" |Bo'ness Athletic

| align="center" |1–4

|Auchinleck Talbot

align="right" |BSC Glasgow

| align="center" |0–5

|Lesmahgow

align="right" |Campbeltown Pupils

| align="center" |0–6

|Linton Hotspur

align="right" |Clydebank

| align="center" |7–1

|Caledonian Locomotives

align="right" |Coldstream

| align="center" |0–1

|Blackburn United

align="right" |Cumbernauld United

| align="center" |7–1

|Tweedmouth Rangers

align="right" |Cumnock Juniors

| align="center" |3–1

|Lanark United

align="right" |Darvel

| align="center" |3–2 aet

|Whitletts Victoria

align="right" |Drumchapel United

| align="center" |1–0 aet

|Johnstone Burgh

align="right" |Easthouses Lily

| align="center" |2–3

|St Roch's

align="right" |East Kilbride

| align="center" |2–1

|Tranent

align="right" |East Kilbride Thistle

| align="center" |1–5

|Kilbirnie Ladeside

align="right" |Edinburgh College

| align="center" |4–1

|Creetown

align="right" |Edinburgh United

| align="center" |1–3

|Glasgow United

align="right" |Eglinton

| align="center" |5–0

|Bonnyton Thistle

align="right" |Finnart

| align="center" |1–6{{efn-ua|Venue reversed after original draw.|name=Reversed}}

|Pollok

align="right" |Gala Fairydean Rovers

| align="center" |4–2

|Camelon Juniors

align="right" |Glenafton Athletic

| align="center" |0–2

|Dalry Thistle

align="right" |Glenrothes

| align="center" |0–1

|Forth Wanderers

align="right" |Greenock Juniors

| align="center" |2–0

|Thorniewood United

align="right" |Gretna 2008

| align="center" |4–1

|Newton Stewart

align="right" |Haddington Athletic

| align="center" |1–2

|Kilsyth Athletic

align="right" |Harthill Royal

| align="center" |1–3

|Knightswood

align="right" |Hill of Beath Hawthorn

| align="center" |3–0

|Edinburgh University

align="right" |Hurlford United

| align="center" |3–1

|Penicuik Athletic

align="right" |Jeanfield Swifts

| align="center" |4–1

|Glasgow University

| valign="top" |

class="wikitable"

! width="180" align="right" |Home team

! width="75" align="center" |Score

! width="180" align="left" |Away team

align="right" |Kello Rovers

| align="center" |1–2

|Sauchie Juniors

align="right" |Kilwinning Rangers

| align="center" |3–2 aet

|Muirkirk Juniors

align="right" |Largs Thistle

| align="center" |7–0

|Bellshill Athletic

align="right" |Larkhall Thistle

| align="center" |4–0

|Thornton Hibs

align="right" |Livingston United

| align="center" |0–3

|Bo’ness United

align="right" |Lochore Welfare

| align="center" |2–1

|Ashfield

align="right" |Lugar Boswell Thistle

| align="center" |6–1

|Craigmark Burntonians

align="right" |Maryhill

| align="center" |3–1

|Lochgelly Albert

align="right" |Neilston

| align="center" |4–3

|Peebles Rovers

align="right" |Newburgh

| align="center" |2–3

|Civil Service Strollers

align="right" |Newmains United

| align="center" |2–2 aet

(7–6 pen)

|Leith Athletic

align="right" |Newtongrange Star

| align="center" |2–1

|Hawick Royal Albert

align="right" |Nithsdale Wanderers

| align="center" |2–10

|Broxburn Athletic

align="right" |Ormiston Primrose

| align="center" |1–4

|Cowdenbeath

align="right" |Port Glasgow Juniors

| align="center" |4–3

|West Park United

align="right" |Renfrew

| align="center" |8–0

|St Cuthbert Wanderers

align="right" |Rossvale

| align="center" |0–2{{efn-ua|Venue reversed after original draw.|name=Reversed}}

|Caledonian Braves

align="right" |Royal Albert

| align="center" |1–2

|Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

align="right" |Saltcoats Victoria

| align="center" |0–2

|Musselburgh Athletic

align="right" |Shotts Bon Accord

| align="center" |1–0

|Giffnock SC

align="right" |St Cadoc's

| align="center" |7–0

|Irvine Victoria

align="right" |Thorn Athletic

| align="center" |3–2

|Crossgates Primrose

align="right" |Threave Rovers

| align="center" |4–2

|Benburb

align="right" |Troon

| align="center" |1–0

|Dunbar United

align="right" |Upper Annandale

| align="center" |1–2 aet

|St Andrews United

align="right" |Vale of Clyde

| align="center" |2–1 aet

|Wishaw

align="right" |Vale of Leithen

| align="center" |0–3

|Preston Athletic

align="right" |Vale of Leven

| align="center" |4–4 aet

(1–3 pen)

|Kirkcaldy & Dysart

align="right" |West Calder United

| align="center" |1–2

|East Stirlingshire

align="right" |Whitehill Welfare

| align="center" |2–2 aet

(10–9 pen)

|St Anthony's

align="right" |Wigtown & Bladnoch

| align="center" |0–10

|Irvine Meadow XI

|}

Third round

The third round draw was published on 26 September 2024.{{Cite tweet |number=1839377211440378053 |user=SouthChallenge |title=Check out the CarMatKings South Region Challenge Cup third round draw}} Remaining in the competition were 64 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (11), East of Scotland Football League (15), and West of Scotland Football League (38).

cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" border="0"

| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"

! width="195" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="195" |Away team

colspan="3" |11 October 2024
align="right" |St Cadoc's

| align="center" |3–0

|Cowdenbeath

colspan="3" |12 October 2024
align="right" |Auchinleck Talbot

| align="center" |3–0

|Jeanfield Swifts

align="right" |Berwick Rangers

| align="center" |0–3

|Threave Rovers

align="right" |Blackburn United

| align="center" |3–1

|Knightswood

align="right" |Caledonian Braves

| align="center" |3–0

|Arniston Rangers

align="right" |Clydebank

| align="center" |5–1

|Dalkeith Thistle

align="right" |Cumbernauld United

| align="center" |8–0

|Maryhill

align="right" |Cumnock Juniors

| align="center" |2–1

|Lochore Welfare

align="right" |Dalry Thistle

| align="center" |0–3

|Civil Service Strollers

align="right" |Edinburgh College

| align="center" |2–3

|Arthurlie

align="right" |Eglinton

| align="center" |0–1

|Bo'ness United

align="right" |Gala Fairydean Rovers

| align="center" |0–1

|Irvine Meadow XI

align="right" |Glasgow United

| align="center" |6–5 aet

|Forth Wanderers

align="right" |Gretna 2008

| align="center" |3–1

|Lesmahagow Juniors

align="right" |Kirktintilloch Rob Roy

| align="center" |2–1

|Whitehill Welfare

align="right" |Larkhall Thistle

| align="center" |2–2 aet

(5–4 pen)

|Beith Juniors

align="right" |Linton Hotspur

| align="center" |1–2 aet

|Hill of Beath Hawthorn

| valign="top" |

class="wikitable"

! width="180" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="180" align="left" |Away team

align="right" |Lugar Boswell Thistle

| align="center" |2–4

|Hurlford United

align="right" |Musselburgh Athletic

| align="center" |2–0 aet

|Kirkcaldy & Dysart

align="right" |Neilston

| align="center" |2–3

|East Stirlingshire

align="right" |Newtongrange Star

| align="center" |0–3

|Drumchapel United

align="right" |Pollok

| align="center" |3–3 aet

(4–2 pen)

|Darvel

align="right" |Port Glasgow Juniors

| align="center" |4–6

|Kilsyth Athletic

align="right" |Preston Athletic

| align="center" |3–2

|Girvan

align="right" |Sauchie Juniors

| align="center" |0–2

|Kilwinning Rangers

align="right" |St Andrews United

| align="center" |4–2

|Kilbirnie Ladeside

align="right" |St Roch's

| align="center" |1–3

|Troon

align="right" |Thorn Athletic

| align="center" |1–3

|Broxburn Athletic

align="right" |Vale of Clyde

| align="center" |2–0

|Renfrew

colspan="3" |29 October 2024
align="right" |East Kilbride

| align="center" |1–0

|Largs Thistle

colspan="3" |16 November 2024
align="right" |Shotts Bon Accord

| align="center" |0–0 aet

(5–3 pen)

|Albion Rovers

colspan="3" |30 November 2024
align="right" |Newmains United

| align="center" |0–6

|Greenock Juniors

|}

Fourth round

The fourth round draw was published on 17 October 2024.{{Cite tweet |number=1839377211440378053 |user=SouthChallenge |title=The Fourth Round Draw for the FinestCarMats.co.uk South Challenge Cup.}} Remaining in the competition were 32 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (7), East of Scotland Football League (5), and West of Scotland Football League (20).

cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" border="0"

| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"

! width="195" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="195" |Away team

colspan="3" |16 November 2024
align="right" |Auchinleck Talbot

| align="center" | 1–0

|Cumbernauld United

align="right" |Blackburn United

| align="center" | 0–7

|East Kilbride

align="right" |Bo’ness United

| align="center" | 3–4 aet

|Musselburgh Athletic

align="right" |Broxburn Athletic

| align="center" | 0–4

|Clydebank

align="right" |Civil Service Strollers

| align="center" | 3–1

|Irvine Meadow XI

align="right" |Cumnock Juniors

| align="center" | 1–1 aet

(4–2 pen)

|Drumchapel United

align="right" |East Stirlingshire

| align="center" | 0–3

|Pollok

align="right" |Kilsyth Athletic

| align="center" | 2–5

|Glasgow United

align="right" |Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

| align="center" | 5–2

|Preston Athletic

align="right" |Larkhall Thistle

| align="center" | 2–0

|Threave Rovers

align="right" |St Andrews United

| align="center" | 5–3 aet

|Hurlford United

align="right" |St Cadoc’s

| align="center" | 2–3

|Gretna 2008

align="right" |Troon

| align="center" | 1–2

|Arthurlie

align="right" |Vale of Clyde

| align="center" | 3–2

|Caledonian Braves

colspan="3" |30 November 2024
align="right" |Shotts Bon Accord

| align="center" | 3–2

|Kilwinning Rangers

colspan="3" |21 December 2024
align="right" |Hill of Beath Hawthorn

| align="center" | 4–0

|Greenock Juniors

|}

Fifth round

The fourth round draw was published on 21 November 2024.{{Cite tweet |number=1859676906821447962|user=SouthChallenge |title=Your http://FinestCarMats.co.uk South Challenge Cup 5th Round draw.}} Remaining in the competition were 16 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (3), East of Scotland Football League (3), and West of Scotland Football League (10).

cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" border="0"

| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"

! width="195" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="195" |Away team

colspan="3" |21 December 2024
align="right" |Auchinleck Talbot

| align="center" | 4–0

|Larkhall Thistle

align="right" |Civil Service Strollers

| align="center" | 3–0

|Shotts Bon Accord

align="right" |Cumnock Juniors

| align="center" | 3–0

|St Andrews United

align="right" |Pollok

| align="center" | 1–3 aet

|East Kilbride

align="right" |Musselburgh Athletic

| align="center" | 4–1

|Vale of Clyde

colspan="3" |1 February 2025
align="right" |Arthurlie

| align="center" | 2–1

|Clydebank

align="right" |Glasgow United

| align="center" | 1–2

|Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

align="right" |Gretna 2008

| align="center" | 1–3

|Hill of Beath Hawthorn

|}

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals was published on 9 January 2025.{{Cite tweet |number=1877432653965836576|user=SouthChallenge |title=Your http://FinestCarMats.co.uk Quarter and Semi Final Draws.}} Remaining in the competition were 8 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (2), East of Scotland Football League (2), and West of Scotland Football League (4).

cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" border="0"

| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"

! width="195" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="195" |Away team

colspan="3" |1 February 2025
align="right" |East Kilbride

| align="center" | 1–1 aet

(5–4 pen)

|Cumnock Juniors

colspan="3" |1 March 2025
align="right" |Arthurlie

| align="center" | 0–1

|Musselburgh Athletic

align="right" |Auchinleck Talbot

| align="center" | 2–0

|Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

align="right" |Hill of Beath Hawthorn

| align="center" | 2–1

|Civil Service Strollers

|}

Semi-finals

Remaining in the competition were 4 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (1), East of Scotland Football League (2), and West of Scotland Football League (1).

cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" border="0"

| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"

! width="195" align="right" |Home team

! width="65" align="center" |Score

! width="195" |Away team

colspan="3" |15 March 2025
align="right" |East Kilbride

| align="center" |4–2

|Musselburgh Athletic

colspan="3" |22 March 2025
align="right" |Auchinleck Talbot

| align="center" |1–1 aet

(4–2 pen)

|Hill of Beath Hawthorn

|}

Final

{{Football box

|date=6 April 2025

|time=14:00

|team1=East Kilbride

|score=2–0

|report=

|team2=Auchinleck Talbot

|goals1=

  • Balde {{goal|13}}
  • Elliot {{goal|55|pen.}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Broadwood Stadium

|location=Cumbernauld

|attendance=

|referee=Lewis Hogarth

}}

style="background:none; width:92%;"
{{Football kit

| pattern_la =

| pattern_b =

| pattern_ra =

| pattern_sh =

| pattern_so =

| leftarm = 000080

| body = 000080

| rightarm = 000080

| shorts = 000080

| socks = 000080

}}

|{{Football kit

| pattern_la = _kappacastolo19a

| pattern_b = _kappacastolo19a

| pattern_ra = _kappacastolo19a

| leftarm = 0000FF

| body = 0000FF

| rightarm = 0000FF

| shorts = 0000FF

| socks = 0080ff

| pattern_sh = _kappacurchet1a

}}

Notes

{{notelist-ua}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{2024–25 in Scottish football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2024-25 South Challenge Cup}}

South

Category:South Challenge Cup seasons