2021–22 South Challenge Cup

2021–22 South Challenge Cup

SFA South Region Challenge Cup
Country	Scotland  England (2 teams)
Dates	11 September 2021 – 22 May 2022
Teams	161
Defending champions	Dunipace
Matches played	112
Goals scored	552 (4.93 per match)
← 2020–21 2022–23 → All statistics correct as of 20 November 2021.

The 2021–22 SFA South Region Challenge Cup is the 15th 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 142 to a record 161 teams thanks to additional clubs joining the East of Scotland Football League and West of Scotland Football League.

The defending champions are Dunipace, who beat Broomhill 3–1 in the delayed final of the 2019–20 edition on 15 August 2021. However they went out of the competition in the second round, losing 2–1 to Sauchie Juniors.

Format[]

The South Challenge Cup features 161 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (58), South of Scotland Football League (12), and West of Scotland Football League (75).The reserve teams of Stirling University, Caledonian Braves, and Stranraer, as well as Celtic B and Rangers B, do not take part. Heston Rovers and Westerton United withdrew from the competition and their respective leagues after the initial draw was made.

For the first time since 2015–16, the first and second rounds are regionalised, with north-east, south-east, south-west, and north-west sections each containing 40 or 41 clubs.^[1]

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

Calendar[]

Round	Main date[2]	Fixtures	Clubs
First Round	11 September 2021[3]	33	161 → 128
Second Round	16 October 2021[3]	64	128 → 64
Third Round	20 November 2021	32	64 → 32
Fourth Round	5 February 2022	16	32 → 16
Fifth Round	5 March 2022	8	16 → 8
Quarter-Finals	2 April 2022	4	8 → 4
Semi-Finals	30 April 2022	2	4 → 2
Final	22 May 2022	1	2 → 1

First round[]

The draw for the regionalised first and second rounds took place on Friday 4 June 2021.^[1][3] Each zone features 8 fixtures in the first round with 24 clubs receiving a bye to the second round (except the South-East zone featuring 9 matches and 23 byes). Preston Athletic, Syngenta, and Tranent Juniors progressed to the second round after their opponents were unable to field a team.

North-East zone[]

South-East zone[]

South-West zone[]

North-West zone[]

Second round[]

The second round will take place on the weekend of 16 October 2021, with 16 fixtures in each zone. Lugar Boswell Thistle and Renfrew received a bye to the third round after their opponents withdrew from the competition after the draw was made.

North-East zone[]

South-East zone[]

South-West zone[]

Replay[]

North-West zone[]

Third round[]

The third round took place on the weekend of 20 November 2021, reverting to an open draw with 32 fixtures to be played. The draw took place on 21 October 2021.^[4]

Fourth round[]

The fourth round will take place on the weekend of 5 February 2022. The draw took place on 20 December 2021 and was broadcast live on the Official Catchup YouTube channel.

Draw[]

Lowland League	East of Scotland League	West of Scotland League
Bo'ness United Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Caledonian Braves Civil Service Strollers Cumbernauld Colts East Kilbride The Spartans University of Stirling	Premier Division Dundonald Bluebell Jeanfield Swifts Linlithgow Rose Sauchie Juniors Tranent Juniors Conference X Bo'ness Athletic Syngenta	Darvel or Cambuslang Rangers Premier Division Auchinleck Talbot Beith Juniors Blantyre Victoria Clydebank Cumbernauld United Hurlford United Irvine Meadow XI Pollok Troon Tier 7 Conferences Arthurlie Drumchapel United Maybole Juniors Petershill Renfrew Thorniewood United Vale of Leven

Matches[]

References[]