2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup

The 2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the IRN-BRU Cup[1] due to sponsorship reasons, was the 26th season of the competition. The tournament took on a different format from previous seasons with a total of 54 teams participating. It was the first season with two clubs from both Northern Ireland and Wales competing alongside the 30 members of the 2016–17 Scottish Championship, 2016–17 Scottish League One and 2016–17 Scottish League Two, four teams from the 2016–17 Highland Football League and four from the 2016–17 Lowland Football League as well as the Under-20 teams of the teams competing in the 2016–17 Scottish Premiership.[2]

2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup
CountryScotland
Northern Ireland
Wales
Teams54
Defending championsRangers
ChampionsDundee United
Runners-upSt Mirren
Matches played53
Goals scored207 (3.91 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Stephen Dobbie (6 goals)

The defending champions, Rangers, who defeated Peterhead in the 2016 final,[3] did not compete in the competition due to their promotion to the Scottish Premiership.[4] Irn Bru replaced Petrofac as the main sponsor of the competition in June 2016.[1][5]

Format
Round Date[6] Fixtures Clubs New Entries
First round2–3 August 20161454 → 4012 Under-20 teams from 2016–17 Scottish Premiership
8 teams placed 3rd–10th from 2015–16 Scottish League Two
4 teams from 2015–16 Lowland Football League
4 teams from 2015–16 Highland Football League
Second round16–17 August 20161240 → 282 teams placed 1st and 2nd from 2015–16 Scottish League Two
8 teams placed 3rd–10th from 2015–16 Scottish League One
Third round3–4 September 20161228 → 162 teams placed 1st and 2nd from 2015–16 Scottish League One
9 teams from 2015–16 Scottish Championship plus Dundee United
Fourth round8–9 October 2016816 → 82 teams from 2015–16 NIFL Premiership
2 teams from 2015–16 Welsh Premier League
Note: Fourth round draw was regionalised to keep Northern Irish and Welsh teams apart.[2]
Quarter-finals12–13 November 201648 → 4
Semi-finals18–19 February 201724 → 2
Final25 or 26 March 201712 → 1

First round

The draw for the first round was made on 23 June at Hampden Park.[7] The 28 teams entering at this stage were separated into 4 regional pools. This was to ensure that U20s teams were not drawn against each other and that teams from the Highland and Lowland Leagues were not drawn against each other.[7]

North Section

Draw and seeding

Teams from Pool A will be drawn against teams from Pool B. Teams in Bold qualified for the Second round.

Pool A Pool B

Matches
2 August 2016 Ross County U20s2–3 (a.e.t.)Brora RangersDingwall
19:30
  • G. Morrison  52'
  • Wallace  76'
 SPFL report
  • Pollock  33'
  • Mackay  80'
  • Campbell  103'
 Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 350
Referee: Ben Dempster
2 August 2016 Inverness Caledonian Thistle U20s0–3ArbroathInverness
19:45 SPFL report
Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 296
Referee: Alex Shepherd
2 August 2016 East Stirlingshire0–3MontroseStenhousemuir
19:45 SPFL report
  • Masson  29'
  • Webster  61'
  • Ferguson  83'
 Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 149
Referee: Craig Naiper
2 August 2016 Stirling Albion2–3Heart of Midlothian U20sStirling
19:45 McKenzie  4', 34' SPFL report
  • Jones  46'
  • Roy  50'
  • McLean  67'
 Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 476
Referee: Steven Reid
2 August 2016 St Johnstone U20s1–2Turriff UnitedPerth
19:45 G. Hurst  19' SPFL report
  • MacKenzie  51' (o.g.)
  • Booth  86'
 Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 320
Referee: Chris Fordyce
2 August 2016 Formartine United2–5Aberdeen U20sPitmedden
19:45
  • Gauld  81'
  • Rodger  83'
 SPFL report
Stadium: North Lodge Park
Attendance: 305
Referee: Graham Beaton
2 August 2016 Cove Rangers2–1Dundee U20sForfar
19:45
  • Buchan  78'
  • Scully  84'
 SPFL Report Warwick  29' Stadium: Station Park, Forfar
Attendance: 190
Referee: Mike Roncone

South Section

Draw and seeding

Teams from Pool C will be drawn against teams from Pool D. Teams in Bold qualified for the Second round.

Pool C Pool D

Matches
2 August 2016 Clyde0–5Partick Thistle U20sCumbernauld
19:30 SPFL report
Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 351
Referee: David Lowe
2 August 2016 Celtic U20s5–1Annan AthleticGreenock
19:45
SPFL report Omar  1' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 216
Referee: David Dickinson
2 August 2016 Berwick Rangers0–3SpartansBerwick-upon-Tweed
19:45 SPFL Report
  • Maxwell  11'
  • Dishington  45+1'
  • Stevenson  50'
 Stadium: Shielfield Park
Attendance: 302
Referee: Duncan Smith
2 August 2016 Motherwell U20s2–1Edinburgh CityMotherwell
19:45
SPFL report Cummings  73' Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 402
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
2 August 2016 Queen's Park5–2Kilmarnock U20sGlasgow
19:45
  • Brown  2'
  • Wharton  15'
  • McGeever  39'
  • Galt  60'
  • MacPherson  86' (pen.)
 SPFL report
Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 299
Referee: Greg Aitken
3 August 2016 Cumbernauld Colts0–3Hamilton Academical U20sCumbernauld
20:00 SPFL report
Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 119
Referee: Chris Graham
10 August 2016 Rangers U20s4–0Stirling UniversityStirling
19:30
SPFL report Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 493
Referee: Stewart Luke

Second round

The draw for the second round was made at 12:30pm on Thursday, 4 August at Hampden Park and streamed live on Periscope by Irn-Bru's football Twitter account.[8] The 14 teams advancing from the first round were joined by the top two teams from the 2015–16 Scottish League Two and the eight teams placed third to 10th from the 2015–16 Scottish League One.

The second round ties will take place on Tuesday 16 or Wednesday 17 August 2016.[6]

North Section

Draw and seeding

Teams from Pot A will be drawn against teams from Pot B.[9] Teams in Bold advanced to the third round.

Pot A Pot B

Matches
16 August 2016 Aberdeen U20s1–3Forfar AthleticPitmedden
19:45 Omolokun  89' SPFL report
  • Peters  33', 90+3'
  • Smith  54'
 Stadium: North Lodge Park
Attendance: 221
Referee: Mike Roncone
16 August 2016 Brechin City4–1Cove RangersBrechin
19:45
SPFL report Milne  2' Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 242
Referee: Gavin Ross
16 August 2016 Elgin City2–0Heart of Midlothian U20sElgin
19:45
SPFL report Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 350
Referee: Graham Beaton
16 August 2016 Peterhead3–2Brora RangersPeterhead
19:45
SPFL report
Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 399
Referee: Mat Northcroft
17 August 2016 Turriff United1–0MontroseTurriff
19:45 Kieczkowski  59' SPFL report Stadium: The Haughs
Attendance: 180
Referee: Liam Duncan
17 August 2016 Arbroath2–3 (a.e.t.)East FifeArbroath
19:45
SPFL report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 335
Referee: Gavin Duncan

South Section

Draw and seeding

Teams from Pot C will be drawn against teams from Pot D.[9] Teams in Italics were not known at the time of the draw. Teams in Bold advanced to the third round.

Pot C Pot D

Matches
16 August 2016 Partick Thistle U20s1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–6 p)		Queen's ParkGlasgow
19:30 McMullin  48' SPFL report Carter  88' Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 436
Referee: David Munro
Penalties
  • McCarthy
  • Higgins
  • Penrice
  • Docherty
  • McMullin
  • Wilson
  • McCarthy
  • Miller
  • Cummins
  • Watt
  • Wharton
  • MacPherson
  • Brown
  • Fotheringham
16 August 2016 Stranraer7–1SpartansStranraer
19:45
SPFL report Malone  86' Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 326
Referee: Craig Napier
16 August 2016 Albion Rovers2–0Hamilton Academical U20sCoatbridge
19:45
  • R. Dunlop  18'
  • Ferry  55'
 SPFL report Stadium: Exsel Group Stadium
Attendance: 114
Referee: Scott Millar
16 August 2016 Motherwell U20s1–2AirdrieoniansMotherwell
19:45 Mackin  54' SPFL report
Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 1,007
Referee: Mike Taylor
16 August 2016 Cowdenbeath1–2Celtic U20sCowdenbeath
19:45 Todorov  30' SPFL report
Stadium: Central Park
Attendance: 449
Referee: Steven Kirkland
17 August 2016 Rangers U20s1–3StenhousemuirStirling
19:30 Hardie  62' SPFL report
Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 324
Referee: Grant Irvine

Third round

The draw for the third round was made on Thursday 18 August at 1pm at The Kelpies[10] and was streamed live on Periscope by Irn-Bru's football Twitter account.[11] The 12 teams advancing from the second round will be joined by the ten teams from the 2016–17 Scottish Championship and the bottom two teams from the 2015–16 Scottish Championship.

The third round ties took place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September 2016.[6]

North Section

Draw and seeding

Teams from Pot A will be drawn against teams from Pot B.[12] Teams in Bold advanced to the fourth round.

Pot A Pot B

Matches
3 September 2016 Alloa Athletic3–0East FifeAlloa
15:00
SPFL report Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 444
Referee: Kevin Graham
3 September 2016 Brechin City1–5Dunfermline AthleticBrechin
15:00 Love  27' SPFL report
Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 577
Referee: Crawford Allan
3 September 2016 Dundee United3–2 (a.e.t.)PeterheadDundee
15:00
SPFL report McAllister  28', 35' Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 3,520
Referee: Nick Walsh
3 September 2016 Falkirk6–1Elgin CityFalkirk
15:00
SPFL report Nicolson  38' Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 1,591
Referee: Mat Northcroft
3 September 2016 Forfar Athletic3–2Raith RoversForfar
15:00
  • Milne  31'
  • Peters  37', 57'
 SPFL report
Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 690
Referee: Alan Newlands
4 September 2016 Turriff United0–3HibernianTurriff
15:00 SPFL report
Stadium: The Haughs
Attendance: 1,791
Referee: Euan Anderson

South Section

Draw and seeding

Teams from Pot C will be drawn against teams from Pot D. Teams in Bold advanced to the fourth round.[12]

Pot C Pot D

Matches
3 September 2016 Albion Rovers3–4 (a.e.t.)St MirrenCoatbridge
15:00
SPFL report
Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 711
Referee: Mike Roncone
3 September 2016 Queen of the South7–1StenhousemuirDumfries
15:00
SPFL report Cook  81' Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,158
Referee: Greg Aitken
3 September 2016 Queen's Park2–0Greenock MortonGlasgow
15:00
SPFL report Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 1,085
Referee: Gavin Duncan
3 September 2016 Stranraer1–0DumbartonStranraer
15:00 McGuigan  84' SPFL report Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 401
Referee: John McKendrick
3 September 2016 Livingston5–1Celtic U20sLivingston
17:15
SPFL report Hendry  43' Stadium: Almondvale
Referee: Steven Kirkland
4 September 2016 Ayr United3–2 (a.e.t.)AirdrieoniansAyr
15:00
SPFL report
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,135
Referee: Barry Cook

Fourth round

The 12 teams advancing from the third round were to be joined by the four teams that finished first and second in the 2015–16 NIFL Premiership and the 2015–16 Welsh Premier League.

Draw and seeding

The draw for the fourth round was made at the Oriam National Performance Centre, Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 6 September at 12pm.[13] The draw was made by John Hartson and IRN-BRU super fan Michael Douglas. There was no seeding for the draw however, teams for Northern Ireland and Wales could not be drawn against each other. As a result they were placed into two separate pots (A and B) before being drawn against the remaining Scottish teams (Pot C). The Welsh teams were drawn first followed by the Northern Irish teams with one of each playing at home and one away.[14][15]

Teams in Bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

Pot A
Welsh Premier League		 Pot B
NIFL Premiership		 Pot C
SPFL

Matches
7 October 2016 CrusadersVoid[A]LivingstonBelfast, Northern Ireland
19:45 Owens  87' SPFL
Stadium: Seaview
Referee: David Morgan
7 October 2016 Ayr United1–0 (a.e.t.)FalkirkAyr
19:45 Harkins  114' SPFL Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,247
Referee: Alan Muir
8 October 2016 Bala Town2–4Alloa AthleticBala, Wales
13:00
  • Hunt  60' (pen.)
  • S. Jones  73'
 SPFL Report
Stadium: Maes Tegid
Attendance: 591
Referee: Steven Taylor
8 October 2016 Stranraer0–1Dundee UnitedStranraer
14:00 SPFL Report Andreu  68' Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 629
Referee: Greg Aitken
8 October 2016 Forfar Athletic1–3The New SaintsForfar
15:00 Malcolm  68' SPFL Report Draper  24', 80', 87' Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 691
Referee: Evan Boyce
8 October 2016 Hibernian1–2St MirrenEdinburgh
15:00 Harris  37' SPFL Report
Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 4,393
Referee: Willie Collum
8 October 2016 Dunfermline Athletic2–1Queen's ParkDunfermline
15:00 El Alagui  48', 62' SPFL Report El Alagui  70' (o.g.) Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 1,930
Referee: Nick Walsh
9 October 2016 Queen of the South2–0 (a.e.t.)LinfieldDumfries
13:00
SPFL Report Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 2,358
Referee: Iwan Griffith

Replay
1 November 2016 Crusaders0–3LivingstonBelfast, Northern Ireland
19:45 SPFL report
Stadium: Seaview
Referee: Nick Pratt
Notes
  1. ^
    A- Livingston's 2–1 win against Crusaders on Friday, 7 October was ordered to be replayed after Livingston plead guilty to a breach of SPFL rules in the original fixture. The club was fined £4,000 after they played Alan Lithgow for the full 90 minutes. Lithgow was ineligible for the match as he was still under an SFA suspension at the time.[16]

Quarter-finals

Draw

The draw for the quarter-finals was made at the Titan Crane on the River Clyde in Clydebank on Monday, 10 October at 2pm and was streamed live on Periscope by Irn-Bru's football Twitter account. The draw was made by former Dundee United and Scotland striker Kevin Gallacher and Rio 2016 silver medallist Dan Wallace. There was no seeding for the draw however, as with the previous round, teams from Northern Ireland and Wales, should they qualify, would not be drawn against each other. The ties took place on the weekend of 12 and 13 November.[17]

Teams in Bold advanced to the semi-finals.

Welsh Premier League SPFL

Matches
12 November 2016 Dunfermline Athletic0–1Dundee UnitedDunfermline
12:30 SPFL report Durnan  8' Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 2,576
Referee: Willie Collum
12 November 2016 Queen of the South2–0Alloa AthleticDumfries
15:00 Dobbie  41', 76' SPFL report Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,180
Referee: Euan Anderson
13 November 2016 St Mirren2–1Ayr UnitedPaisley
12:30 Sutton  83', 85' SPFL report O'Connell  68' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 2,199
Referee: Crawford Allan
13 November 2016 Livingston0–3The New SaintsLivingston
16:05 SPFL report
  • Parry  36'
  • Saunders  58'
  • Quigley  70'
 Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 733
Referee: Raymond Crangle

Semi-finals

Draw

The draw for the semi-finals was made at the Toryglen Regional Football Centre in Glasgow on Monday, 14 November and streamed live on Periscope by Irn-Bru's football Twitter account. The draw was made by former Manchester City and Scotland striker Paul Dickov and current Scotland and Hibernian striker Abi Harrison. There was no seeding for the draw and the ties are due to take place on the weekend of 18 and 19 February 2017.[18]

Teams in Bold advanced to the final.

Championship Welsh Premier League

Matches
18 February 2017 Queen of the South2–3Dundee UnitedDumfries
17:15
SPFL Report
Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,526
Referee: Nick Walsh
19 February 2017 St Mirren4–1The New SaintsPaisley
16:10
SPFL Report Brobbel  41' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 2,044
Referee: Keith Kennedy

Final
Main article: 2017 Scottish Challenge Cup Final
Dundee United2–1St Mirren
 BBC report Loy  38'
Attendance: 8,089
Referee: Nick Walsh

Statistics

Top goalscorers
As of matches played on 19 February 2017
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Stephen Dobbie Queen of the South 6
2 Josh Peters Forfar Athletic 4
Liam Buchanan Livingston
Craig Malcolm Stranraer
John Sutton St Mirren
6 Scott Wright Aberdeen U20s 3
Ross Dunlop Albion Rovers
Greig Spence Alloa Athletic
Tony Andreu Dundee United
Kevin Nisbet Partick Thistle U20s
Rory McAllister Peterhead
Greg Draper The New Saints
Stevie Mallan St Mirren

Player of the Round

The Golden Ball Award is a 'Player of the Round' award given to the player who is adjudged to have had the best performance of that round out of all the players in teams left competing in that round of the competition.[19] The winner is voted for by supporters from a chosen short-list of players on the official Irn-Bru Football twitter page.[19]

Round Player Club Match Ref
First Round Josh Jeffries Rangers U20s 4–0 v Stirling University (H) [20]
Second Round Craig Malcolm Stranraer 7–1 v Spartans (H) [19]
Third Round Stephen Dobbie Queen of the South 7–1 v Stenhousemuir (H) [21]
Fourth Round Farid El Alagui Dunfermline Athletic 2–1 v Queen's Park (H) [22]
Quarter-finals John Sutton St Mirren 2–1 v Ayr United (H) [23]
Semi-finals Stevie Mallan St Mirren 4–1 v The New Saints (H) [24]

Broadcasting rights

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held jointly by BBC Alba, S4C (for matches involving Welsh teams) and subscription channel Premier Sports. Prior to the re-format in the 2016–17 season, BBC Alba had exclusive rights.[25]

The following matches are to be broadcast live on UK television:

Round BBC Alba S4C Premier Sports
First Round N/A Celtic U20s v Annan Athletic
Second Round N/A Cowdenbeath v Celtic U20s[26]
Third Round Turriff United v Hibernian[27] N/A Livingston v Celtic U20s[27]
Fourth Round Queen of the South v Linfield[28] Bala Town v Alloa Athletic[28] Crusaders v Livingston (original tie)[28]
Quarter-Finals Livingston v The New Saints[29] Livingston v The New Saints[29] Dunfermline Athletic v Dundee United
St Mirren v Ayr United[29]
Semi-Finals Queen of the South v Dundee United[30]
St Mirren v The New Saints[30]		 St Mirren v The New Saints[30]
Final Dundee United v St Mirren[31]

References
  1. "IRN-BRU adds fizz to Challenge Cup". spfl.co.uk. 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  2. "Northern Irish and Welsh sides to join top flight U20s in Challenge Cup". stv.tv/sport. 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  3. English, Tom (10 April 2015). "Rangers 4–0 Peterhead". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  4. Burke, Andy (5 April 2015). "Rangers 1–0 Dumbarton". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  5. Third, Paul (9 June 2016). "Explained: Here is how the new Challenge Cup will work". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  6. "IRN-BRU Cup 2016/17 dates". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  7. "IRN-BRU Cup - First Round Draw". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  8. "IRN-BRU Cup Rd 2 draw on Thursday". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  9. "IRN-BRU FOOTBALL on Twitter". twitter.com/irnbrufootball. Irn-Bru. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  10. "IRN-BRU CUP R3 draw tomorrow". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  11. "IRN-BRU FOOTBALL on Twitter". twitter.com/irnbrufootball. Irn-Bru. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  12. "IRN-BRU Cup R3 draw live today". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  13. "IRN-BRU FOOTBALL on Twitter". twitter.com/irnbrufootball. Irn-Bru. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  14. "IRN-BRU FOOTBALL on Twitter". twitter.com/irnbrufootball. Irn-Bru. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  15. "SPFL on Twitter". twitter.com/spfl. SPFL. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  16. "Livingston charged by SPFL at disciplinary hearing". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  17. "IRN-BRU Cup QF draw on Monday". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  18. "IRN-BRU Cup semi-final draw". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  19. "Malcolm voted Player of the Round". SPFL. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  20. "Jeffries voted Player of the Round". SPFL. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  21. "Dobbie nets Golden Balls award". SPFL. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  22. "Golden Balls award for El Alagui". SPFL. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  23. "Sutton lands Golden Balls award". SPFL. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  24. "Magic Mallan is IRN-BRU golden boy!". SPFL. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  25. "Challenge Cup expansion announced". Scottish Professional Football League. 8 June 2016.
  26. "Cowdenbeath v Celtic Under 20's". Cowdenbeath FC. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  27. "IRN-BRU Cup R3 Fixtures Confirmed". Scottish Professional Football League. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  28. "Live TV games for IRN-BRU Cup R4". Scottish Professional Football League. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  29. "IRN-BRU CUP quarter-final details". Scottish Professional Football League. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  30. "IRN-BRU Cup semi-final details". Scottish Professional Football League. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  31. "Fir Park to host IRN-BRU Cup Final". Scottish Professional Football League. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
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