2016–17_Scottish_Challenge_Cup

2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup

2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup

Football tournament season


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]

Quick Facts Tournament details, Country ...

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

More information Round, Date ...

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.

Matches

2 August 2016 Ross County U20s2–3 (a.e.t.) Brora Rangers Dingwall
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 U20s0–3 Arbroath Inverness
19:45 SPFL report
Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 296
Referee: Alex Shepherd
2 August 2016 East Stirlingshire0–3 Montrose Stenhousemuir
19:45 SPFL report
  • Masson 29'
  • Webster 61'
  • Ferguson 83'
Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 149
Referee: Craig Naiper
2 August 2016 Stirling Albion2–3 Heart of Midlothian U20s Stirling
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 U20s1–2 Turriff United Perth
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 United2–5 Aberdeen U20s Pitmedden
19:45
  • Gauld 81'
  • Rodger 83'
SPFL report
Stadium: North Lodge Park
Attendance: 305
Referee: Graham Beaton
2 August 2016 Cove Rangers 2–1Dundee 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.

Matches

2 August 2016 Clyde0–5 Partick Thistle U20s Cumbernauld
19:30 SPFL report
Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 351
Referee: David Lowe
2 August 2016 Celtic U20s 5–1Annan AthleticGreenock
19:45
SPFL report Omar 1' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 216
Referee: David Dickinson
2 August 2016 Berwick Rangers0–3 Spartans Berwick-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 U20s 2–1Edinburgh CityMotherwell
19:45
SPFL report Cummings 73' Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 402
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
2 August 2016 Queen's Park 5–2Kilmarnock 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 Colts0–3 Hamilton Academical U20s Cumbernauld
20:00 SPFL report
Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 119
Referee: Chris Graham
10 August 2016 Rangers U20s 4–0Stirling 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.

More information Pot A, Pot B ...

Matches

16 August 2016 Aberdeen U20s1–3 Forfar Athletic Pitmedden
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 City 4–1Cove RangersBrechin
19:45
SPFL report Milne 2' Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 242
Referee: Gavin Ross
16 August 2016 Elgin City 2–0Heart of Midlothian U20sElgin
19:45
SPFL report Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 350
Referee: Graham Beaton
16 August 2016 Peterhead 3–2Brora RangersPeterhead
19:45 SPFL report
Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 399
Referee: Mat Northcroft
17 August 2016 Turriff United 1–0MontroseTurriff
19:45 Kieczkowski 59' SPFL report Stadium: The Haughs
Attendance: 180
Referee: Liam Duncan
17 August 2016 Arbroath2–3 (a.e.t.) East Fife Arbroath
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.

More information Pot C, Pot D ...

Matches

16 August 2016 Partick Thistle U20s1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–6 p)
Queen's Park Glasgow
19:30 McMullin 48' SPFL report Carter 88' Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 436
Referee: David Munro
Penalties
  • McCarthy soccer ball with check mark
  • Higgins soccer ball with check mark
  • Penrice soccer ball with check mark
  • Docherty soccer ball with red X
  • McMullin soccer ball with check mark
  • Wilson soccer ball with check mark
  • McCarthy soccer ball with red X
  • soccer ball with check mark Miller
  • soccer ball with check mark Cummins
  • soccer ball with check mark Watt
  • soccer ball with red X Wharton
  • soccer ball with check mark MacPherson
  • soccer ball with check mark Brown
  • soccer ball with check mark Fotheringham
16 August 2016 Stranraer 7–1SpartansStranraer
19:45
SPFL report Malone 86' Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 326
Referee: Craig Napier
16 August 2016 Albion Rovers 2–0Hamilton Academical U20sCoatbridge
19:45
SPFL report Stadium: Exsel Group Stadium
Attendance: 114
Referee: Scott Millar
16 August 2016 Motherwell U20s1–2 Airdrieonians Motherwell
19:45 Mackin 54' SPFL report
Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 1,007
Referee: Mike Taylor
16 August 2016 Cowdenbeath1–2 Celtic U20s Cowdenbeath
19:45 Todorov 30' SPFL report Stadium: Central Park
Attendance: 449
Referee: Steven Kirkland
17 August 2016 Rangers U20s1–3 Stenhousemuir Stirling
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.

More information Pot A, Pot B ...

Matches

3 September 2016 Alloa Athletic 3–0East FifeAlloa
15:00
SPFL report Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 444
Referee: Kevin Graham
3 September 2016 Brechin City1–5 Dunfermline Athletic Brechin
15:00 Love 27' SPFL report
Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 577
Referee: Crawford Allan
3 September 2016 Dundee United 3–2 (a.e.t.)PeterheadDundee
15:00 SPFL report McAllister 28', 35' Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 3,520
Referee: Nick Walsh
3 September 2016 Falkirk 6–1Elgin CityFalkirk
15:00
SPFL report Nicolson 38' Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 1,591
Referee: Mat Northcroft
3 September 2016 Forfar Athletic 3–2Raith RoversForfar
15:00
  • Milne 31'
  • Peters 37', 57'
SPFL report
Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 690
Referee: Alan Newlands
4 September 2016 Turriff United0–3 Hibernian Turriff
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]

More information Pot C, Pot D ...

Matches

3 September 2016 Albion Rovers3–4 (a.e.t.) St Mirren Coatbridge
15:00
SPFL report
Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 711
Referee: Mike Roncone
3 September 2016 Queen of the South 7–1StenhousemuirDumfries
15:00
SPFL report Cook 81' Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,158
Referee: Greg Aitken
3 September 2016 Queen's Park 2–0Greenock MortonGlasgow
15:00
SPFL report Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 1,085
Referee: Gavin Duncan
3 September 2016 Stranraer 1–0DumbartonStranraer
15:00 McGuigan 84' SPFL report Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 401
Referee: John McKendrick
3 September 2016 Livingston 5–1Celtic U20sLivingston
17:15
SPFL report Hendry 43' Stadium: Almondvale
Referee: Steven Kirkland
4 September 2016 Ayr United 3–2 (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.

More information Pot A Welsh Premier League, Pot B NIFL Premiership ...

Matches

7 October 2016 CrusadersVoid[A]LivingstonBelfast, Northern Ireland
19:45 Owens 87' SPFL
Stadium: Seaview
Referee: David Morgan
7 October 2016 Ayr United 1–0 (a.e.t.)FalkirkAyr
19:45 Harkins 114' SPFL Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,247
Referee: Alan Muir
8 October 2016 Bala Town2–4 Alloa Athletic Bala, Wales
13:00
  • Hunt 60' (pen.)
  • S. Jones 73'
SPFL Report
Stadium: Maes Tegid
Attendance: 591
Referee: Steven Taylor
8 October 2016 Stranraer0–1 Dundee United Stranraer
14:00 SPFL Report Andreu 68' Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 629
Referee: Greg Aitken
8 October 2016 Forfar Athletic1–3 The New Saints Forfar
15:00 Malcolm 68' SPFL Report Draper 24', 80', 87' Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 691
Referee: Evan Boyce
8 October 2016 Hibernian1–2 St Mirren Edinburgh
15:00 Harris 37' SPFL Report
Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 4,393
Referee: Willie Collum
8 October 2016 Dunfermline Athletic 2–1Queen'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 South 2–0 (a.e.t.)LinfieldDumfries
13:00
SPFL Report Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 2,358
Referee: Iwan Griffith

Replay

1 November 2016 Crusaders0–3 Livingston Belfast, 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 pleaded 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.

More information Welsh Premier League, SPFL ...

Matches

12 November 2016 Queen of the South 2–0Alloa AthleticDumfries
15:00 Dobbie 41', 76' SPFL report Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,180
Referee: Euan Anderson
13 November 2016 St Mirren 2–1Ayr UnitedPaisley
12:30 Sutton 83', 85' SPFL report O'Connell 68' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 2,199
Referee: Crawford Allan
13 November 2016 Livingston0–3 The New Saints Livingston
16:05 SPFL report
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.

More information Championship, Welsh Premier League ...

Matches

18 February 2017 Queen of the South2–3 Dundee United Dumfries
17:15
SPFL Report
Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,526
Referee: Nick Walsh
19 February 2017 St Mirren 4–1The New SaintsPaisley
16:10
SPFL Report Brobbel 41' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 2,044
Referee: Keith Kennedy

Final

More information Dundee United, 2–1 ...
Attendance: 8,089
Referee: Nick Walsh

Statistics

Top goalscorers

As of matches played on 19 February 2017

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]

More information Round, Player ...

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:


References

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

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