FairWeatherFan Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 (edited) Since it's the one guaranteed cup competition for the WoSFL just now, I thought it would be good to highlight the scale of the competition going into 2020-21. Its the main competition for the Lowland League area pyramid leagues: Lowland Football League, East of Scotland Football League, South of Scotland Football League and now the West of Scotland Football League. The way things stand there could be as many as 144 clubs entering next season's competition. Based on current standings you've got the following teams: Lowland Football League Berwick Rangers Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic BSC Glasgow Caledonian Braves Civil Service Strollers Cumbernauld Colts Dalbeattie Star East Kilbride East Stirlingshire Edinburgh University Gala Fairydean Rovers Gretna 2008 Kelty Hearts The Spartans Stirling University Vale of Leithen East of Scotland Football League Premier Division: Blackburn United Bo'ness United Broxburn Athletic Camelon Juniors Crossgates Primrose Dunbar United Dundonald Bluebell Hill of Beath Hawthorn Jeanfield Swifts Linlithgow Rose Musselburgh Athletic Newtongrange Star Penicuik Athletic Sauchie Juniors Tranent Juniors Whitehill Welfare First Division: Arniston Rangers Burntisland Shipyard Coldstream Craigroyston Dalkeith Thistle Dunipace Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare Edinburgh United Glenrothes Haddington Athletic Hawick Royal Albert United Heriot-Watt University Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts Kinnoull Leith Athletic Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale Oakley United Ormiston Peebles Rovers Preston Athletic St Andrews United Tweedmouth Rangers Tynecastle South of Scotland Football League Abbey Vale Creetown Heston Rovers Lochar Thistle Lochmaben Mid-Annandale Newton Stewart Nithsdale Wanderers St Cuthbert Wanderers Threave Rovers Upper Annandale Wigtown & Bladnoch West of Scotland Football League Annbank United Ardeer Thistle Ardrossan Winton Rovers Arthurlie Ashfield Auchinleck Talbot Beith Juniors Bellshill Athletic Benburb Blantyre Victoria Bonnyton Thistle Cambuslang Rangers Carluke Rovers Clydebank Craigmark Burntonians Cumbernauld United Cumnock Juniors Dalry Thistle Darvel Drumchapel United East Kilbride Thistle Forth Wanderers Gartcairn Juniors Girvan Glasgow Perthshire Glasgow University Glenafton Athletic Greenock Juniors Hurlford United Irvine Meadow XI Irvine Victoria Johnstone Burgh Kello Rovers Kilbirnie Ladeside Kilsyth Rangers Kilwinning Rangers Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Lanark United Largs Thistle Larkhall Thistle Lesmahagow Lugar Boswell Thistle Maryhill Maybole Muirkirk Neilston Juniors Newmains United Petershill Pollok Port Glasgow Renfrew Rossvale Royal Albert Rutherglen Glencairn Saltcoats Victoria Shettleston Shotts Bon Accord St Anthony's St Cadocs YC St Roch's Thorniewood United Troon Vale of Clyde Vale of Leven Whitletts Victoria Wishaw Yoker Athletic Known Applicants/Returns Edinburgh South Eyemouth United Kennoway Star Hearts Kirkcaldy & Dysart Lochgelly Albert Lochore Welfare Luncarty Newburgh Rosyth Thornton Hibs EDIT: Ended up being 142 entrants in the 2020-21 South Region Challenge Cup. Two clubs missed out due to breaches in the 2019-20 edition: Arniston Rangers (scratched) and Cumbernauld Colts (ineligible player). First Round due to be played 24th October 2020 Second Round due to be played 21st November 2020 First Round Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic vs Newtongrange Star Broxburn Athletic vs Creetown Carluke Rovers vs Kilbirnie Ladeside Dunbar United vs Drumchapel United Eastouses Lily vs Larkhall Thistle Irvine Victoria vs St Anthony’s Jeanfield Swifts vs Lochgelly Albert Maybole vs Vale of Leven Pollok vs Tranent Sauchie vs Kilwinning Rangers Spartans vs Kinnoull Thornton Hibs vs Rutherglen Glencairn Threave Rovers vs Ormiston Vale of Clyde vs East Kilbride Thistle Second Round Annbank United vs Maybole OR Vale of Leven Ardeer Thistle vs Pollok OR Tranent Ardrossan Winton Rovers vs University of Stirling Beith vs Clydebank Bellshill Athletic vs Cumbernauld United Blackburn United vs Newburgh Bo'ness United vs Burntisland Shipyard Broxburn OR Creetown vs Irvine Meadow Cambuslang Rangers vs Girvan Coldstream vs Crossgates Primrose Craigmark Burntonians vs Bonnyton Thistle Cumnock vs Wishaw Dalkeith Thistle vs BSC Glasgow Darvel vs Easthouses Lily OR Larkhall Dundonald Bluebell vs Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Dunipace vs Mid Annandale East Stirlingshire vs Spartans OR Kinnoull Edinburgh South vs Blantyre Victoria Edinburgh United vs Arthurlie Eyemouth United vs Muirkirk Forth Wanderers vs Threave Rovers OR Ormiston Gala Fairydean Rovers vs Sauchie OR Kilwinning Rangers Gartcairn vs Inverkeithing Hilfield Swifts Glasgow Perthshire vs Petershill Glasgow University vs Hill of Beath Hawthorn Glenafton Athletic vs Neilston Glenrothes vs St Cadocs Greenock vs Vale of Clyde OR East Kilbride Thistle Gretna 2008 vs Penicuik Athletic Haddington Athletic vs Abbey Vale Heriot-Watt University vs Dunbar United OR Drumchapel United Hurlford United vs Civil Service Strollers Irvine Victoria OR St Anthony’s vs East Kilbride Jeanfield Swifts OR Lochgelly vs Caledonian Braves Johnstone Burgh vs Maryhill Kelty Hearts vs Auchinleck Talbot Kennoway Star Hearts vs St Roch’s Kilsyth Rangers vs Rossvale Lanark United vs Ashfield Largs Thistle vs Dalbeattie Star Leith Athletic vs Tweedmouth Rangers Lesmahagow vs Port Glasgow Linlithgow Rose vs Kello Rovers Lochmaben vs Kirkcaldy & Dysart Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale vs Dalry Thistle Lugar Boswell Thistle vs Lochar Thistle Luncarty vs Whitletts Victoria Musselburgh Athletic vs Benburb Newmains United vs Edinburgh University Newton Stewart vs Yoker Athletic Peebles Rovers vs Oakley United Renfrew vs Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic OR Newtongrange Star Rosyth vs Camelon Royal Albert vs Wigtown & Bladnoch Saltcoats Victoria vs Lochore Welfare Shettleston vs Shotts Bon Accord St Andrews United vs Hawick Royal Albert United St Cuthbert Wanderers vs Tynecastle Thorniewood United vs Craigroyston Thornton Hibs OR Rutherglen Glencairn vs Nithsdale Wanderers Troon vs Preston Athletic Upper Annandale vs Berwick Rangers Vale of Leithen vs Heston Rovers Whitehill Welfare vs Carluke Rovers OR Kilbirnie Ladeside Edited September 5, 2020 by FairWeatherFan bonnyton 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Macguire Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 That would be some size of competition. 8 rounds including the final by my count. They would also need to play the first 3 rounds before introducing the 16 lowland league teams at the 4th round stage as well. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted April 15, 2020 Author Share Posted April 15, 2020 2 minutes ago, Jerry Macguire said: They would also need to play the first 3 rounds before introducing the 16 lowland league teams at the 4th round stage as well. Why would they need to do that since its an open draw? It's also had 7 rounds the last couple of years and its not like LL has skipped the first couple of rounds in that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Macguire Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 38 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said: Why would they need to do that since its an open draw? It's also had 7 rounds the last couple of years and its not like LL has skipped the first couple of rounds in that. 144 doesn't work. 1st round 144, 2nd 72, 3rd 36, 4th 18, 5th 9, 6th 4.5? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginaro Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 I think it would make sense to exclude the LL from what would be the preliminary round next season, they're already playing an extra round and it avoids the situation of a club sitting idle, like BSC did this season when only one LL club was in the first round. 1 minute ago, Jerry Macguire said: 144 doesn't work. 1st round 144, 2nd 72, 3rd 36, 4th 18, 5th 9, 6th 4.5? Preliminary round: 32 fixtures, 144->128; First round 128->64 etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Macguire Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 1 minute ago, Ginaro said: I think it would make sense to exclude the LL from what would be the preliminary round next season, they're already playing an extra round and it avoids the situation of a club sitting idle, like BSC did this season when only one LL club was in the first round. Preliminary round: 32 fixtures, 144->128; First round 128->64 etc. Yeah that would work also. How do select the 32 though? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted April 15, 2020 Author Share Posted April 15, 2020 Just now, Jerry Macguire said: Yeah that would work also. How do select the 32 though? At the moment its a random draw. This year 58 clubs got a bye with 12 teams playing in the First Round to take the Second Round to 64 teams. Due to the numbers that would get a bye in a 144 draw, I would say anyone that's a SFA member or qualified for the Scottish Cup get a guaranteed bye in the First Round. With the rest of the byes being drawn at random. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Macguire Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 7 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said: At the moment its a random draw. This year 58 clubs got a bye with 12 teams playing in the First Round to take the Second Round to 64 teams. Due to the numbers that would get a bye in a 144 draw, I would say anyone that's a SFA member or qualified for the Scottish Cup get a guaranteed bye in the First Round. With the rest of the byes being drawn at random. Sounds messy but as I said it could work. The important thing is having so many clubs involved in the competition next season. Just a pity we never got to complete this seasons tournament. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monalie Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Some really great looking away days, if you are lucky in the draw. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginaro Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Jerry Macguire said: Just a pity we never got to complete this seasons tournament. Radical idea - play the 2019-20 semis and then final on the first two cup dates? All four are licensed anyway so would get a bye as suggested above. Edited April 15, 2020 by Ginaro 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMan Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 At the moment its a random draw. This year 58 clubs got a bye with 12 teams playing in the First Round to take the Second Round to 64 teams. Due to the numbers that would get a bye in a 144 draw, I would say anyone that's a SFA member or qualified for the Scottish Cup get a guaranteed bye in the First Round. With the rest of the byes being drawn at random.Keep the LL and Scottish Cup entrants out of the first round as you say (or as many as you can) and then all in from second round. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted April 15, 2020 Author Share Posted April 15, 2020 7 minutes ago, Jerry Macguire said: Sounds messy but as I said it could work. The important thing is having so many clubs involved in the competition next season. Just a pity we never got to complete this seasons tournament. Its not messy. Its version of how the cup already works, and how the vast majority of cups work at this level. X number of random byes given to the Second Round. First Round is contested basically by whoever is left to make the Second Round a number you can half down to a winner. 128-64-32-16-8-4-2-1. Like this season for example when there were 70 entrants. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted April 15, 2020 Author Share Posted April 15, 2020 5 minutes ago, Ginaro said: Radical idea - play the 2019-20 semis and then final on the first two cup dates? I think they should do it. Not necessarily on those dates. But one week basically in their pre-season. It would be a good tool to help promote the upcoming 2020-21 edition. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
energyzone Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Where was the final held last season? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Macguire Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 31 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said: Its not messy. Its version of how the cup already works, and how the vast majority of cups work at this level. X number of random byes given to the Second Round. First Round is contested basically by whoever is left to make the Second Round a number you can half down to a winner. 128-64-32-16-8-4-2-1. Like this season for example when there were 70 entrants. Not disputing it. Just suggesting a method whereby no one needs to be given a bye. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GNU_Linux Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Where was the final held last season?Meggetland home of Tynecastle FC & Boroughmuir RFC. The final since it's inception has used both SPFL & non-league grounds. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Macguire Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 28 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said: I think they should do it. Not necessarily on those dates. But one week basically in their pre-season. It would be a good tool to help promote the upcoming 2020-21 edition. Yeah that would be great, schedule it towards the end of pre-season as a non league showcase. It could be our answer to the Charity Shield. Nothing to do with us still being in it mind you. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutankhamen Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 1 hour ago, Jerry Macguire said: 144 doesn't work. 1st round 144, 2nd 72, 3rd 36, 4th 18, 5th 9, 6th 4.5? Take it you're new to football. Never heard of preliminary rounds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Macguire Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 6 minutes ago, Tutankhamen said: Take it you're new to football. Never heard of preliminary rounds. No I haven’t what’s that and how does it work? Perhaps you can explain it to me. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmontheloknow Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 1 hour ago, Monalie said: Some really great looking away days, if you are lucky in the draw. You'll end up at Neilston 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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