Buckets Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 (edited) That’s the dates and format confirmed now. https://spfl.co.uk/news/spfl-trust-trophy-202324 Same as last year with 2 Welsh league and Nifl clubs competing. It’s Coleraine and Cliftonville the highest ranked nifl teams not in Europe, and then 1st and league cup winners from the Welsh league. Bit surprised it’s not the top teams from the Nifl, given the reaction to the competition has been quite positive and the prize money is increasing. Only 11 B teams, presumably Ross County not entering again, and the top 4 from the Highland and Lowland League (no invite for Cowdenbeath this time). Edited June 15, 2023 by Buckets 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Archer (Raconteur) Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 The lassie hosting the draw is fucking useless. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanius Mullarkey Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 9 minutes ago, Zen Archer (Raconteur) said: The lassie hosting the draw is fucking useless. I think she's quite good. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Archer (Raconteur) Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Archer (Raconteur) Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 FIRST-ROUND DRAW - Ties to be played August 1/2 North Section Elgin City v St Johnstone B Hibernian B v Formartine United Brora Rangers v Aberdeen B Dundee B v Buckie Thistle Brechin City v Heart of Midlothian B South Section University of Stirling v Livingston B St Mirren B v Albion Rovers Tranent v Motherwell B Celtic B v East Kilbride The Spartans v Rangers B Kilmarnock B v Bonnyrigg Rose SECOND-ROUND DRAW - Ties to be played August 15/16 North Section Brechin City or Heart of Midlothian B v Hibernian B or Formartine United Elgin City or St Johnstone B v Forfar Athletic Brora Rangers or Aberdeen B v Peterhead Dundee B or Buckie Thistle v East Fife South Section Kilmarnock B or Bonnyrigg Rose v Dumbarton Clyde v University of Stirling or Livingston B Annan Athletic v Stranraer Stirling Albion v Celtic B or East Kilbride St Mirren B or Albion Rovers v Tranent or Motherwell B Stenhousemuir v The Spartans or Rangers B 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 39 minutes ago, Melanius Mullarkay said: I think she's quite good. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 Was it explained how they arrived at these regional groupings - in particular how the Northern 'half' in R2 ended up with 13 clubs in just 4 ties, while the Southern 'half' ended up with 18 clubs across 6 ties? Allowing for Ross County withdrawal you can see how R1 was done: you've got the 5 most northerly B teams and 5 most northerly actual clubs; ditto the 6 most southerly. (Of course this gives the absurdity of Hearts B and Hibs being 'north' whilst Spartans - who Hearts B actually groundshare with - are simultaneously 'south'... but such has happened before). However this seems to have been abandoned in R2 with only 3 actual clubs added to north against 6 in south. Why were Stenhousemuir and Stirling Albion not placed in North half - i.e. to give 5 ties in each. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Archer (Raconteur) Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Melanius Mullarkay said: I think she's quite good. She made Jane Lewis sound coherent. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanius Mullarkey Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 39 minutes ago, Zen Archer (Raconteur) said: She made Jane Lewis sound coherent. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really listening to her. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spyro Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 8 hours ago, HibeeJibee said: Was it explained how they arrived at these regional groupings - in particular how the Northern 'half' in R2 ended up with 13 clubs in just 4 ties, while the Southern 'half' ended up with 18 clubs across 6 ties? Allowing for Ross County withdrawal you can see how R1 was done: you've got the 5 most northerly B teams and 5 most northerly actual clubs; ditto the 6 most southerly. (Of course this gives the absurdity of Hearts B and Hibs being 'north' whilst Spartans - who Hearts B actually groundshare with - are simultaneously 'south'... but such has happened before). However this seems to have been abandoned in R2 with only 3 actual clubs added to north against 6 in south. Why were Stenhousemuir and Stirling Albion not placed in North half - i.e. to give 5 ties in each. I've tried to work it out before, no idea how they do it but it's no surprise. They've ruined what used to be a great competition by shoe-horning their 'big team' buddies inany way possible. It seems NOTHING in Scottish football is allowed to happen without being infiltrated by the OF curse. Is there not a B team tournament that these teams/players can play in... Maybe link it with a proper B/reserve league... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 2 minutes ago, Spyro said: Is there not a B team tournament that these teams/players can play in... Reserve Cup Fixtures | SPFLSPFL Reserve Cup 22-23 | Scottish Football Fixtures (wordpress.com) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spyro Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 2 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said: Reserve Cup Fixtures | SPFLSPFL Reserve Cup 22-23 | Scottish Football Fixtures (wordpress.com) After watching Ross County go from HL to winning this cup as a boy, it would break my heart to see 'Hearts B' or something taking the cup away from the clubs who the tournament was actually designed for 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 Hopefully nobody turns up to watch and they all get booted out after the first round. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted July 6, 2023 Share Posted July 6, 2023 In recent years it's become common for the actual clubs to field weakened sides in the early rounds - in some cases largely resting most, or on occasion all, their starting XI from the Saturday... I recall 1 or 2 even effectively fielding their own U20s. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Blue Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 (edited) Going over old ground here but ... It's the Diddy Cup. It was created for the Diddy clubs. It gives the Diddy clubs their only realistic chance to win something each season other than the Diddy league that they happen to be in. I support a Diddy club - ergo, I like it. Positives - the finals are usually a decent day out and usually well attended. Two of our finals had circa 10,000 gates. Negatives - obviously the B teams, they just don't belong in the tournament, simples - but of course the Blazers who run the game don't consider the fans views. Some clubs don't take it seriously (at least in the early rounds), but hey-ho that's their prerogative and to each their own, etc etc. Maybe ayes/maybe naws - not sure about the Welsh/N Irish sides. On the one hand it adds something different and interesting to see how we match up against them, but something says to me that its a Scottish tournament and should stay that way. However, I'm undecided on this. Edited July 22, 2023 by Otis Blue 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClydeTon Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 Welsh sides in particular offer nothing, it's fairly distant travel wise and I wouldn't want to be a supporter of the Welsh team trying to get anywhere north of Glasgow/Edinburgh. Northern Ireland's a bit better cause it's only just across the sea but it's still naw great. Agree to that end that it should just be a Scots' competition - I imagine it costs TNS, Linfield, whoever gets in - a fair bit of money as well. Could flip that and say it's the closest side us wee teams will get to a European trip, but doesn't really outweigh the negatives. As for B-Teams, get them straight to f**k. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Blue Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 1 hour ago, ClydeTon said: ... Could flip that and say it's the closest side us wee teams will get to a European trip ... Ahem (see below) ... but aye, in general you're absolutely right. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClydeTon Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 3 hours ago, Otis Blue said: Ahem (see below) ... but aye, in general you're absolutely right. QotS were half-decent back then. Now they're down in Falkirk's league one. Need I say more? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19QOS19 Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 1 minute ago, ClydeTon said: QotS were half-decent back then. Now they're down in Falkirk's league one. Need I say more? Does that mean our European game never happened? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClydeTon Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 2 minutes ago, 19QOS19 said: Does that mean our European game never happened? No, no. Just means it doesn't save you from diddy club status. Have I got a cheek? Maybe. But Falkirk or below is the cut-off for the great embarrassment, imo. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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