The 2023–24 Scottish Junior Cup (known as the Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup due to sponsorship reasons), was the 137th season of the Scottish Junior Cup, the national knockout tournament for member clubs of the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA). A total of 112 clubs entered the competition, four more than in 2022–23.
Camelon Juniors, Caledonian Locomotives (previously Rossvale), Hall Russell United, Kello Rovers, Pollok, Pumpherston, and Whitehills returned to take part in the competition while Finnart and Rossvale (formerly Rossvale Academy) entered for the first time. Glasgow Perthshire, Harthill Royal, and Livingston United did not compete, along with Aberdeen University who also withdrew from their league and Syngenta who had folded.
Defending champions Cumnock Juniors were eliminated in the second round by local rivals Auchinleck Talbot. Darvel defeated Auchinleck in the semi-final en route to claiming the trophy for the first time.
Calendar The dates for each round of the 2023–24 tournament were as follows: RoundMain dateMatchesClubsFirst round2 September 202348112 → 64Second round7 October 20233264 → 32Third round4 November 20231632 → 16Fourth round2 December 2023816 → 8Quarter-finals10 February 202448 → 4Semi-finals13 April & 20 April 202424 → 2Final2 June 202412 → 1 Drawn matches proceed direct to a penalty shootout, with no extra time. The semi-finals reverted back to being played home and away over two legs after two seasons as single legs at neutral venues.
First round The 15 clubs taking part in the Scottish Cup — Auchinleck Talbot, Beith Juniors, Benburb, Camelon Juniors, Carluke Rovers, Carnoustie Panmure, Culter, Cumnock Juniors, Darvel, Glenafton Athletic, Irvine Meadow XI, Lochee United, Pollok, Rutherglen Glencairn, and Tayport — received a bye into the second round draw along with St Anthony's. Home teamScoreAway team2 September 2023Arbroath Victoria4–2Dundee St JamesBanchory St Ternan0–8Maybole JuniorsBlairgowrie0–3TroonBrechin Victoria0–2Bellshill AthleticBridge of Don Thistle 0–0 (4–3 p)MaryhillBuchanhaven Hearts0–0 (4–5 p)Ardeer ThistleBurghead Thistle1–3Lesmahagow JuniorsCoupar Angus1–3Rothie RoversCruden Bay1–6Stoneywood-ParkvaleCumbernauld United0–4Dundee North EndDalry Thistle 3–1Royal Albert Dufftown0–3Lochee HarpEllon United1–3DownfieldForres Thistle 1–5LethamFraserburgh United1–4Shotts Bon AccordGartcairn2–2(5–4 p)Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Glentanar2–2(4–3 p)DeveronsideHermes 3–1Armadale Thistle Hurlford United3–2SunnybankIrvine Victoria 7–0Forfar West EndIslavale2–2(6–7 p)Greenock Juniors Johnstone Burgh3–0East CraigieKilbirnie Ladeside1–1(2–4 p)AshfieldHome teamScoreAway teamKilsyth Rangers0–4Arthurlie Lanark United1–3Craigmark BurntoniansLargs Thistle5–0Lugar Boswell ThistleLarkhall Thistle3–0Thorniewood UnitedLongside1–2Colony ParkLossiemouth United0–0 (3–4 p)Hall Russell UnitedMaud1–4Dundee VioletMuirkirk Juniors3–3(9–10 p)East Kilbride ThistleNairn St. Ninian0–4Ardrossan Winton RoversNew Elgin1–4Banks O' Dee JuniorNewmains United0–6DycePetershill 7–0Cambuslang RangersPumpherston 0–3Finnart Saltcoats Victoria2–4Forfar UnitedScone Thistle1–1 (2–4 p)Kello RoversSt Cadoc's2–1Blantyre Victoria St Roch's3–1Bathgate ThistleStonehaven 1–0Kirriemuir ThistleStoneyburn 1–1 (2–4 p)East EndVale of Clyde1–3Glasgow UnitedVale of Leven2–1Newmachar UnitedWest Calder United1–2Montrose RoseleaWhitehills 2–7Caledonian LocomotivesWishaw Juniors1–2RossvaleYoker Athletic0–3Broughty Athletic
Second round Matches Home teamScoreAway team6 October 2023Petershill1–5St Cadoc'sBanks O' Dee Junior1–2Montrose Roselea7 October 2023Arbroath Victoria1–4BenburbArdeer Thistle0–1Larkhall ThistleArdrossan Winton Rovers2–3DownfieldBridge of Don Thistle6–1Irvine VictoriaBroughty Athletic0–2Bellshill AthleticCaledonian Locomotives2–1Glasgow UnitedCamelon Juniorsw/oStonehavenColony Park0–1Rothie RoversCulter4–2Craigmark BurntoniansCumnock Juniors2–3Auchinleck TalbotHall Russell United2–5Lesmahagow JuniorsHermes1–1(3–1 p)Beith JuniorsLochee Harp3–4Irvine Meadow XILochee United3–2Maybole JuniorsRossvale1–4DarvelSt Anthony's3–2Stoneywood-ParkvaleHome teamScoreAway team14 October 2023Carnoustie Panmure3–2LethamDundee Violet3–0DeveronsideEast End5–0East Kilbride ThistleFinnart2–1DyceKello Rovers2–3GartcairnVale of Leven1–0Carluke Rovers17 October 2023Pollok2–2(7–8 p)Dalry Thistle18 October 2023Greenock Juniors1–4Glenafton Athletic4 November 2023Ashfield 1–3Largs ThistleForfar United1–6ArthurlieHurlford United 6–0TayportJohnstone Burgh3–0Dundee North EndRutherglen Glencairn2–0TroonShotts Bon Accord 0–0(6–5 p)St. Roch's
Third round Matches Home teamScoreAway team4 November 2023Bellshill Athletic3–1Lesmahagow JuniorsBridge of Don Thistle1–1(2–4 p)Auchinleck Talbot Caledonian Locomotives4–2Carnoustie PanmureCulter 0–2Lochee UnitedFinnart1–4Larkhall ThistleGlenafton Athletic1–2DarvelSt. Anthony's2–2(5–6 p)BenburbStonehaven 2–0East EndVale of Leven4–2Montrose Roselea11 November 2023Downfield1–0Dalry ThistleDundee Violet0–3St Cadoc'sGartcairn2–3Largs Thistle Hermes0–8Hurlford UnitedJohnstone Burgh3–1Irvine Meadow XIRothie Rovers4–3Shotts Bon AccordRutherglen Glencairn3–3(3–4 p)Arthurlie
Fourth round Draw Tier6789TeamsMidlands League (2) Downfield Lochee United North Region Premier Division (2) Rothie Rovers Stonehaven West of Scotland League Premier Division (7) Arthurlie Auchinleck Talbot Benburb Darvel Largs Thistle Hurlford United St Cadoc'sWest of Scotland League First Division (1) Johnstone BurghWest of Scotland League Second Division (2) Caledonian Locomotives Larkhall ThistleWest of Scotland League Third Division (2) Bellshill Athletic Vale of Leven
Matches Home teamScoreAway team2 December 2023Largs Thistle2–2(0–3 p)Lochee United9 December 2023Stonehaven0–1St Cadoc's16 December 2023Hurlford United3–2Caledonian LocomotivesBenburb2–3ArthurlieRothie Rovers1–4Bellshill AthleticVale of Leven1–4Auchinleck TalbotDarvel4–0Larkhall Thistle27 January 2024Johnstone Burgh2–2(4–3 p)Downfield
Quarter-finals Draw Tier679TeamsMidlands League (1) Lochee United West of Scotland League Premier Division (5) Arthurlie Auchinleck Talbot Darvel Hurlford United St Cadoc'sWest of Scotland League First Division (1) Johnstone BurghWest of Scotland League Third Division (1) Bellshill Athletic
Matches Home teamScoreAway team10 February 2024Darvel3–0Lochee UnitedJohnstone Burgh3–3(4–1 p)St Cadoc'sBellshill Athletic1–2ArthurlieAuchinleck Talbot3–0Hurlford United
Semi-finals Tier67TeamsWest of Scotland League Premier Division (3) Arthurlie Auchinleck Talbot DarvelWest of Scotland League First Division (1) Johnstone Burgh
First leg
Second leg
Darvel won 2–1 on aggregate.
Arthurlie won 4–3 on aggregate.
Final The Final of the Scottish Junior Cup was played at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld on Sunday 2 June with a 4.05pm kick off. The game was televised live by BBC Alba.
References