The 2024–25 SFA South Region Challenge Cup (known as the FinestCarMats.co.uk South Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 18th edition of the annual knockout cup competition for senior non-league football clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. For a third season in a row, the tournament entry was a joint record 163 teams.
The defending champions were four-time winners East Kilbride. They successfully retained their title for the first time with a 2–0 win over Auchinleck Talbot in the final as part of a non-league treble, after also winning the Lowland League and Lowland League Cup.
Format The South Challenge Cup featured 163 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (57), South of Scotland Football League (11), and West of Scotland Football League (79). The reserve teams of Stirling University and Stranraer, as well as Celtic B and Heart of Midlothian B, do not take part. Carluke Rovers were debarred due to a previous breach of rules.
In a change to previous seasons there was no regionalisation and it was an all-in draw from the first round. The draws were unseeded, with matches proceeding to extra time and penalties if they were tied after 90 minutes.
Calendar RoundMain dateFixturesClubsFirst Round17 August 202435163 → 128Second Round14 September 202464128 → 64Third Round12 October 20243264 → 32Fourth Round16 November 20241632 → 16Fifth Round21 December 2024816 → 8Quarter-Finals1 February 202548 → 4Semi-Finals1 March 202524 → 2Final30 March 202512 → 1
First round The first round draw was published on 11 July 2024. Home teamScoreAway team17 August 2024Ardeer Thistle0–4ClydebankArdrossan Winton Rovers3–4 aetBroxburn AthleticAuchinleck Talbot1–0Hutchison ValeBenburb2–0Yoker AthleticBlantyre Victoria2–2 aet (2–4 pen)Lochgelly AlbertBroomhill0–1Thornton HibsBSC Glasgow4–3 aetSt Peter'sBurntisland Shipyard1–6GlenrothesCaledonian Locomotives2–2 aet (5–4 pen)Lochmaben Cambuslang Rangers2–3Vale of LevenCreetown2–1TynecastleCumbernauld Colts4–3Linlithgow RoseDalbeattie Star1–2Blackburn UnitedDundonald Bluebell0–4TroonEdinburgh Community2–3Newton StewartEdinburgh South2–3Bellshill AthleticFauldhouse United0–8Albion RoversHome teamScoreAway teamGlasgow Perthshire2–3Drumchapel UnitedGlasgow United5–3University of StirlingGreenock Juniors3–1GlenvaleInverkeithing Hillfield Swifts2–3LesmahagowKilsyth Rangers1–2Hurlford UnitedKinnoull1–2NewburghKirkintilloch Rob Roy2–0Mid AnnandaleLanark United3–2WhitburnLochar Thistle3–4East StirlingshireLuncarty2–5Kilbirnie LadesideMaybole Juniors0–1Caledonian BravesPetershill1–4DarvelPumpherston0–5Irvine VictoriaShotts Bon Accord2–1 aetRutherglen GlencairnSt Andrews Unitedw/oGartcairnVale of Clyde5–1 aetStoneyburnWhitehill Welfare2–0Kennoway Star HeartsWishaw0–0 aet (4–1 pen)Oakley United
Second Round The second round draw was published on 11 July 2024. Remaining in the competition were 128 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (13), East of Scotland Football League (42), South of Scotland Football League (7), and West of Scotland Football League (66). Home teamScoreAway team14 September 2024Abbey Vale0–3Dalkeith ThistleAlbion Rovers2–1 aetDunipaceArniston Rangers2–0Cumbernauld ColtsArthurlie 3–0Easterhouse FABathgate Thistle0–1GirvanBeith Juniors4–1Armadale ThistleBerwick Rangers2–1Heriot-Watt UniversityBo'ness Athletic1–4Auchinleck TalbotBSC Glasgow0–5LesmahgowCampbeltown Pupils0–6Linton HotspurClydebank 7–1Caledonian LocomotivesColdstream0–1Blackburn UnitedCumbernauld United7–1Tweedmouth RangersCumnock Juniors3–1Lanark UnitedDarvel3–2 aetWhitletts VictoriaDrumchapel United1–0 aetJohnstone BurghEasthouses Lily2–3St Roch'sEast Kilbride2–1TranentEast Kilbride Thistle1–5Kilbirnie LadesideEdinburgh College4–1CreetownEdinburgh United1–3Glasgow UnitedEglinton5–0Bonnyton ThistleFinnart1–6PollokGala Fairydean Rovers4–2Camelon JuniorsGlenafton Athletic0–2Dalry ThistleGlenrothes0–1Forth WanderersGreenock Juniors2–0Thorniewood UnitedGretna 20084–1Newton StewartHaddington Athletic1–2Kilsyth AthleticHarthill Royal1–3KnightswoodHill of Beath Hawthorn3–0Edinburgh UniversityHurlford United3–1Penicuik AthleticJeanfield Swifts4–1Glasgow UniversityHome teamScoreAway teamKello Rovers1–2Sauchie JuniorsKilwinning Rangers3–2 aetMuirkirk JuniorsLargs Thistle7–0Bellshill AthleticLarkhall Thistle4–0Thornton HibsLivingston United0–3Bo’ness UnitedLochore Welfare2–1AshfieldLugar Boswell Thistle6–1Craigmark BurntoniansMaryhill3–1Lochgelly AlbertNeilston4–3Peebles RoversNewburgh2–3Civil Service StrollersNewmains United2–2 aet (7–6 pen)Leith AthleticNewtongrange Star2–1Hawick Royal AlbertNithsdale Wanderers2–10Broxburn AthleticOrmiston Primrose1–4CowdenbeathPort Glasgow Juniors4–3West Park UnitedRenfrew8–0St Cuthbert WanderersRossvale0–2Caledonian BravesRoyal Albert1–2Kirkintilloch Rob RoySaltcoats Victoria0–2Musselburgh AthleticShotts Bon Accord1–0Giffnock SCSt Cadoc's7–0Irvine VictoriaThorn Athletic3–2Crossgates PrimroseThreave Rovers4–2BenburbTroon1–0Dunbar UnitedUpper Annandale1–2 aetSt Andrews UnitedVale of Clyde2–1 aetWishawVale of Leithen0–3Preston AthleticVale of Leven4–4 aet (1–3 pen)Kirkcaldy & DysartWest Calder United1–2East StirlingshireWhitehill Welfare2–2 aet (10–9 pen)St Anthony'sWigtown & Bladnoch0–10Irvine Meadow XI
Third round The third round draw was published on 26 September 2024. Remaining in the competition were 64 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (11), East of Scotland Football League (15), and West of Scotland Football League (38). Home teamScoreAway team11 October 2024St Cadoc's3–0Cowdenbeath12 October 2024Auchinleck Talbot3–0Jeanfield SwiftsBerwick Rangers0–3Threave RoversBlackburn United3–1KnightswoodCaledonian Braves3–0Arniston RangersClydebank5–1Dalkeith ThistleCumbernauld United8–0MaryhillCumnock Juniors2–1Lochore WelfareDalry Thistle0–3Civil Service StrollersEdinburgh College2–3ArthurlieEglinton0–1Bo'ness UnitedGala Fairydean Rovers0–1Irvine Meadow XIGlasgow United6–5 aetForth WanderersGretna 20083–1Lesmahagow JuniorsKirktintilloch Rob Roy2–1Whitehill WelfareLarkhall Thistle2–2 aet (5–4 pen)Beith JuniorsLinton Hotspur1–2 aetHill of Beath HawthornHome teamScoreAway teamLugar Boswell Thistle2–4Hurlford UnitedMusselburgh Athletic2–0 aetKirkcaldy & DysartNeilston2–3East StirlingshireNewtongrange Star0–3Drumchapel UnitedPollok3–3 aet (4–2 pen)DarvelPort Glasgow Juniors4–6Kilsyth AthleticPreston Athletic3–2GirvanSauchie Juniors0–2Kilwinning RangersSt Andrews United4–2Kilbirnie LadesideSt Roch's1–3TroonThorn Athletic1–3Broxburn AthleticVale of Clyde2–0Renfrew29 October 2024East Kilbride1–0Largs Thistle16 November 2024Shotts Bon Accord0–0 aet (5–3 pen)Albion Rovers30 November 2024Newmains United0–6Greenock Juniors
Fourth round The fourth round draw was published on 17 October 2024. Remaining in the competition were 32 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (7), East of Scotland Football League (5), and West of Scotland Football League (20).
Home teamScoreAway team16 November 2024Auchinleck Talbot 1–0Cumbernauld UnitedBlackburn United 0–7East KilbrideBo’ness United 3–4 aetMusselburgh AthleticBroxburn Athletic 0–4ClydebankCivil Service Strollers 3–1Irvine Meadow XICumnock Juniors 1–1 aet (4–2 pen)Drumchapel UnitedEast Stirlingshire 0–3PollokKilsyth Athletic 2–5Glasgow UnitedKirkintilloch Rob Roy 5–2Preston AthleticLarkhall Thistle 2–0Threave RoversSt Andrews United 5–3 aetHurlford UnitedSt Cadoc’s 2–3Gretna 2008Troon 1–2ArthurlieVale of Clyde 3–2Caledonian Braves30 November 2024Shotts Bon Accord 3–2Kilwinning Rangers21 December 2024Hill of Beath Hawthorn 4–0Greenock Juniors
Fifth round The fourth round draw was published on 21 November 2024. Remaining in the competition were 16 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (3), East of Scotland Football League (3), and West of Scotland Football League (10).
Home teamScoreAway team21 December 2024Auchinleck Talbot 4–0Larkhall ThistleCivil Service Strollers 3–0Shotts Bon AccordCumnock Juniors 3–0St Andrews UnitedPollok 1–3 aetEast KilbrideMusselburgh Athletic 4–1Vale of Clyde1 February 2025Arthurlie 2–1ClydebankGlasgow United 1–2Kirkintilloch Rob RoyGretna 2008 1–3Hill of Beath Hawthorn
Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals was published on 9 January 2025. Remaining in the competition were 8 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (2), East of Scotland Football League (2), and West of Scotland Football League (4). Home teamScoreAway team1 February 2025East Kilbride 1–1 aet (5–4 pen)Cumnock Juniors1 March 2025Arthurlie 0–1Musselburgh AthleticAuchinleck Talbot 2–0Kirkintilloch Rob RoyHill of Beath Hawthorn 2–1Civil Service Strollers
Semi-finals Remaining in the competition were 4 clubs, from the Lowland Football League (1), East of Scotland Football League (2), and West of Scotland Football League (1). Home teamScoreAway team15 March 2025East Kilbride4–2Musselburgh Athletic22 March 2025Auchinleck Talbot1–1 aet (4–2 pen)Hill of Beath Hawthorn Final
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