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2022–23 South Challenge Cup

SFA South Region Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Country	Scotland England (2 teams)
Dates	20 August 2022 – 28 May 2023
Teams	163
Defending champions	Auchinleck Talbot
Final positions
Champions	The Spartans
Runner-up	Drumchapel United
Tournament statistics
Matches played	162
← 2021–22 2023–24 → All statistics correct as of 19 August 2021.

The 2022–23 SFA South Region Challenge Cup was the 16th edition of the annual knockout cup competition for senior non-league clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. The tournament entry increased from 161 to a record 163 teams thanks to additional clubs joining the West of Scotland Football League.

The defending champions were Auchinleck Talbot of the West of Scotland League, who beat Lowland League champions Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 3–1 in the final on 22 May 2022. However they went out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, losing 2–1 to Caledonian Braves.

The Spartans lifted the trophy for a record fourth time, completing a league and cup double after also winning the Lowland League. They beat Drumchapel United 2–1 in the final.

The South Challenge Cup features 163 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (59), South of Scotland Football League (10), and West of Scotland Football League (79). The reserve teams of Stirling University, Caledonian Braves, and Stranraer, as well as Celtic B, Heart of Midlothian B, and Rangers B, do not take part. Newburgh were debarred due to a breach of rules.

The first and second rounds were regionalised, with north-east, south-east, south-west, and north-west sections each containing 40 or 41 clubs.

The draws are unseeded, with matches proceeding to extra time and penalties if they were tied after 90 minutes.

Round	Main date[1]	Fixtures	Clubs
First Round	20 August 2022	35	163 → 128
Second Round	10 September 2022 15 October 2022	64	128 → 64
Third Round	15 October 2022 19 November 2022	32	64 → 32
Fourth Round	4 February 2023	16	32 → 16
Fifth Round	4 March 2023	8	16 → 8
Quarter-Finals	1 April 2023	4	8 → 4
Semi-Finals	TBC	2	4 → 2
Final	28 May 2023	1	2 → 1

The draw for the regionalised first and second rounds took place on Sunday 26 June 2022.^[2][3][4][5] Each zone features 9 fixtures in the first round with 23 clubs receiving a bye to the second round (except the South-West zone featuring 8 matches and 24 byes).

The majority of the third round ties took place on the weekend of 19 November 2022, reverting to an open draw with 32 fixtures being played.

Lowland League	East of Scotland League	South of Scotland League	West of Scotland League
Bo'ness United Caledonian Braves East Kilbride The Spartans Tranent Juniors University of Stirling	Premier Division Broxburn Athletic Dundonald Bluebell Linlithgow Rose Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale Sauchie Juniors First Division Dunipace Newtongrange Star Second Division Thornton Hibs Third Division Bo'ness Athletic Fauldhouse United	Lochar Thistle Newton Stewart	Premier Division Auchinleck Talbot Clydebank Cumnock Juniors Glenafton Athletic Kilwinning Rangers Troon First Division Drumchapel United Gartcairn Rossvale St Cadoc's Second Division Maryhill Maybole Juniors Third Division Vale of Clyde Fourth Division Threave Rovers

The draw for the fifth round was made on 6 February 2023, live on the West of Scotland Football League YouTube channel.^[6]

Teams in Italics were unknown at the time of the draw.

Lowland League	East of Scotland League	West of Scotland League
Caledonian Braves East Kilbride The Spartans Tranent Juniors University of Stirling	Premier Division Dundonald Bluebell Sauchie Juniors	Premier Division Auchinleck Talbot Clydebank Cumnock Juniors Kilwinning Rangers First Division Drumchapel United Gartcairn Second Division Maryhill Third Division Vale of Clyde Fourth Division Threave Rovers

Lowland League	East of Scotland League	West of Scotland League
Caledonian Braves The Spartans University of Stirling	Premier Division Sauchie Juniors	Premier Division Auchinleck Talbot Kilwinning Rangers First Division Drumchapel United Gartcairn

Lowland League	West of Scotland League
Caledonian Braves The Spartans	First Division Drumchapel United Gartcairn