# 2022–23 South Challenge Cup

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.

## Format

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.

## Calendar

| Round | Main date | 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 |

## First round

The draw for the regionalised first and second rounds took place on Sunday 26 June 2022. 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).

### North-West zone
## Second round
### North-West zone
## Third round

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.

## Fourth round
### Draw

| 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 |

### Matches
## Fifth round
### Draw

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

### Matches
## Quarter-finals
### Draw

| 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 |

### Matches
## Semi-finals
### Draw

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