The League Challenge Cup was introduced in 1990 as the B&Q Centenary Cup to celebrate the League's centenary. Only clubs in the Scottish Football League are eligible to take part in it. It was abandoned in 1998 due to lack of sponsorship, but was resurrected the following year when new sponsor were found when it became the Bell's Challenge Cup. Bell's sponsorship only lasted for two seasons and the competition is once again simply the Scottish League Challenge Cup.
Since the 2016-17 edition some teams from Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales and England (lower division) are invited to play the tournament.
1990-91 Dundee 3 Ayr United 2 (after extra-time)
1991-92 Hamilton Academical 1 Ayr United 0
1992-93 Hamilton Academical 3 Morton 2
1993-94 Falkirk 3 St. Mirren 0
1994-95 Airdrieonians 3 Dundee 2 (after extra-time)
1995-96 Stenhousemuir 0 Dundee United 0 (after extra-time, 5-4 pen)
1996-97 Stranraer 1 St. Johnstone 0
1997-98 Falkirk 1 Queen of the South 0
1998-99 no competition
1999-00 Alloa Athletic 4 Inverness Caledonian Th 4 (after extra time, 5-4 pen)
2000-01 Airdrieonians 2 Livingston 2 (after extra time, 3-2 pen)
2001-02 Airdrieonians 2 Alloa Athletic 1
2002-03 Queen of the South 2 Brechin City 0
2003-04 Inverness Caledonian Th. 2 Airdrie United 0
2004-05 Falkirk 2 Ross County 1
2005-06 St. Mirren 2 Hamilton Academical 1
2006-07 Ross County 1 Clyde 1 (after extra time, 5-4 pen)
2007-08 St. Johnstone 3 Dunfermline Athletic 2
2008-09 Airdrie United 2 Ross County 2 (after extra time, 5-4 pen)
2009-10 Dundee 3 Inverness Caled. Thistle 2
2010-11 Ross County 2 Queen of the South 0
2011-12 Falkirk 1 Hamilton Academical 0
2012-13 Queen of the South 1 Partick Thistle 1 (after extra time, 6-5 pen)
2013-14 Raith Rovers 1 Rangers 0 (after extra time)
2014-15 Livingston 4 Alloa Athletic 0
2015-16 Rangers 4 Peterhead 0
2016-17 Dundee United 2 St. Mirren 1
2017-18 Inverness Caledonian Th. 1 Dumbarton 0
2018-19 Ross County 3 Connah's Quay Nomads 1
2019-20 Inverness Caledonian Th. * Raith Rovers * (shared title)
2020-21 no competition
2021-22 Raith Rovers 3 Queen of the South 1
2022-23 Hamilton Academical 1 Raith Rovers 0
2023-24 Airdrieonians 2 The New Saints 1
NB: the 2019 and 2024 losing finalists are from Wales
Final venues
Fir Park, Motherwell 1990-91, 1991-92, 1993-94, 1997-98, 2016-17
McDiarmid Park, Perth 1994-95, 1995-96, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10,
2010-11, 2014-15, 2017-18
Love Street, Paisley 1992-93
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld 1996-97, 2000-01, 2001-02 2002-03
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie 1999-00, 2005-06, 2021-22
Dens Park, Dundee 2007-08
Almondvale, Livingston 2011-12, 2012-13
Easter Road, Edinburgh 2013-14
Hampden Park, Glasgow 2015-16
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness 2018-19
Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk 2022-23, 2023-24
Competition known as the B&Q Centenary Cup in 1990-91.
Competition known as the B&Q Cup from 1991-95.
Competition known as the League Challenge Cup from 1995-98.
Competition known as the Bell's Challenge Cup from 1999-2001.
Winners
4 Falkirk, Airdrieonians
3 Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Raith Rovers,
Hamilton Academical
2 Dundee, Queen of the South
1 Stenhousemuir, Stranraer, Alloa Athletic, St. Mirren, St. Johnstone,
Airdrie United, Livingston, Rangers, Dundee United
Runners-up
3 Queen Of The South
2 Ayr United, Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle,
Hamilton Academical, Alloa Athletic, St. Mirren
1 Morton, Dundee, Dundee United, St. Johnstone, Livingston, Brechin City,
Airdrie United, Partick Thistle, Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic, Rangers,
Peterhead, Dumbarton, Connah's Quay Nomads, Raith Rovers, The New Saints
Final Appearances
5 Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Queen Of The South, Hamilton Academical
4 Falkirk, Raith Rovers, Airdrieonians (without Airdrie United)
3 Dundee, Alloa Athletic, St. Mirren
2 Ayr United, Dundee United, St. Johnstone, Airdrie United, Livingston, Rangers
1 Morton, Stenhousemuir, Stranraer, Brechin City, Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic,
Partick Thistle, Peterhead, Dumbarton, Connah's Quay Nomads, The New Saints
In the first season following league reconstruction in 1975, clubs in the lower two division only met twice and thus played a total of 26 fixtures. These were completed by February and a supplemental competition, the Spring Cup, was played to make up the fixtures. A preliminary round was played in groups followed by a knock-out phase. The competition attracted little interest and lasted only one season. Thereafter clubs met 3 times per season in the league giving a total of 39 fixtures.
1976 Airdrieonians 4 Clydebank 2 (after extra-time) Final played at Firhill Park, Glasgow.
Thanks to Roberto Di Maggio for updates
Prepared and maintained by James M. Ross for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: James M. RossCopyright © 1998/2024 James M. Ross and RSSSF
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