Challenge Cup gets new name

The Challenge Cup for the SFL clubs will be renamed the Ramsdens Challenge Cup thanks to a new sponsor revealed at this afternoon’s first round draw.

An SFL statement read this afternoon, “The Scottish Football League is delighted to welcome a new name to our prestigious family of corporate sponsors. 

“Ramsdens has a significant presence in the high street in Scotland with 26 stores, most of which are based in and around our football towns and communities.  The family-owned company is the largest independently-owned pawnbroking and financial services business in the UK and offers a range of services such as pawnbroking, gold buying, foreign currency and payday loans.

“The competition will be known as The Ramsdens Cup and the company has entered into an initial one year deal with The Scottish Football League.  We will now work together to create excitement and value to one of Scottish football’s best loved competitions.

“MG ALBA were previous sponsors of the Cup over the past three years.  BBC ALBA, the Gaelic television channel, will now become the SFL’s broadcast partner in a new and exciting relationship.  I would like to thank MG ALBA for their valued contribution to the Challenge Cup and we look forward to maintaining and strengthening our broadcast links with BBC ALBA.

“We are also delighted to announce today that the SFL has invited two additional clubs to join the competition - Buckie Thistle F.C. and Deveronvale F.C., the top two finishing clubs in this year’s Scottish Highland Football League.  This invitation demonstrates the SFL’s commitment to supporting the SFA’s Club Licensing process and furthermore underlines the SFL’s willingness to look at Scottish football as a whole.  I am sure that Buckie Thistle F.C. and Deveronvale F.C. will add great excitement to the competition.”

Hopefully this breaths new life into the competition which only seems to get anyone interested when their team makes the final!!

One other change is the timing of the Final, the rounds up to the semis will be completed by early October with the final being played in early April!

The draw for the first round is;

North/east:

Arbroath v Dundee

Brechin City v Falkirk

Deveronvale v Stirling Albion

Forfar Athletic v Buckie Thistle

Montrose v East Fife

Peterhead v Alloa Athletic

Raith Rovers v Cowdenbeath

Ross County v Elgin City

South/west:

Airdrie United v Livingston

Albion Rovers v Annan Athletic

Ayr United v Queen of the South

Clyde v Berwick Rangers

Dumbarton v East Stirlingshire

Partick Thistle v Stenhousemuir

Queen's Park v Hamilton Academical

Stranraer v Morton