The 2021–22 Scottish Challenge Cup known as the SPFL Trust Trophy due to sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 30th season of the competition. The total number of participating clubs was 50, down from 58, with only Scottish clubs competing due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. The competition began on 10 August 2021 with the first round and ended on 3 April 2022 with the final at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.
The first round featured 6 clubs from 2020–21 Scottish League One, all clubs from 2020–21 Scottish League Two, 4 clubs from the 2020–21 Scottish Highland Football League, 4 clubs from the 2020–21 Scottish Lowland Football League and the 12 Under 21 teams of the 2021–22 Scottish Premiership.
The draw was made on 6 July 2021 at 14:00 and was broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised and seeded. Matches were played on 10, 11 and 17 August 2021.
Livingston and Ross County were unable to field B teams for the first round and withdrew from the competition. Their scheduled opponents, Albion Rovers and Stirling Albion, were awarded byes into the second round.[3]
North Section
Draw
Teams that entered the competition in the first round.
B: Stranraer were awarded a 3–0 win over Motherwell B who were unable to fulfil the fixture as a number of players were self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[19]
C: Originally due to start at 19:45, kick-off in the Queen's Park vs Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic match was delayed by 30 minutes due to traffic congestion around Firhill Stadium.
Second round
The second round featured the 18 first round winners who were joined by all teams from the 2020–21 Scottish Championship and the top four teams from the 2020–21 Scottish League One.
The draw was made on 6 July 2021 at 14:00 and was broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised and seeded. Matches were played on 31 August, 3, 4, 5 and 14 September 2021.
North section
Draw
Teams that entered the competition in the second round.
D: Elgin City were awarded a technical 3–0 win over Dunfermline Athletic who were unable to fulfil the fixture as a number of players were self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[27]
South section
Draw
Teams that entered the competition in the second round.
E: Rangers B were awarded a technical 3–0 win over Ayr United who fielded two ineligible players.[36] The match had originally finished 3–0 to Ayr United.
Final stages
On 7 July 2021, a bracket was published for the rest of the tournament, from the third round (last 16) onwards.[37]
Bracket
Third round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
6 October 2021
Hamilton Academical
2
30 November 2021
Aberdeen B
0
Hamilton Academical
2
8 October 2021
Kilmarnock
3
Kilmarnock
3
2 March 2022
Queen's Park
1
Kilmarnock
1
9 October 2021
Raith Rovers
2
Elgin City
2
30 November 2021
Inverness CT
4
Inverness CT
0 (4)
9 October 2021
Raith Rovers
0 (5)
Raith Rovers
3
3 April 2022
East Fife
1
Raith Rovers
3
9 October 2021
Queen of the South
1
Cove Rangers
4
30 November 2021
Albion Rovers
1
Cove Rangers
5
27 October 2021
Rangers B
1
Alloa Athletic
2
1 March 2022
Rangers B
3
Cove Rangers
0
8 October 2021
Queen of the South
1
Queen of the South
2
1 December 2021
Partick Thistle
0
Queen of the South
2
9 October 2021
Greenock Morton
1
Montrose
0 (2)
Greenock Morton
0 (4)
Third round
The third round featured the 16 second round winners and matches were played on 6, 8, 9 and 27 October 2021.