Scottish Cup format unveiled for 2020-21 season with all 17 Highland League clubs able to play and Elgin City entering at round one
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This season's Scottish Cup is set to get under way on November 28, and every Highland League club will be involved.
Champions Brora Rangers and runners-up Fraserburgh receive a bye into round one, joining Elgin City in the draw for ties played on Boxing Day.
The remaining Highland League sides enter the tournament in preliminary round two, which is played on December 12.
The Scottish FA unveiled a condensed format with no replayed matches, as every tie will be decided by extra time and penalties on the day if required.
Fears has grown that the Scottish Cup would include fewer clubs to fit in to a tighter fixture window created by coronavirus restrictions.
It was suggested that only four Highland League clubs might gain entry, possibly by a ballot, but all 17 can now take part if they wish.
The last north junior league champions Banks O' Dee will be among 28 clubs going into the first preliminary round on November 28.
At the next stage, 15 clubs from the Highland and Lowland League join in, with Elgin and their League 2 rivals involved from round one.
League 1 and Championship sides come in at round two on January 9, with the Premiership big guns in the third round draw for ties played on January 30.
Other changes to the format include the removal of replays for all matches, with the outcome of any drawn match being determined by extra time and penalties, if required.
Postponed ties from early rounds will be rescheduled for the next available midweek date, and three subs being allowed during 90 minutes with one additional change allowed if the tie goes into extra time.
Clubs can also decline to take part if they cannot meet the requirements and will still receive the bonus payment equivalent to the round they would normally have entered.
The removal of replays for all matches, with the outcome of any drawn match being determined by extra time and penalties, if required.
The SFA say all existing participation requirements apply along with the following additional requirements:
- Changing facilities for both teams and match officials must be available and must comply with all relevant COVID legislation and regulations as outlined here. Further detailed information on changing facilities will be published by the Scottish FA within the next few days. Clubs will be required to provide confirmation of approval of their facilities from their respective League prior to their participation in the competition.
- From Round Three onwards, clubs drawn to play against SPFL Premiership teams must comply with the relevant COVID testing regime which applies at that time or as directed by the Scottish FA Board.
- Compliance with the relevant Match day Protocol(s) which the Scottish FA/Joint Response Group considers appropriate and issues at the relevant time.
The dates and clubs involved in each round are as follows:
PRELIMINARY COMPETITION ROUND ONE – Saturday, 28 November 2020
30 clubs (8 ties and 14 byes)
1 club from the East of Scotland Football League:
Musselburgh Athletic (South & East Cup Winners Shield Winners)
1 Club from the Scottish Junior FA
Auchinleck Talbot (West Junior Super League Winners)
28 Clubs from the ESL, SSL and Other Leagues:
Banks O’Dee
Blackburn United
Broxburn Athletic
Burntisland Shipyard
Camelon
Coldstream
Dundonald Bluebell
Dunipace
Easthouses Lily MWFC
Girvan
Glasgow University
Golspie Sutherland
Haddington Athletic
Hawick Royal Albert United
Hill of Beath Hawthorn
Jeanfield Swifts
Linlithgow Rose
Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
Newtongrange Star
Newton Stewart
Penicuik Athletic
Preston Athletic
St Cuthbert Wanderers
Threave Rovers
Tranent Juniors
Tynecastle
Whitehill Welfare
Wigtown & Bladnoch
PRELIMINARY COMPETITIONS ROUND TWO – Saturday 12 December 2020
52 Clubs (26 ties)
8 Preliminary Competition Round One Winners
14 Preliminary Competition Round One Byes (from the ESL, SSL and Other Leagues NCL Approved)
15 Clubs from the Scottish Highland Football League:
Buckie Thistle
Clachnacuddin
Deveronvale
Formartine United
Forres Mechanics
Fort William
Huntly
Inverurie Loco Works
Keith
Lossiemouth
Nairn County
Rothes
Strathspey Thistle
Turriff United
Wick Academy
15 Clubs from the Scottish Lowland Football League:
Berwick Rangers
Bo’ness United
BSC Glasgow
Caledonian Braves
Civil Service Strollers
Cumbernauld Colts
Dalbeattie Star
East Kilbride
East Stirlingshire
Edinburgh University
Gala Fairydean Rovers
Gretna 2008
Spartans
University of Stirling
Vale of Leithen
ROUND ONE – Saturday 26 December 2020
40 Clubs (20 ties)
26 Preliminary Round Competition Winners
2 Clubs from the Scottish Highland Football League:
Brora Rangers (SHFL Runners Up)
Fraserburgh (SLFL Runners Up)
2 Clubs from the Scottish Lowland Football League:
Kelty Hearts (SLFL Winners)
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic (SLFL Runners Up)
10 clubs from the Scottish Professional Football League 2:
Albion Rovers
Annan Athletic
Brechin City
Cowdenbeath
Edinburgh City
Elgin City
Queen’s Park
Stenhousemuir
Stirling Albion
Stranraer
ROUND TWO – Saturday 9 January 2021
40 Clubs (20 ties)
20 Round One Winners
10 Clubs from the Scottish Professional Football League 1:
Airdrieonians
Clyde
Cove Rangers
Dumbarton
East Fife
Falkirk
Forfar Athletic
Montrose
Partick Thistle
Peterhead
10 Clubs from the Scottish Professional Football League Championship:
Alloa Athletic
Arbroath
Ayr United
Dundee
Dunfermline Athletic
Greenock Morton
Heart of Midlothian
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Queen of the South
Raith Rovers
ROUND THREE – Saturday 30 January 2021
32 Clubs (16 ties)
20 Round Two Winners
12 Clubs from the Scottish Professional Football League Premiership:
Aberdeen
Celtic
Dundee United
Hamilton Academical
Hibernian
Kilmarnock
Livingston
Motherwell
Rangers
Ross County
St Johnstone
St Mirren
ROUND FOUR – Saturday 20 February 2021
16 Round Four Winners (8 ties)
ROUND FIVE – Saturday 13 March 2021
8 Round Five Winners (4 ties)
SEMI-FINAL TIES – Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 April 2021
SCOTTISH CUP FINAL TIE – Saturday 8 May 2021
