2003–04 Scottish Challenge Cup

The 2003–04 Scottish Challenge Cup was the 13th season of the competition, competed for by all 30 members of the Scottish Football League. The defending champions were Queen of the South, who defeated Brechin City 2–0 in the 2002 final. Queen of the South were eliminated in the first round after defeat against Stranraer

2003–04 Challenge Cup

Tournament details
Country	Scotland
Teams	30
Defending champions	Queen of the South
Final positions
Champions	Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Runner-up	Airdrie United
Tournament statistics
Matches played	29
Goals scored	99 (3.41 per match)

The final was played on 26 October 2003, between Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Airdrie United at McDiarmid Park, Perth. Inverness Caledonian Thistle won 2–0, to claim their first 'major' cup.

Schedule

Round	First match date	Fixtures	Clubs
First round	Saturday 2 August 2003	14	30 → 16
Second round	Tuesday 12 August 2003	8	16 → 80
Quarter-finals	Tuesday 26 August 2003	4	8 → 4
Semi-finals	Tue/Wed 16/17 September 2003	2	4 → 2
Final	Sunday 26 October 2003	1	2 → 1

First round

Berwick Rangers and Dumbarton received random byes into the second round.

Airdrie United v Montrose

2 August 2003	Airdrie United	2–0	Montrose	New Broomfield, Airdrie
15:00		Report		Attendance: 1,151

Albion Rovers v East Fife

2 August 2003	Albion Rovers	1–0	East Fife	Cliftonhill, Coatbridge
15:00		Report		Attendance: 219

Alloa Athletic v Clyde

2 August 2003	Alloa Athletic	1–2	Clyde	Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00		Report		Attendance: 633

Ayr United v Stirling Albion

2 August 2003	Ayr United	1 – 2 (a.e.t.)	Stirling Albion	Somersert Park, Ayr
15:00		Report		Attendance: 1,115

Brechin City v Falkirk

2 August 2003	Brechin City	1–0	Falkirk	Glebe Park, Brechin
15:00		Report		Attendance: 938

Cowdenbeath v Ross County

2 August 2003	Cowdenbeath	1–2	Ross County	Central Park, Cowdenbeath
15:00		Report		Attendance: 325

East Stirlingshire v Raith Rovers

2 August 2003	East Stirlingshire	2–5	Raith Rovers	Firs Park, Falkirk
15:00		Report		Attendance: 556

Forfar Athletic v Elgin City

2 August 2003	Forfar Athletic	4–0	Elgin City	Station Park, Forfar
15:00		Report		Attendance: 444

Gretna v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

2 August 2003	Gretna	0–5	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	Raydale Park, Gretna
15:00		Report		Attendance: 528

Hamilton Academical v St Johnstone

2 August 2003	Hamilton Academical	2 – 3 (a.e.t.)	St Johnstone	New Douglas Park Hamilton
15:00		Report		Attendance: 1,097

Greenock Morton v Arbroath

2 August 2003	Greenock Morton	4–3	Arbroath	Cappielow, Greenock
15:00		Report		Attendance: 2,227

St Mirren v Queen's Park

2 August 2003	St Mirren	3 – 2 (a.e.t.)	Queen's Park	St Mirren Park, Paisley
15:00		Report		Attendance: 1,800

Stenhousemuir v Peterhead

2 August 2003	Stenhousemuir	0–3	Peterhead	Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir
15:00		Report		Attendance: 423

Stranraer v Queen of the South

2 August 2003	Stranraer	2–1	Queen of the South	Stair Park, Stranraer
15:00		Report		Attendance: 875

Source: ESPN Soccernet Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine

Second round

Brechin City v Stirling Albion

12 August 2003	Brechin City	3–1	Stirling Albion	Glebe Park, Brechin
19:30		Report		Attendance: 246

Clyde v St Johnstone

12 August 2003	Clyde	0–1	St Johnstone	Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
19:30		Report		Attendance: 1,521

Forfar Athletic v Albion Rovers

12 August 2003	Forfar Athletic	4 – 2 (a.e.t.)	Albion Rovers	Station Park, Forfar
19:30		Report		Attendance: 423

Greenock Morton v Airdrie United

12 August 2003	Greenock Morton	1–2	Airdrie United	Cappielow, Greenock
19:30		Report		Attendance: 3,317

Ross County v Dumbarton

12 August 2003	Ross County	5–0	Dumbarton	Victoria Park, Dingwall
19:30		Report		Attendance: 861

Peterhead v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

12 August 2003	Peterhead	1–2	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	Balmoor, Peterhead
19:45		Report		Attendance: 886

Raith Rovers v Stranraer

12 August 2003	Raith Rovers	2–0	Stranraer	Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
19:45		Report		Attendance: 1,396

St Mirren v Berwick Rangers

12 August 2003	St Mirren	2–1	Berwick Rangers	St Mirren Park, Paisley
19:45		Report		Attendance: 1,547

Source: ESPN Soccernet Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine

Quarter-finals

26 August 2003

19:30

Inverness Caledonian Thistle	1–0	Ross County
Hislop 49'	Report

Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Attendance: 2,631

Referee: W Young

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26 August 2003

19:45

Forfar Athletic	0–2	Airdrie United
Byers  85'	Report	Wilson 55' Dunn 74'

Station Park, Forfar

Attendance: 752

Referee: J Rowbotham

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26 August 2003

19:45

Raith Rovers	3–2	St Mirren
Prest 27', 62' Ellis 33' (o.g.)	Report	Russell 40' O'Neill 74'

Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy

Attendance: 1,949

Referee: D McDonald

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26 August 2003

19:45

St Johnstone	1–2	Brechin City
Forsyth 90'	Report	Jablonski 3' Fotheringham 34' (pen.)

McDiarmid Park, Perth

Attendance: 1,919

Referee: K Clarke

Semi-finals

16 September 2003

19:45

Raith Rovers	0–4	Inverness Caledonian Thistle
	Report	Wilson 28', 81' Ritchie 30', 43'

Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy

Attendance: 2,110

Referee: K Clark

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17 September 2003

19:45

Brechin City	1 – 2 (a.e.t.)	Airdrie United
White 15'	Report	Dunn 35' Gow 112' Vareille  45'

Glebe Park, Brechin

Attendance: 803

Referee: D McDonald

Final

Main article: 2003 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

26 October 2003

15:00

Inverness Caledonian Thistle	2–0	Airdrie United
Bingham 79' Hislop 89'	Report

McDiarmid Park, Perth

Attendance: 5,428

Referee: W Young

External links

• ESPN Soccernet Scottish League Challenge Cup page Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine