So this will start as a 30 team league, comprising League 1, League 2 and SPL B teams. Each team plays 6 matches (between August and November) then the top 22 progress to the knockout stage where the 10 Championship sides join.

The prize money has been increased, but I expect teams like us will be using the group stage to give game time to youngsters and fringe players.

Four of the six games are midweek.

I think I saw somewhere that the B teams will play all their games away from home so we could have four home games if that is right.

A very uninspiring format though.

Are they trying to emulate the Champions League with the 30 team league phase 🙄🙄🙄?

 

One thing I will say though is, our record in the league cup has actually been pretty poor, we haven't gotten out of group stages since the year we got hammered 5-0 by Motherwell in a midweek knockout game under Billy Dodds (I think).

So I'd like to see us do well in it this coming year but I suppose success depends on the draw we get!

10 hours ago, CaleyTennis85 said:

Are they trying to emulate the Champions League with the 30 team league phase 🙄🙄🙄?

That's exactly what they're doing. All aimed at getting B teams more game time to the detriment of other sides.
 

  

10 hours ago, CaleyTennis85 said:

One thing I will say though is, our record in the league cup has actually been pretty poor, we haven't gotten out of group stages since the year we got hammered 5-0 by Motherwell in a midweek knockout game under Billy Dodds (I think).

This is the Challenge Cup though not the League Cup. Your point about our appalling record in the LC still stands. I think we had our best run in the LC under Foran...!!

I really don’t like this set up. Why are the Championship sides not thrown in at this stage? That is the whole point of the new CL set up. To get the bigger sides playing each other early and allowing the smaller teams a chance at qualification.

It’s also a ridiculous decision to pull all Highland and Lowland teams to accommodate the B teams. 30 teams initially enter and we play 6 games to knock out 8 B teams.

What a waste of time 

Oh great, more early round Challenge cup games, it's just what everyone has been crying out for!

 

Chance for a little more variety in opposition, opportunity to see more games, and with it the additional ticket income for clubs.

Are these not all things people have been asking for?

Our home games will be loss-making, I expect.

2 hours ago, CaleyD said:

Chance for a little more variety in opposition, opportunity to see more games, and with it the additional ticket income for clubs.

Are these not all things people have been asking for?

I’m all for more games to go to, but as for the format it’s been thrown together poorly. Could have been better I think. 

I can't imagine there are many fans desperate for more games in the Challenge Cup. Against B teams. In the middle of the week.

1 hour ago, RiG said:

I can't imagine there are many fans desperate for more games in the Challenge Cup. Against B teams. In the middle of the week.

Only if they are within an hour or so I’d imagine. For most fans that’ll be home games, for me I’ll be quite happy if any of them hit the central belt.

2 hours ago, RiG said:

I can't imagine there are many fans desperate for more games in the Challenge Cup. Against B teams. In the middle of the week.

But if we were playing a 'bigger' team, fans would somehow make the effort midweek.

The thousands who turned up for our Scottish Cup finals/semi finals get criticised/questioned as to where they are the rest of the time.  Yet here we have a similar scenario where 75% of those who turn up for a league match are nowhere to be seen for a challenge cup match.

That's not the fault of the competition or the format.  That's indicative of football fans' attitude in general...and not just with us.  We all follow our team, but somehow our perception of the opposition can be a bigger factor in whether we attend or not 🤷‍♂️

14 hours ago, CaleyD said:

Yet here we have a similar scenario where 75% of those who turn up for a league match are nowhere to be seen for a challenge cup match.

That's not the fault of the competition or the format.  That's indicative of football fans' attitude in general...and not just with us. 

Not everyone has the cash to splash on games outside those that their season ticket covers. Nor does everyone have the spare time to commit to football due to other important areas such as work commitments, family commitments etc. I love ICT, but I also have a life and financial commitments away from football.

16 minutes ago, CaleyHedgehog said:

Not everyone has the cash to splash on games outside those that their season ticket covers. Nor does everyone have the spare time to commit to football due to other important areas such as work commitments, family commitments etc. I love ICT, but I also have a life and financial commitments away from football.

That's fine...but it has nothing to do with the tournament format.

21 hours ago, Yngwie said:

Our home games will be loss-making, I expect.

Yeah, More like friendlies for me. Might pop along if a team or player comes up that I might like to see again. Other than that TBH I’m less interested. 
bc 

Edited May 27, 20251 yr by big cherly

Many of the most memorable games in our club's history have been in the later stages of the various cup competitions.  To be in the later stages of a cup, you need to win in the earlier stages.  I therefore like to support the team in the early rounds.  The challenge cup is also a great opportunity to get an early look at new players and how the team is shaping up.  

Draw tomorrow for this farce of a cup.

I think I’m correct but can anyone confirm?

We are to draw 3 teams from the League Two North Pot and 3 teams from the SPFL B teams.

That would give us 3 from these 4

Elgin, Forfar, Stirling and Spartans

Then 3 from these 4

Aberdeen B , Dundee B, Hibs B and Dundee Utd B

I should probably mention although I believe the format of the competition is a farce. I actually like the opportunity to go deep into a competition but it’s too many games.

League minimum 36

Challenge Cup minimum 6

League Cup minimum 4

Scottish Cup minimum 1

47 games as a minimum for us and several part time clubs 🤯

I’ve not seen how it works but it will be good if we avoid any League 1 teams if your information is right.

2 hours ago, Robert said:

I’ve not seen how it works but it will be good if we avoid any League 1 teams if your information is right.

Yeah I think you miss playing anyone from your own pot. We shall see!

Not sure if anyone managed to follow the draw.

If you start the video at 9 minutes you will be able to see all North fixtures.

Looks like I was correct. Now if this format doesn’t change does this mean we’re stuck only ever able to get 6 out of the same 8 teams each season?

The SPFL and KDM Group have today unveiled the new KDM Evolution Trophy as fixtures for the league phase of the revamped Challenge Cup competition were launched at Hampden.

Official ICTFC Site

ICTFC’s league phase fixtures are as follows:

Matchday 1: Tues 12th Aug, 7.45pm KO, Elgin City v ICTFC

Matchday 2: Tues 26th Aug, 7.45pm KO, ICTFC v Aberdeen B

Matchday 3: Sat 6th Sep, 3pm KO, ICTFC v Stirling Albion

Matchday 4: Tues 23rd Sep, 7.45pm KO, ICTFC v Dundee B

Matchday 5: Sat 11 Oct, 3pm KO, Forfar Athletic v ICTFC

Matchday 6: Tues 11 Nov, 7.45pm KO, ICTFC v Dundee United B

KDM EVOLUTION TROPHY 2025/26 LEAGUE PHASE FIXTURE LIST IN FULL

The bespoke silverware was created by famous designers, Thomas Lyte, who commissioned other major trophies including Guiness Six Nations, Emirates FA Cup, Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup, Lions Series Trophy, the Ryder Cup and most recently the new SWPL trophies.

Its unveiling comes as the SPFL today announced fixtures for the KDM Evolution Trophy’s opening-round league phase, which kicks off on Tuesday August 12.

A total of 90 games will be played over six matchdays across the league phase, which comprises 10 William Hill League 1 clubs, 10 William Hill League 2 clubs, and 10 William Hill Premiership B-teams. The 22 highest-placed clubs will then be joined by the 10 William Hill Championship clubs for the start of the knock-out stages.

I’m not so sure Thomas Lyte has designed that. To me it looks like plagiarism to go with the new knock off european format.

So, after 90 group stage matches, 32 of the 40 participating teams are in the knockout stage and only 8 have been eliminated.