The SPFL has announced the format of the KDM Evolution Trophy for season 2026/27. 

Following the success of last season’s revamped competition – which included an inaugural league phase – season 2026/27 will now see more clubs compete in an expanded 40-club league phase.

The following 10 guest clubs across the Scottish Highland Football League and the Scottish Lowland Football League East and West have accepted invitations into this season’s competition:

• Banks o’ Dee
• Berwick Rangers
• Bonnyrigg Rose
• Clachnacuddin
• Clydebank
• Cowdenbeath
• Cumbernauld Colts
• Formartine United
• Fraserburgh
• Gala Fairydean Rovers

They will join 10 William Hill League 1, 10 William Hill League 2 and 10 William Hill Premiership B-teams in the tournament’s opening round.

Clubs participating in the league phase will be split into four pots by division, with each club playing two different opponents from each other pot, totalling six matches. William Hill Premiership B-teams will again play all league phase matches away from home.

Points gained by clubs across six matchdays will feed into one league table, with the top 22 clubs qualifying for the knock-out Round of 32.

We, along with the other 9 Championship sides, will enter the competition in the Round of 32 as seeded clubs, alongside teams finishing in the top six of the league phase, with the remainder of the competition following a traditional knock-out format.

Member clubs and the Scottish FA considered the new set-up hugely beneficial for youth players in providing more opportunities in the key ‘transition phase’ of ages 16-21, as players move from the academy environment to senior football. Youth prospects aged 15 will continue to be eligible to participate in the KDM Evolution Trophy, following a successful trial. The Scottish FA Cooperation System, which was designed to strengthen youth development in Scotland, has also been extended.

The KDM Evolution Trophy league phase will commence on the midweek of August 11/12, with ourselves and the other Championship clubs entering at the Round of 32 stage on November 3/4, with the 2026/27 showpiece final taking place on either the weekend of March 27/28 or April 3/4.

The fixtures for the 2026/27 KDM Evolution Trophy league phase will be published on Thursday 16 July at 1.00pm.

A summary of key competition dates is set out below:

League Phase MD1: August 11/12
League Phase MD2: August 25/26
League Phase MD3: September 8/9
League Phase MD4: September 22/23
League Phase MD5: September 26/27
League Phase MD6: October 13

Round of 32: November 3/4
Round of 16: November 24/25
Quarter-finals: January 12/13
Semi-finals: February 9/10
Final: March 27/28 or April 3/4

Having won the competition as the SPFL Trust Trophy back in 2024/25, we’ll have our minds set on looking to continue that success into the KDM Evolution Trophy this season too!

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