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One of the biggest cups in Scottish football is now available to stream in the United States. That's right, US media rights to the storied Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup were purchased by ESPN+.
The cup traces its roots all the way back to the 1990-91 season, when the B&Q Centenary Cup was conceived to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Scottish Football League. Originally played as a one-off tournament, the competition was so popular that the Scottish FA decided to make it an annual event.
Previous generations had "One giant leap for mankind".
We have "The Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup".For @Football_SCOT, a look at the greatest Scottish cup draw since drunk Rod Stewart https://t.co/pO95209Wyh pic.twitter.com/2pUSbLQ1YX— Oldfirmfacts (@Oldfirmfacts1) June 26, 2019
The first tournament contained 28 teams, but the competition now consists of 58 clubs:
- All 12 Scottish Premiership U-21 sides
- 30 clubs from the next three levels of Scottish professional football (Championship, League One and League Two),
- Four clubs each from the regional Highland and Lowland Leagues (fifth tier)
Now here's where it gets crazy. Two clubs each from:
- Northern Ireland's NIFL Premiership
- Wales' Cymru Premier League
- English National League (fifth tier)
- League of Ireland Premier Division.
Played without any top-tier sides, the competition provides an opportunity for smaller clubs to win a trophy. In 1996, third-tier club Stenhousemuir won the cup, defeating Dundee United in the final on penalties in what is considered the biggest moment in club history.
Due to COVID-19, the cup final was cancelled last season and the competition was shelved again this year, but starting in 2021-22, select Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup matches will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
So get ready to sit down with some caramel wafers and enjoy the "the daddy of them all."
HEATWAVE
PRO: Beer gardensCON: The Challenge Cup’s melted pic.twitter.com/mofSSl4Rac
— Oldfirmfacts (@Oldfirmfacts1) June 27, 2019
