Berwick Rangers set to take part in 2026/27 KDM Evolution Trophy alongside SPFL clubs

The SPFL have announced the details of next season’s KDM Evolution Trophy, with Berwick Rangers set to be one of 10 clubs from across the Scottish Highland Football League and the Scottish Lowland Football Leagues East and West to be offered an invitational spot in the competition.

Following the success of last term’s revamped tournament - which included an inaugural league phase - the coming campaign will see 40 teams compete in an expanded version of the format.

Alongside Berwick, Banks o’Dee, Bonnyrigg Rose, Clachnacuddin, Clydebank, Cowdenbeath, Cumbernauld Colts, Formartine United, Fraserburgh, and Gala Fairydean Rovers will also enter the opening round. They will be joined by 10 William Hill League 1 clubs, 10 William Hill League 2 sides, and 10 William Hill Premiership B-teams.

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. William Hill Championship clubs will enter then 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.

Over £1.3 million in prize money was shared between clubs for last season’s KDM Evolution Trophy, which was an increase of more than 50% on the previous year. The SPFL has also confirmed that last season’s prize money has been maintained for the 2026/27 tournament, with the winners receiving £150,000, and the runners-up pocketing £100,000.

The KDM Evolution Trophy league phase will commence on the midweek of August 11th and 12th, and Championship clubs will again enter at the Round of 32 stage on November 3rd and 4th. The final will taking place on either the weekend of March 27th or April 3rd. Fixtures for the league phase will be published on Thursday 16th July at 1pm.