Berwick Rangers discover opponents for KDM Evolution Trophy league stage

Berwick Rangers’ fixtures for the league stage of this season’s KDM Evolution Trophy have been confirmed.

The Borderers are 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.

And Berwick have now discovered their opponents for the first stage of the tournament. Kevin Haynes’ men will kick off their campaign at home against Hearts B on August 11th, before travelling to Annan Athletic on August 25th. Rangers will then host Hibernian B on September 8th, and Stranraer later that month on September 22nd. The following Saturday, September 26th, they will face Airdreonians at the Excelsior Stadium, before rounding off their league phase with another home clash against Queen of the South on October 13th.

Over £1.3 million in prize money was shared between clubs for last season’s KDM Evolution Trophy, and the SPFL have confirmed that last season’s prize money has been maintained for the 2026/27 tournament.