⚽ The Kick-Off - Friday 24th July 2026
Hibs suffer shock 2-0 defeat in Kosovo. Motherwell win at home in qualifier. Rangers sign Vanja Dragojević. Kilmarnock re-sign Aaron Tshibola. Signings for Ross County and Elgin City.
Random Scottish Football Fact #355:
Only two Scottish sides have ever progressed to the next round of European competition after losing the first leg at home. Motherwell v Llanelli and Celtic v Dynamo Moscow - both in 2009. - via Scotland’s Coefficient
LATEST SCOTTISH FOOTBALL RESULTS
🏆 UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round - First Leg
FC Malisheva 2 - 0 Hibernian
Motherwell 2 - 0 Havnar Boltfelag
LATEST NEWS
🟢 Hibernian will need to come back from two goals down against FC Malisheva if they want to progress in Europe this season. The Hibees suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to the Kosovan side.
⚽ Motherwell beat Faroes side Havnar Boltfelag 2-0 at Fir Park last night. Defender Martin Moormann opened the scoring on his debut. Lukas Fadinger was also on the scoresheet.
✍️ Rangers have signed midfielder Vanja Dragojević from FK Partizan on a four-year deal. The 20-year-old has two Serbia caps to his name so far. - Rangers FC website
🔵 Kilmarnock have re-signed 31-year-old midfielder Aaron Tshibola on a one-year deal. - Kilmarnock FC website
✍️ Ross County have signed forward Lewis Jamieson from Newport County for an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old came through the ranks at St Mirren. - Ross County website
⚫ Ross County duo, forward Calum Brown and midfielder Lewis MacKay, have joined Elgin City as part of their co-operation agreement. - Elgin City website
🍺 Aberdeen have been granted a permanent alcohol licence by Aberdeen City Council for the controlled sale of alcohol at matches at Pittodrie. Fans will be able to purchase a drink in the Richard Donald Stand Lower concourse area up until 30 minutes before kick-off throughout the season. - Aberdeen FC website
🔵 Queen of the South confirmed that Kai Kennedy had left the club by mutual consent. The Doonhamers statement said:
“As many will be aware, we have been dealing with an ongoing issue internally. It is a private matter that club officials and management have worked tirelessly to resolve whilst trying to protect the interests of the club.
Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach a suitable resolution, and the situation has become untenable.” - Queen of the South website
⚫ Edinburgh City fielded an ineligible player against Ayr United in the Premier Sports Cup last Saturday. Ayr had won the original game 2-0, but they have now been awarded a 3-0 win.
The League Two club also received a £1,250 fine, of which £750 is suspended until 1 August 2027 pending any further breaches of SPFL Player Regulations. - SPFL website
🔴 Aberdeen have appointed former Scotland Women’s National Team captain Rachel Corsie to its Board of Directors. - Aberdeen FC website
🏆 The draw for the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup Preliminary Rounds was made last night. - Scottish FA website
⚽ Ryan Gauld scored twice for Vancouver Whitecaps in their 4-3 MLS defeat to Cincinnati. The 30-year-old is returning from knee surgery that ruled him out of most of 2026 to date.
🏆 Many Premier Sports Cup permutations could see teams qualify. Here are the main ones to look out for in relation to winning the group.
Aberdeen will win Group A with at least a point at home to Kelty Hearts. Montrose also need at least a point at home to The Spartans to win Group B ahead of Dundee United.
St Mirren will top Group C if they avoid a three-goal defeat to Dunfermline Athletic. A win for Ross County away to Airdrieonians will see them top Group D. A defeat and Dundee or Clyde could pip them. Dundee host Clyde at Dens.
Stenhousemuir face Livingston at Ochilview. The winner definitely tops Group E ahead of Partick Thistle. Stenny could win the group with a bonus point draw. Livi could do the same but would need it to be a very high-scoring draw.
If Inverness Caledonian Thistle beat pointless Greenock Morton, they will win Group F. If they only draw and lose the penalty shootout, the winner of St Johnstone and East Fife will finish first. East Fife could also win the group with a bonus point if Caley only pick up a point or less.
Ayr United have already won Group G. Kilmarnock need a point away to Peterhead to top Group H.
🔙 Tomorrow is the first day of the league season for the Highland League, Lowland League East and West, and West of Scotland Football League. The East of Scotland Football League gets under way tonight with Leith Athletic hosting Lochore Welfare in the first division.
The SPFL clubs kick-off their league campaign next week.
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL FIXTURES TODAY
➡️ EAST OF SCOTLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION
Leith Athletic v Lochore Welfare (8pm)
🆚 PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Montrose Roselea v Montrose Merpro AFC (7.30pm)
Raith Rovers v Heart of Midlothian (7.30pm)
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL ON TV THIS WEEKEND
📺 Saturday
Aberdeen v Kelty Hearts (Premier Sports Player: 3pm)
Dundee v Clyde (Premier Sports Player: 3pm)
Falkirk v Stranraer (Premier Sports Player: 3pm)
Peterhead v Kilmarnock (Premier Sports Player: 3pm)
St Johnstone v East Fife (Premier Sports Player: 3pm)
📺 Sunday
St Mirren v Dunfermline Athletic (Premier Sports 1: 3pm)
(the Premier Sports Cup Round of 16 draw follows this game)
DO YOU ENJOY THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL KICK-OFF?
The Kick-Off takes a lot of time to put together and it is reader-supported as there are costs associated with it. If you would like to receive some occasional bonus Kick-Off content and allow The Scottish Football Kick-Off to have a long-term future, join the growing number of paid subscribers via the button below.
The weekday Kick-Off will always be free.
Don’t want to become a paid subscriber, but want to support? You can ‘buy me a pint’ via the button below.
(I know the normal thing to say here is ‘buy me a coffee,’ but I’ll be honest, I don’t drink coffee.)
🙏🏼 Thank you for reading today’s Scottish Football Kick-Off. 🗣️ If you like getting this email, please recommend it to a friend, work colleague or family member. 📱 Latest subscriber number: 3101 🆓 The daily kick-off will always be free.