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The Scottish FA Challenge Cup, also known as '''The Scottish Cup''', is the national cup knockout competition in Scottish Football . The trophy awarded to the winners has the distinction of being the oldest national trophy in the world. The Scottish Cup started in 1873 when Queen's Park beat Clydesdale 2-0. The competition is of a similar format to the FA Cup with a knockout, single elimination, format where teams are drawn against each other randomly (no seedings are present). In the draw, the team who is drawn first from each tie is the home team. If the first match finishes a draw then a replay is played at the stadium of the second team. In the replay, if the scores are still level, extra time is played and penalties to decide the winner of the tie. The Semi-Final matches are played at neutral stadiums, usually the national stadium Hampden Park . The Final is traditionally played at Hampden, but as the ground underwent complete rebuilding in stages during the 1990s some finals were staged at Celtic Park and Ibrox . Clubs in the Scottish League Third Division and Second Division qualify automatically for the first round, along with four Non-league teams each from the Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) and (South) competitions. Teams in the Scottish League First Division and the Scottish Premier League have automatic byes to the third round. Like the FA Cup, the Scottish cup produces many "giant-killings" where a lower ranked team (from a lower division) defeats a high ranked team (from a higher division). Some Famous examples of giant-killings are in 1938, when second division East Fife won the cup, and in 1967 when Berwick Rangers F.C. beat Rangers F.C. 1-0. The most famous recent giant-killings came in 2000 when First Division Inverness CT beat Celtic 3-1 at Celtic Park and in 2006 when Celtic were again beaten by a First Division side, this time 2-1 by Clyde at Broadwood Stadium . The final of the 2005-06 competition will be played on May 13 , 2006 at Hampden between Heart Of Midlothian FC and Gretna FC , the 1st final in 9 years that an Old Firm side hasn't been in the final, and the 1st time ever that a team from the 3rd tier of the Scottish League, as Gretna FC currently play in Scottish Division Two . It also raises the posibility that Gretna could be playing in the UEFA Cup next season, by Hearts finishing 2nd in the Scottish Premier League (and qualifying for the Champions League ) or if Gretna win the Cup. PREVIOUS WINNERS
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