Kelty Hearts F.C.

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Kelty Hearts Football Club is a football club based in the village of Kelty in Fife, Scotland. Formed in 1975[1] and nicknamed the Hearts, the Maroon Machine and the Jambos, they play their home games at New Central Park.[2] Their home colours are maroon shirts, white shorts and maroon socks, while their away colours are typically all blue.

Kelty Hearts compete in Template:Scottish football updater, having been promoted from Scottish League Two as champions in 2022.

The club were previously members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, playing in the Fife League followed by the East Region Superleague. In December 2017 the club became a full SFA member, making them eligible to enter the Scottish Cup and move up through the pyramid system.[3]

History

In 1975, Kelty Hearts were formed as Kelty Hearts Amateur Football Club and worked their way up from the bottom of the Kirkcaldy & District Amateur Football Association to the top in four seasons.[4] The club turned junior after only a few years to remain competitive with other local sides.[5] They initially played in the Fife League, one of six regions across the country, quickly becoming one of its leading sides, then became members of the East Region in 2002 when the number was reduced to three.

Kelty reached the Scottish Junior Cup final twice but were runners-up both times: in 1999 they lost 1–0 to Kilwinning Rangers, and in 2007 they were defeated 2–1 after extra time by Linlithgow Rose.[6]

Kelty looked to move away from being a junior side after winning the East Region Super League for the second time in 2017.[7] The club applied for membership to join the SFA and in December 2017 became a full member, making them eligible to enter the Scottish Cup as well as progress higher up the Scottish football league system.[3]

After being accepted into and winning the East of Scotland Football League in 2018, Kelty were promoted to the Lowland League (the fifth tier of the Scottish football league system) for the 2018–19 season after a comprehensive 10–0 aggregate win over Threave Rovers in the promotion play-off.[8][9]

The team had been managed since October 2013 by Tam Courts but the club reluctantly accepted his resignation as manager on 11 October 2018.[10]

Former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson was announced as the club's new manager on 18 October 2018.[11]

The 2019–20 Lowland League season was ended with immediate effect on 13 April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic with Kelty Hearts being declared champions on a points per game average based on the current standings.[12][13]

For the second consecutive season, Kelty were declared champions of the 2020–21 Lowland Football League on a points per game formula due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was announced by the Lowland Football League on 30 March 2021.[14] Kelty were promoted to the SPFL for the first time on 23 May 2021 after beating Brechin City 3–1 on aggregate in the Pyramid play-off final.[15]

Continuing to make history during the 2021–22 season, Kelty, leading Scottish League Two at the time, played in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup for the first time. Facing Scottish Premiership side and cup holders St Johnstone, Kelty won 1–0 after extra time at home in front of a sold-out crowd, thanks to a goal by Kallum Higginbotham.

Kelty were promoted to Scottish League One at the first attempt with five games of the season remaining on 26 March 2022 when they beat Stenhousemuir 1–0, and nearest challengers Annan Athletic lost their match.[16]

Ground

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Kelty Hearts play their home games at New Central Park, situated just off Bath Street in Kelty.

The overall capacity of New Central Park is 2,181 and consists of two covered enclosures which can hold around 1,030 spectators in total and a seated stand with a capacity of 354.[2] There is a social club and a sports bar/hospitality lounge within the ground. The pitch at New Central Park has a 3G MX artificial surface, which was installed in 2015 along with floodlights.[17]

Dunfermline Athletic Reserves also play their home games at New Central Park.[18]

Supporters

The majority of supporters of Kelty Hearts come from the village of Kelty and surrounding areas in Fife.

Kelty are also known to attract many groundhoppers due to the club's good reputation as hosts on matchdays.[19]

Rivalries

Kelty share a fierce local rivalry with East of Scotland team Hill of Beath Hawthorn. Both clubs were founded in the same year in 1975. The rivalry mainly stems from the close proximity of the two clubs and both being very successful junior sides within the Fife League, often exchanging league title wins from year to year and frequently meeting in the cup competitions.[20] Kelty are currently many leagues above Hill of Beath; however, they can still face each other in the Scottish Cup.

Kelty's other rivals include Linlithgow Rose and Bonnyrigg Rose, two successful former East junior sides, who they have faced in both league and cup competitions over the years.[6][21]

Upon gaining promotion to the SPFL, Kelty competed in the bigger Fife derbies, with their closest rivals being Cowdenbeath, the two separated by just Script error: No such module "convert"..

Current squad

As of 30 June 2025Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[22]

<templatestyles src="Template:Football squad player/styles.css" /> Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 FW Template:Fba/core Murray Thomas
3 DF Template:Fba/core Brody Paterson
4 DF Template:Fba/core Thomas O'Ware (captain)
5 DF Template:Fba/core Callum Flatman
6 MF Template:Fba/core Alex Ferguson
7 MF Template:Fba/core Lewis Moore
8 MF Template:Fba/core Aaron Arnott
9 FW Template:Fba/core Craig Johnston
10 MF Template:Fba/core Innes Murray
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 MF Template:Fba/core Robbie Cole
14 FW Template:Fba/core James Graham
15 MF Template:Fba/core Craig Clay
16 MF Template:Fba/core Kai Kirkpatrick
17 MF Template:Fba/core Luke McCarvel
20 DF Template:Fba/core Scott Mercer
21 GK Template:Fba/core Ryan Adamson
22 DF Template:Fba/core Ben Hobbs
26 DF Template:Fba/core Corrie Fellows

On loan

<templatestyles src="Template:Football squad player/styles.css" /> Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Template:Country data IOM Rudi Bryce (on loan at Bonnyrigg Rose)

Coaching staff

Position Name
Manager Template:Flagicon Thomas O'Ware
Assistant manager Template:Flagicon Michael Paton
Goalkeeping coach Template:Flagicon David McGurn
Physio Template:Flagicon Luisa Robertson
Kitman Template:Flagicon Calum Wood

Managers

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Season-by-season record

Season Division Tier Pos. Pld. W D L GD Pts Scottish Amateur Cup
Scottish Junior Cup
Scottish Cup
1975–76 Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1
1976–77 Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1
1977–78 Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1
1978–79 Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1 1st
1979–80 Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1
1980–81 Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 30 19 8 3 +30 46 2nd Round
1981–82 Fife Junior League Junior 1 3rd 30 16 7 7 +34 39 4th Round
1982–83 Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 32 22 6 4 +45 50
1983–84 Fife Junior League Junior 1 34
1984–85 Fife Junior League Junior 1 34 2nd Round
1985–86 Fife Junior League Junior 1 34 1st Round
1986–87 Fife Junior League East Section Junior 1 2nd 24 14 5 5 +27 33 5th Round
1987–88 Fife Junior League Division 1 Junior 1 2nd 24 15 3 6 +17 33
1988–89 Fife Junior League Division 1 Junior 1 2nd 24 13 5 6 +27 31
1989–90 Fife Junior League Junior 1 4th 30 15 7 8 +32 37
1990–91 Fife Junior League Division A Junior 1 1st 21 14 5 2 +31 33 2nd Round
1991–92 Fife Junior League Junior 1 1st 26 22 1 3 +57 45 2nd Round
1992–93 Fife Junior League Junior 1 1st 26 22 3 1 +50 47 3rd Round
1993–94 Fife Junior League Junior 1 5th 28 14 7 7 +53 35
1994–95 Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 28 17 4 7 +47 38 5th Round
1995–96 Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 28 20 3 5 +64 43
1996–97 Fife Junior League Junior 1 1st 28 27 1 0 +84 55 4th Round
1997–98 Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 28 21 6 1 +60 69 2nd Round
1998–99 Fife Junior League Junior 1 1st 30 26 3 1 +77 81 Runners-up
1999–2000 Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 28 21 3 4 +68 66 4th Round
2000–01 Fife Junior League Junior 1 4th 28 16 6 6 +41 54 3rd Round
2001–02 Fife Junior League Junior 1 6th 28 15 7 6 +18 52 4th Round
2002–03 Fife District League Junior 2 1st 22 18 3 1 +47 57 4th Round
2003–04 Junior East Super League Junior 1 7th 22 8 4 10 0 24 3rd Round
2004–05 Fife District League Junior 2 3th 22 15 4 3 +38 49 3rd Round
2005–06 Fife District League Junior 2 4th 24 14 5 5 +31 47 1st Round
2006–07 Junior East Premier League Junior 2 2nd 22 13 3 6 +20 42 Runners-up
2007–08 Junior East Super League Junior 1 7th 22 8 4 10 0 28 3rd Round
2008–09 Junior East Super League Junior 1 5th 22 8 6 8 +8 30 2nd Round
2009–10 Junior East Super League Junior 1 9th 22 7 6 9 -6 27 3rd Round
2010–11 Junior East Super League Junior 1 9th 22 7 3 12 -9 24 1st Round
2011–12 Junior East Super League Junior 1 5th 20 7 5 8 -2 26 1st Round
2012–13 Junior East Super League Junior 1 5th 22 8 4 10 0 28 Quarter-finals
2013–14 Junior East Super League Junior 1 14th 30 5 11 14 -18 26 1st Round
2014–15 Junior East Super League Junior 1 1st 28 20 5 3 +40 65 3rd Round
2015–16 Junior East Super League Junior 1 2nd 30 19 5 6 +29 62 5th Round
2016–17 Junior East Super League Junior 1 1st 30 25 3 2 +55 78 5th Round
2017–18 East of Scotland League 6 1st 24 23 0 1 +131 69 Preliminary Round 1, losing to Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
2018–19 Lowland League 5 3rd 28 16 6 6 +29 54 2nd Round, losing to Peterhead
2019–20 Lowland League 5 1st† 25 22 2 1 +78 68 1st Round, losing to Auchinleck Talbot
2020–21 Lowland League 5 1st† 13 12 0 1 +36 36 2nd Round, losing to Stranraer
2021–22 League Two 4 1st 36 24 9 3 +40 81 5th Round, losing to St Mirren
2022–23 League One 3 8th 36 10 10 16 -15 40 3rd Round, losing to Partick Thistle

† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic - Kelty were announced as champions for the 2019–20[23] and 2020–21 season. A points per game basis was used to finalise standings.[24]

Honours

Senior

Junior

References

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External links

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