Kelty Hearts F.C.

Kelty Hearts
Full nameKelty Hearts Football Club
NicknamesThe HeartsThe Maroon Machine[1]The Jambos[2]
Founded1975 (1975)[3]
GroundNew Central Park, Kelty
Capacity2,181 (354 seated)[4]
ChairmanJordan Gardner
ManagerThomas O'Ware
LeagueScottish League One
2024–25Scottish League One, 6th of 10
Websitehttps://keltyhearts.co.uk/

Kelty Hearts Football Club is a football club based in the village of Kelty in Fife, Scotland. Formed in 1975[3] and nicknamed the Hearts, the Maroon Machine and the Jambos, they play their home games at New Central Park.[4] Their home colours are maroon shirts, white shorts and maroon socks, while their away colours are typically all blue.

Kelty Hearts compete in Scottish League One, 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.[5]

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.[6] The club turned junior after only a few years to remain competitive with other local sides.[7] 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.[8]

Kelty looked to move away from being a junior side after winning the East Region Super League for the second time in 2017.[9] 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.[5]

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.[10][11]

The team had been managed since October 2013 by Tam Courts but the club reluctantly accepted his resignation as manager on 11 October 2018.[12]

Former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson was announced as the club's new manager on 18 October 2018.[13]

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.[14][15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

Ground

New Central Park
Kelty Hearts v Solihull Moors, 2019
New Central Park is located in Fife
New Central Park
New Central Park
Location within Fife
Former namesCentral Park (until 2015)
LocationBath Street,Kelty,Scotland
Coordinates56°08′10″N3°22′46″W / 56.13625°N 3.37945°W / 56.13625; -3.37945
Capacity2,181 (354 seated)[4]
Record attendance2,300 v Rangers XI7 October 2012[4]
Field size100 x 60 m
SurfaceArtificial turf
Construction
Renovated2015, 2016, 2018[19]
Tenants
Kelty Hearts (1979–)[20]Kelty Hearts Women (2018–)Dunfermline Athletic Reserves

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.[4] 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.[19]

Dunfermline Athletic Reserves also play their home games at New Central Park.[21]

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.[22]

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.[23] 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.[8][24]

Upon gaining promotion to the SPFL, Kelty competed in the bigger Fife derbies, with their closest rivals being Cowdenbeath, the two separated by just 2.7 miles (4.3 km).

Current squad

As of 2 February 2026[25]

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 SCOMurray Thomas
3 DF SCOBrody Paterson
4 DF SCOThomas O'Ware
5 DF SCOCallum Flatman
6 MF SCOAlex Ferguson
7 MF SCOLewis Moore
8 MF SCOAaron Arnott
9 FW SCOCraig Johnston
10 MF SCOInnes Murray
11 MF TANRobbie Cole
12 DF SCOSam Fisher(on loan from Dunfermline Athletic)
14 FW SCOJames Graham
15 MF ENGCraig Clay(captain)
17 MF SCOLuke McCarvel
No.Pos.Nation Player
18 MF ENGArran Pettifer
19 MF SCOClark Bexfield
20 DF SCODylan Corr
21 GK SCORyan Adamson
24 FW SCOCammy Cooper(on loan from Airdrieonians)
27 DF SCOJack Wyllie(on loan from Rangers)
28 MF SCODarren McInally
29 FW SCOBailey Campbell
30 MF SCOGrant Leitch
31 DF SCOGreig Young
35 DF SCOJack Brydon
46 GK SCOKyle Gourlay
-- MF SCORoss Cunningham

U20 players featuring in a matchday squad

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
— GK SCOCole Miller
— DF SCOArchie Margetts
— DF SCOJay McGarver
— MF SCOCameron Brown
— MF SCOEthan Hamilton
No.Pos.Nation Player
— MF SCOKian McHale
— MF SCOJay Snoody
— MF SCOAdam Winiarski
— FW SCOHarris Sutherland

On loan

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
— DF SCOCorrie Fellows(on loan at Bonnyrigg Rose)
— DF SCOBen Hobbs(on loan at East Stirlingshire)

Coaching staff

PositionName
ManagerScotlandThomas O'Ware
Assistant managerScotlandMichael Tidser
Goalkeeping coachScotlandDavid McGurn
PhysioEngland Daniel Biggs
KitmanScotland Calum Wood

Managers

Season-by-season record

Season Division Tier Pos. Pld. W D L GD Pts Scottish Amateur Cup
Scottish Junior Cup
Scottish Cup
1975–76Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1
1976–77Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1
1977–78Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1
1978–79Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1 1st
1979–80Kirkcaldy & District Amateur League Amateur 1
1980–81Fife Junior LeagueJunior 12nd 30 19 8 3 +3046 2nd Round
1981–82Fife Junior League Junior 1 3rd 30 16 7 7 +34394th Round
1982–83Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 32 22 6 4 +45 50
1983–84Fife Junior League Junior 1 34
1984–85Fife Junior League Junior 1 34 2nd Round
1985–86Fife Junior League Junior 1 341st Round
1986–87Fife Junior League East Section Junior 1 2nd 24 14 5 5 +27 335th Round
1987–88Fife Junior League Division 1 Junior 1 2nd 24 15 3 6 +17 33
1988–89Fife Junior League Division 1 Junior 1 2nd 24 13 5 6 +27 31
1989–90Fife Junior League Junior 1 4th 30 15 7 8 +32 37
1990–91Fife Junior League Division A Junior 1 1st 21 14 5 2 +31 33 2nd Round
1991–92Fife Junior League Junior 1 1st 26 22 1 3 +57 45 2nd Round
1992–93Fife Junior League Junior 1 1st 26 22 3 1 +50 47 3rd Round
1993–94Fife Junior League Junior 1 5th 28 14 7 7 +53 35
1994–95Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 28 17 4 7 +47 38 5th Round
1995–96Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 28 20 3 5 +64 43
1996–97Fife Junior League Junior 1 1st 28 27 1 0 +84 55 4th Round
1997–98Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 28 21 6 1 +60 69 2nd Round
1998–99Fife Junior League Junior 1 1st 30 26 3 1 +77 81 Runners-up
1999–2000Fife Junior League Junior 1 2nd 28 21 3 4 +68 66 4th Round
2000–01Fife Junior League Junior 1 4th 28 16 6 6 +41 54 3rd Round
2001–02Fife Junior League Junior 1 6th 28 15 7 6 +18 52 4th Round
2002–03 Fife District LeagueJunior 2 1st 22 18 3 1 +47 57 4th Round
2003–04 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 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 LeagueJunior 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
2010–11Junior East Super League Junior 1 9th 22 7 3 12 -9 24 1st Round
2011–12Junior East Super League Junior 1 5th 20 7 5 8 -2 26 1st Round
2012–13Junior East Super League Junior 1 5th 22 8 4 10 0 28 Quarter-finals
2013–14Junior East Super League Junior 1 14th 30 5 11 14 -18 26 1st Round
2014–15Junior East Super League Junior 1 1st 28 20 5 3 +40 65 3rd Round
2015–16Junior East Super League Junior 1 2nd 30 19 5 6 +29 62 5th Round
2016–17Junior East Super League Junior 1 1st 30 25 3 2 +55 78 5th Round
2017–18East of Scotland League6 1st 24 23 0 1 +131 69 Preliminary Round 1, losing to Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
2018–19Lowland League5 3rd 28 16 6 6 +29 54 2nd Round, losing to Peterhead
2019–20Lowland League 5 1st† 25 22 2 1 +78 68 1st Round, losing to Auchinleck Talbot
2020–21Lowland League 5 1st† 13 12 0 1 +36 36 2nd Round, losing to Stranraer
2021–22League Two4 1st 36 24 9 3 +40 81 5th Round, losing to St Mirren
2022–23League One3 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[26] and 2020–21 season. A points per game basis was used to finalise standings.[27]

Honours

Senior

Junior

References

  1. ^"Club info". Kelty Hearts FC. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  2. ^Hart, Ross (9 December 2016). "Kelty Hearts boss Thomas Courts hails Jordan Moore in Jambos win while Crossgates Primrose hit six". Dunfermline Press. Newsquest. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  3. ^ ab"Kelty Hearts History". Kelty Hearts FC. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. ^ abcde"New Central Park, Kelty, Fife". Kelty Hearts FC. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  5. ^ ab"Kelty Hearts confirmed as the 89th Scottish FA member club". Scottish Football Association. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  6. ^"Club History". Kelty Hearts FC. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  7. ^"Kelty Hearts - History". Kelty Hearts. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  8. ^ ab"Linlithgow Rose 2-1 Kelty Hearts". 3 June 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  9. ^"Kelty accepted into East of Scotland League". Dunfermline Press. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  10. ^"KELTY HEARTS WIN PROMOTION TO LOWLAND LEAGUE". Pars Review. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  11. ^"The only way is up for Kelty!". Dunfermline Press. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  12. ^"Kelty Hearts Football Club on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  13. ^Online, Record Sport (18 October 2018). "Rangers legend Barry Ferguson agrees deal to join Kelty Hearts as manager". dailyrecord. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  14. ^"Kelty Hearts named champions as Lowland League called early". BBC Sport. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  15. ^ ab"Season Ends With Immediate Effect - Kelty Hearts crowned as champions". Scottish Lowland League. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  16. ^"Brora Rangers & Kelty Hearts champions as Highland & Lowland League seasons end". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  17. ^Mair, Steven (23 May 2021). "Barry Ferguson's Kelty Hearts promoted to Scottish Professional Football League". Daily Record. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  18. ^Online, BBC Sport (26 March 2022). "Scottish League 2: Kelty Hearts crowned champions at first attempt after win over Stenhousemuir". Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  19. ^ ab"Non League Scotland". nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  20. ^Towns, Fields and Clubs of FifeArchived 16 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine, via Scottish Football Historical Archive, 2012
  21. ^"Scotland - Dunfermline Athletic FC Reserves - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  22. ^thefitbanomad (25 February 2018). "Kicking Off at Kelty". TheFitbaNomad. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  23. ^"Hearts and Haws set for Junior Cup cracker". Dunfermline Press. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  24. ^"Robbie Horn: Bonnyrigg Rose deserved more than tough defeat to Lowland League title rivals Kelty Hearts". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  25. ^"Squad - Kelty Hearts Football Club". www.keltyhearts.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  26. ^"Kelty Hearts named champions as Lowland League called early". BBC Sport. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  27. ^Team, Media (30 March 2021). "Finalising season 2020/21". Scottish Lowland League. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  28. ^Wilson, Fraser (29 March 2021). "Barry Ferguson's Kelty Hearts declared Lowland League champions". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  29. ^"Honours". Kelty Hearts FC. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  30. ^Aitken, John. "Towns, Fields & Clubs of Fife"(PDF). Scottish Football Historical Archive.

56°08′09″N3°22′43″W / 56.1359°N 3.3786°W / 56.1359; -3.3786

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