Kelty Hearts Football Club is a football club based in the village of Kelty in Fife, Scotland. Formed in 1975, the club currently competes in . Their home colours are maroon shirts, white shorts and maroon socks, while their away colours are typically all blue. They play their home games at New Central Park and are nicknamed the "Maroon Machine", "the Jambos" and "the Hearts".
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.
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. The club turned junior after only a few years to remain competitive with other local sides. 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.
Kelty looked to move away from being a junior side after winning the East Region Super League for the second time in 2017. 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.
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.
The team had been managed since October 2013 by Tam Courts but the club reluctantly accepted his resignation as manager on 11 October 2018.
Former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson was announced as the club's new manager on 18 October 2018.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Ground
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. 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.
Dunfermline Athletic Reserves also play their home games at New Central Park.
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.
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. 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.
Upon gaining promotion to the SPFL, Kelty competed in the bigger Fife derbies, with their closest rivals being Cowdenbeath, the two separated by just .
Current squad
On loan
Coaching staff Position NameInterim Manager Michael TidserGoalkeeping coach Jamie RobertsPhysiotherapist Charley FotheringhamKitman Calum Wood
Managers
Season-by-season record Season DivisionTier Pos.Pld. W D L GD Pts Scottish Amateur Cup Scottish Junior Cup Scottish Cup1975–76Kirkcaldy & District Amateur LeagueAmateur 11976–77Kirkcaldy & District Amateur LeagueAmateur 11977–78Kirkcaldy & District Amateur LeagueAmateur 11978–79Kirkcaldy & District Amateur LeagueAmateur 11st1979–80Kirkcaldy & District Amateur LeagueAmateur 11980–81Fife Junior LeagueJunior 1 2nd301983+30462nd Round1981–82Fife Junior LeagueJunior 13rd301677+34394th Round1982–83Fife Junior LeagueJunior 12nd322264 +45501983–84Fife Junior LeagueJunior 1 34 1984–85Fife Junior LeagueJunior 1342nd Round1985–86Fife Junior LeagueJunior 1 34 1st Round1986–87Fife Junior League East SectionJunior 12nd241455+27335th Round1987–88Fife Junior League Division 1Junior 12nd241536+17331988–89Fife Junior League Division 1Junior 12nd241356+27311989–90Fife Junior LeagueJunior 14th301578+32371990–91Fife Junior League Division AJunior 11st211452+31332nd Round1991–92Fife Junior LeagueJunior 11st262213 +57452nd Round1992–93Fife Junior LeagueJunior 11st262231 +50473rd Round1993–94Fife Junior LeagueJunior 15th281477 +53351994–95Fife Junior LeagueJunior 12nd281747 +47385th Round1995–96Fife Junior LeagueJunior 12nd282035 +64431996–97Fife Junior LeagueJunior 11st282710 +84554th Round1997–98Fife Junior LeagueJunior 12nd282161 +60692nd Round1998–99Fife Junior LeagueJunior 11st302631 +7781Runners-up1999–2000Fife Junior LeagueJunior 12nd282134 +68664th Round2000–01Fife Junior LeagueJunior 14th281666 +41543rd Round2001–02Fife Junior LeagueJunior 16th281576 +18524th Round2002–03Fife District LeagueJunior 21st221831 +47574th Round2003–04Junior East Super LeagueJunior 17th2284100243rd Round2004–05Fife District LeagueJunior 23rd221543 +38493rd Round2005–06Fife District LeagueJunior 24th241455 +31471st Round2006–07Junior East Premier LeagueJunior 22nd221336 +2042Runners-up2007–08Junior East Super LeagueJunior 17th2284100283rd Round2008–09Junior East Super LeagueJunior 15th22868 +8302nd Round2009–10Junior East Super LeagueJunior 19th22769 -6273rd Round2010–11Junior East Super LeagueJunior 19th227312 -9241st Round2011–12Junior East Super LeagueJunior 15th20758 -2261st Round2012–13Junior East Super LeagueJunior 15th228410028Quarter-finals2013–14Junior East Super LeagueJunior 114th3051114 -18261st Round2014–15Junior East Super LeagueJunior 11st282053 +40653rd Round2015–16Junior East Super LeagueJunior 12nd301956 +29625th Round2016–17Junior East Super LeagueJunior 11st302532 +55785th Round2017–18East of Scotland League61st242301 +13169Preliminary Round 1, losing to Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale2018–19Lowland League53rd281666 +29542nd Round, losing to Peterhead2019–20Lowland League51st†252221 +78681st Round, losing to Auchinleck Talbot2020–21Lowland League51st†131201 +36362nd Round, losing to Stranraer2021–22League Two41st362493 +40815th Round, losing to St Mirren2022–23League One38th36101016 -15403rd Round, losing to Partick Thistle† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic - Kelty were announced as champions for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 season. A points per game basis was used to finalise standings.
Honours
Senior League Two Winners: 2021–22 Lowland League Winners: 2019–20, 2020–21 East of Scotland Football League Winners: 2017–18 King Cup Winners: 2017–18 East of Scotland (City) Cup: Winners: 2023–24
Junior East Region Super League Winners: 2014–15, 2016–17 Runners-up: 2015–16 Scottish Junior Cup Runners-up: 1998–99, 2006–07 SJFA East Region Premier League Runners-up: 2006–07 SJFA Fife District League: 2002–03 Fife Junior League winners: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97, 1998–99 Fife Junior (PSM) Cup: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1992–93, 2007–08, 2008–09 Fife & Tayside (Taycars) Trophy Winners 1997–98 Cowdenbeath (Interbrew) Cup: 1981–82, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1992–93, 1999–00 Fife Drybrough Cup: 1981–82 Laidlaw Shield winners: 1984–85, 1986–87 Clark Beckett Cup: 1993–94 ACA Sports Fife League Cup: 2006–07 Maloco Associates (Fife) Cup: 2007–08, 2008–09 Rosslyn Trophy Winners: 1991–92, 1996–97
References
External links