Kelty Hearts F.C.

Kelty Hearts

Full name	Kelty Hearts Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Hearts The Maroon Machine [1] The Jambos [2]
Founded	1975;49 years ago (1975) [3]
Ground	New Central Park [4] Bath Street Kelty
Capacity	2,181 (354 seated) [4]
Chairman	Thomas Rowley
Manager	Michael Tidser
League	Scottish League One
2023–24	Scottish League One, 6th of 10
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

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
Former names	Central Park (until 2015)
Location	Bath Street, Kelty, Scotland
Capacity	2,181 (354 seated) [4]
Record attendance	2,300 v Rangers XI 7 October 2012 [4]
Field size	100 x 60 m
Surface	Artificial turf
Construction
Renovated	2015, 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 two 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 compete 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 7 May 2024 ^[25]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   SCO Kyle Gourlay 2 DF   SCO Adam Corbett 4 DF   SCO Thomas O'Ware 8 MF   SCO Reece Lyon (captain) 9 FW   SCO Craig Johnston 10 FW   SCO Ross Cunningham 11 FW   SCO Stefan McCluskey 12 MF   SCO Michael Tidser

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 FW   SCO Botti Biabi 15 MF   SCO Lewis Owens 17 MF   SCO Billy Owens 22 FW   SCO Finlay Shearer 23 MF   SCO Lewis Moore — MF   SCO Roy Garvie — MF   SCO Keir McGiffen -- FW   SCO Jordan Hunter

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Manager	Michael Tidser
Assistant manager	Kevin McDonald
Goalkeeping coach	David McGurn
Physio	Luisa Robertson
Sports therapist	Jamie McDonald
Kitman	Calum Wood

Managers

• Tam Courts (2 October 2013 – 11 October 2018)
• Barry Ferguson (18 October 2018 – 24 May 2021)
• Kevin Thomson (28 May 2021 – 31 May 2022)
• John Potter (8 June 2022 – 12 May 2023)

• Michael Tidser (17 May 2023 – present)

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 ^[26] and 2020–21 season. A points per game basis was used to finalise standings. ^[27]

Honours

Senior

• League Two
  • Winners: 2021–22
• Lowland League
  • Winners: 2019–20, ^[15] 2020–21 ^[28]
• East of Scotland Football League
  • Winners: 2017–18 ^[29]
• King Cup
  • Winners: 2017–18

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 ^[30]
• 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

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. "Kelty Hearts History". Kelty Hearts FC. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
4. "New Central Park, Kelty, Fife". Kelty Hearts FC. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
5. "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. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
8. "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. 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. "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. "Non League Scotland". nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
20. Towns, Fields and Clubs of Fife Archived 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 23 September 2020.
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. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
30. Aitken, John. "Towns, Fields & Clubs of Fife" (PDF). Scottish Football Historical Archive.

External links

• Official website
• Kelty Hearts F.C. on Facebook
• Kelty Hearts F.C. on Twitter

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