Kelty Hearts F.C.

Kelty Hearts Football Club are a football club based in the village of Kelty in Fife, Scotland. Formed in 1975 and nicknamed "the Hearts" and "the Jambos", they play their home games at New Central Park. Their home strip colours are maroon, with white shorts and maroon socks, while their away strip colours are blue, with blue shorts and blue socks.
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.
Kelty Hearts compete in the Lowland League, the fifth tier of the Scottish football league system, having been promoted from the East of Scotland Football League. The club were previously members of the Fife Junior League and the SJFA East Superleague, which is the highest division of the East Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association.
History.
In 1975, Kelty Hearts were formed as Kelty Hearts Amateur Football Club. The club turned junior after only a few years to remain competitive with other local sides.
Kelty reached the Scottish Junior Cup final twice but were runners up both times. In 1999 they were defeated 1–0 by 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.
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 353. There is a social club and a sports bar 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. Kelty and Hill of Beath would often exchange Fife league title wins from year to year, also frequently meet in cup competitions.
Kelty Hearts are currently in the league above Hill of Beath, competing in the Lowland League. However, they can still face each other in some cup competitions.
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.
A lot of former West junior teams had considered Kelty competitive rivals due to the club's success in the East and meeting several times in the Scottish Junior Cup.
Current squad.
As of 2 April 2021
Season-by-season record.
Senior.
† 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.