Kelty Hearts F.C.

Kelty Hearts Football Club are a football club based in the village of Kelty in Fife, Scotland. Formed in 1975[3] and nicknamed the Hearts and the Jambos, they play their home games at New Central Park.[4] 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.

Kelty Hearts
Full nameKelty Hearts Football Club
Nickname(s)The Hearts,[1] The Jambos[2]
Founded1975 (1975)[3]
GroundNew Central Park[4]
Bath Street
Kelty
Capacity2,181 (353 seated)[4]
ChairmanIan Thomson[1]
ManagerBarry Ferguson
LeagueLowland League
2019–20Lowland League, 1st of 16 (champions)
WebsiteClub website

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]

During the 2018–19 season Kelty Hearts competed in the Lowland League, the fifth tier of the Scottish football league system, having been promoted from the East of Scotland Football League.[6][7][8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

Kelty looked to move away from being a junior side after winning the East Region Super League for the second time in 2017.[11] The club applied for membership to join the SFA and in December 2017 became an SFA 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.[12][13]

The team had been managed since October 2013 by Tam Courts but the club reluctantly accepted his resignation as manager on 11 October 2018.[14]

Former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson was announced as the club's new manager on 18 October 2018.[15]

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.[16][17]

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.[18] 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.[19]

Dunfermline Athletic Reserves also play their home games at New Central Park.[20]

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.[21]

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.[22]

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.[10][23]

A lot of former West junior teams had considered Kelty competitive rivals due to the clubs success in the East and meeting several times in the Scottish Junior Cup.[24]

Current squad

As of 12 June 2020[25]

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

No. Position Player
GK Ben Mackenzie
GK Jordan Millar
DF Danny Ashe
DF Gary Cennerazzo (captain)
DF Scott Linton
DF Keir Macaulay
DF Craig Reid
DF Tam Scobbie
MF Arnault Bembo
MF Stephen Husband
No. Position Player}
MF Sean McKirdy
MF Ross Philp
MF Thomas Reilly
MF Michael Tidser
FW Owen Andrew
FW Nathan Austin
FW Dylan Easton
FW Matty Flynn
FW Cammy Russell

Under 20s

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

No. Position Player
MF Tyler McKenzie

Staff

Coaching staff
PositionName
ManagerBarry Ferguson
Assistant ManagerBob Malcolm
CoachMurray McDowell
CoachStefan Winiarski
PhysioGordon Edwards

Season-by-season record

Senior
Season Division Pos. Pld. W D L GD Pts Scottish Cup
Kelty Hearts
2017–18East of Scotland League1st242301+13169Preliminary Round 1, losing to Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
2018–19Lowland League3rd281666+29542nd Round, losing to Peterhead
2019–20Lowland League1st†252221+78681st Round, losing to Auchinleck Talbot

† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Kelty announced champions on 13 April 2020.[26]

Honours

Major honours
  • King Cup
    • Winners: 2017–18

Other honours
  • Fife & Tayside (Taycars) Trophy Winners 1997–98
  • Fife Junior League winners: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97, 1998–99
  • Scottish Junior Football Fife District League: 2002–03
  • Fife Junior (PSM) Cup: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1992–93, 2007–08, 2008–09
  • Cowdenbeath (Interbrew) Cup: 1981–82, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1992–93, 1999–00
  • Laidlaw Shield winners: 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87
  • Clark Beckett Cup: 1993–94
  • ACA Sports 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". 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. Kelty Hearts FC [@KeltyHeartsFC] (8 June 2017). "pbs.twimg.com/media/DB0qOWXXoAENZqR.jpg" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. "Kelty Hearts continue perfect East of Scotland League record at Leith Athletic". Dunfermline Press. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  8. McLauchlin, Brian (19 April 2018). "Kelty Hearts eye SPFL as they close in on debut season title with 100% record". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  9. "Kelty Hearts - History". Kelty Hearts. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  10. "Linlithgow Rose 2-1 Kelty Hearts". 3 June 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  11. "Kelty accepted into East of Scotland League". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  12. "KELTY HEARTS WIN PROMOTION TO LOWLAND LEAGUE". Pars Review. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  13. "The only way is up for Kelty!". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  14. "Kelty Hearts Football Club on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  15. Online, Record Sport (18 October 2018). "Rangers legend Barry Ferguson agrees deal to join Kelty Hearts as manager". dailyrecord. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  16. "Kelty Hearts named champions as Lowland League called early". BBC Sport. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  17. "Season Ends With Immediate Effect - Kelty Hearts crowned as champions". Scottish Lowland League. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  18. "Kelty Hearts - NewCentral Park". www.keltyhearts.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  19. "Non League Scotland". nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  20. "Scotland - Dunfermline Athletic FC Reserves - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  21. thefitbanomad (25 February 2018). "Kicking Off at Kelty". TheFitbaNomad. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  22. "Hearts and Haws set for Junior Cup cracker". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  23. "Robbie Horn: Bonnyrigg Rose deserved more than tough defeat to Lowland League title rivals Kelty Hearts". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  24. "Buffs send Kelty packing". Irvine Times. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  25. "Squad 18/19". www.keltyhearts.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  26. "Kelty Hearts named champions as Lowland League called early" - BBC Sport, 13 April 2020
  27. "Honours". Kelty Hearts FC. Retrieved 20 May 2018.

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