Kelty Hearts F.C.

Did You Know?

• In the 2021–22 season, Kelty defeated Scottish Premiership side and cup holders St Johnstone 1–0 after extra time in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, thanks to a goal by Kallum Higginbotham.
• Kelty share a fierce local rivalry with Hill of Beath Hawthorn, as both clubs were founded in the same year in 1975 and are separated by just 2.7 miles from their closest SPFL rival Cowdenbeath.

History

Kelty Hearts were formed in 1975 as Kelty Hearts Amateur Football Club and rose from the bottom of the Kirkcaldy & District Amateur Football Association to the top in four seasons. The club turned junior after a few years to remain competitive with other local sides, initially playing in the Fife League and later becoming members of the East Region in 2002. Kelty reached the Scottish Junior Cup final twice, losing 1–0 to Kilwinning Rangers in 1999 and 2–1 after extra time to Linlithgow Rose in 2007.

After winning the East Region Super League for the second time in 2017, the club applied for SFA membership and became a full member in December 2017, making them eligible for the Scottish Cup and progression through the pyramid. They won the East of Scotland Football League in 2018 and were promoted to the Lowland League after a 10–0 aggregate win over Threave Rovers. Kelty were declared Lowland League champions in the curtailed 2019–20 season on a points per game average, and again in 2020–21 on the same formula.

They 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. In the 2021–22 season, Kelty defeated Scottish Premiership side and cup holders St Johnstone 1–0 after extra time in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

Ground

Kelty Hearts call New Central Park home, a ground located just off Bath Street in Kelty. Its total capacity is 2,181, with two covered enclosures seating around 1,030 people and a separate stand of 354 seats. The venue also features a social club, a sports bar and hospitality lounge, and a 3G MX artificial pitch installed in 2015 alongside floodlights. Dunfermline Athletic Reserves also use New Central Park for their home matches.

Supporters

Kelty Hearts draws most of its fanbase from the village of Kelty and the wider Fife area. The club has built a strong reputation for hospitality, which regularly brings groundhoppers to its matches. A fierce local rivalry exists with Hill of Beath Hawthorn, as both clubs were founded in 1975 and enjoyed great success as junior sides in the Fife League, often swapping league titles and meeting in cups. Though Kelty now plays several divisions above Hill of Beath, the Scottish Cup can still pair them. Other rivals include Linlithgow Rose and Bonnyrigg Rose. Since joining the SPFL, Kelty has taken part in bigger Fife derbies, with Cowdenbeath—just 2.7 miles away—becoming its closest rival.