Kelty Hearts F.C.

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]

New Central Park

Kelty Hearts v Solihull Moors, 2019
Former names	Central Park (–2015)
Location	Bath Street, Kelty, Scotland
Capacity	2,181 (353 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[18]
Tenants
Kelty Hearts (1979–)[19] 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 353.[4] 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.[18]

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

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]

As of 1 February 2021[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 — GK  SCO Darren Jamieson — GK  SCO Josh Donaldson — DF  SCO Craig Reid — DF  SCO Tam Scobbie — DF  SCO Patrick Boyle — DF  SCO Scott Hooper — DF  SCO Dougie Hill — MF  SCO Thomas Reilly — MF  SCO Michael Tidser (captain)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SCO Ross Philp — MF  SCO Robbie McNab — MF  SCO Jamie Stevenson — FW  SCO Matty Flynn — FW  ENG Nathan Austin — FW  SCO Cammy Russell — FW  ENG Kallum Higginbotham — FW  SCO Dylan Easton — FW  SCO Andy Rodgers

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SCO Tyler Mckenzie (on loan at Burntisland Shipyard) — FW  SCO Jay Bridgeford (on loan at Burntisland Shipyard)

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