Kelty Hearts

Kelty is a small village in Fife, and for most of its history senior football simply didn't reach it — Kelty Hearts spent more than four decades in junior and amateur leagues before the club had any business being mentioned alongside the country's professional sides. That changed inside a handful of seasons.

Full SFA membership arrived in December 2017, the reward for years of clearing out junior and amateur competitions across Fife. Barry Ferguson, once captain of Scotland, took charge in 2018 and won the Lowland League in successive campaigns, 2019 and 2020. In May 2021 Kelty went up again, beating Brechin City in a play-off to reach the SPFL for the first time in the club's history. A year later, under Kevin Thomson, they won League Two outright and went straight back up — two promotions in as many seasons, a climb few clubs starting from junior football have managed.

Michael Tidser joined in 2020 and stayed long enough to become player-manager; Thomas O'Ware has held the post since 2025. The club itself dates to 1975, founded as Kelty Hearts Amateur FC, and still plays at New Central Park, a compact ground holding 2,181 with 354 seats — tight surroundings for a side known locally as The Maroon Machine, out in maroon shirts and white shorts. Hill of Beath Hawthorn, formed the same year, remain the old rival from junior days; since the move into the SPFL, the short trip to Cowdenbeath has given Kelty a Fife derby of its own.

Kelty now play in League One, the third tier of Scottish football, a level the village has never had a team at before.