2021–22 Kelty Hearts F.C. season
The 2021–22 season was Kelty Hearts' first season in the Scottish Professional Football League following their promotion from the Lowland Football League at the end of the 2020–21 season.[1][2] Kelty participated in Scottish League Two and also competed in the League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup.
2021–22 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Ian Thomson | ||
Manager | Kevin Thomson | ||
Stadium | New Central Park | ||
Scottish League Two | 1st (champions) | ||
League Cup | Group stage | ||
Challenge Cup | First Round South | ||
Scottish Cup | Fifth round | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Nathan Austin (17) All: Nathan Austin (21) | ||
Highest home attendance | 2,183 vs. St Johnstone, Scottish Cup, 22 January 2022 | ||
Lowest home attendance | 392 vs. East Fife, League Cup, 17 July 2021 | ||
Average home league attendance | 650 | ||
|
Summary
This was Kelty Hearts' first season under the management of Kevin Thomson following the departure of Barry Ferguson, who had led the club to promotion the previous season.[3]
Kelty entered the Scottish Cup at the second round and would eliminate then cup holders St Johnstone on their way to the fifth round before being eliminated by St Mirren.[4] Kelty were declared champions 26 March with a victory over Albion Rovers, which secured the league title and back to back promotions to League One.[5][6][7]
Competitions
Results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss Postponed
Scottish League Two
31 July 2021 1 | Kelty Hearts | 2–0 | Cowdenbeath | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Cardle 38' Philp 69' |
Report | Attendance: 1,202 Referee: Calum Scott |
7 August 2021 2 | Stirling Albion | 1–3 | Kelty Hearts | Forthbank Stadium |
15:00 BST | Forster 67 o.g.' | Report | Forster 39' Cardle 40' Higginbotham 56' |
Attendance: 601 Referee: Graham Grainger |
14 August 2021 3 | Forfar Athletic | 2–2 | Kelty Hearts | Station Park |
15:00 BST | Aitken 17 pen.' Thomson 45+1' |
Report | Austin 22', 64' | Attendance: 623 Referee: Chris Graham |
21 August 2021 4 | Kelty Hearts | 1–0 | Edinburgh City | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Barjonas 54' | Report | Attendance: 677 Referee: Steven Reid |
28 August 2021 5 | Stenhousemuir | 1–4 | Kelty Hearts | Station Park |
15:00 BST | Brown 23' | Report | Agyeman 13', 71' Cardle 33' Barjonas 66' |
Attendance: 436 Referee: Alan Newlands |
11 September 2021 6 | Kelty Hearts | 1–1 | Elgin City | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Higginbotham 90+3' | Report | MacPhee 30 pen.' | Attendance: 608 Referee: Lloyd Wilson |
18 September 2021 7 | Albion Rovers | 0–3 | Kelty Hearts | Cliftonhill |
15:00 BST | Report | Austin 11', 20', 63' | Attendance: 427 Referee: Grant Irvine |
25 September 2021 8 | Kelty Hearts | 1–0 | Stranraer | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Austin 8' | Report | Attendance: 528 Referee: Stewart Luke |
2 October 2021 9 | Kelty Hearts | 2–1 | Annan Athletic | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Barjonas 37' Higginbotham 74' |
Report | Wallace 43' | Attendance: 674 Referee: Matthew MacDermid |
15 October 2021 10 | Edinburgh City | 2–3 | Kelty Hearts | Ainslie Park |
15:00 BST | See 16' Murray 88' |
Report | Austin 22', 48' Tidser 37' |
Attendance: 726 Referee: Peter Stuart |
30 October 2021 11 | Kelty Hearts | 1–1 | Stirling Albion | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Cardle 62' | Report | Scally 65' | Attendance: 937 Referee: Ross Hardie |
6 November 2021 12 | Cowdenbeath | 0–1 | Kelty Hearts | Central Park |
15:00 BST | Report | Cardle 76' | Attendance: 727 Referee: Iain Snedden |
13 November 2021 13 | Kelty Hearts | 1–0 | Forfar Athletic | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Agyeman 47' | Report | Attendance: 856 Referee: Chris Fordyce |
20 November 2021 14 | Kelty Hearts | 2–0 | Stenhousemuir | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Barron 7' Cardle 50' |
Report | Attendance: 571 Referee: Mike Roncone |
11 December 2021 15 | Kelty Hearts | 6–1 | Albion Rovers | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Austin 5', 48' Finlayson 37' Biabi 52', 75' Barjonas 79' |
Report | O'Donnell 27' | Attendance: 554 Referee: Graham Grainger |
18 December 2021 16 | Stranraer | 0–4 | Kelty Hearts | Stair Park |
15:00 BST | Report | Burns 10 o.g.' Forster 42' Austin 45+2', 54' |
Attendance: 272 Referee: Lloyd Wilson |
26 December 2021 17 | Annan Athletic | 5–1 | Kelty Hearts | Galabank |
15:00 BST | Moxon 44' Garrity 46' Wallace 76', 87', 90+1 pen.' |
Report | Austin 36' Forster 45' |
Attendance: 372 Referee: Craig Napier |
8 January 2022 18 | Stirling Albion | 0–3 | Kelty Hearts | Forthbank Stadium |
15:00 BST | Report | Austin 4' Cardle 58', 78' |
Attendance: 483 Referee: Chris Graham |
15 January 2022 19 | Kelty Hearts | 2–2 | Edinburgh City | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Cardle 27', 55' | Report | Handling 75' Bryden 90+3' |
Attendance: 500 Referee: Stewart Luke |
25 January 2022 20 | Elgin City | 2–0 | Kelty Hearts | Borough Briggs |
19:45 BST | Hester 36', 75' | Report | Attendance: 531 Referee: Dan McFarlane |
29 January 2022 21 | Kelty Hearts | 3–2 | Stranraer | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | O'Ware 21' Barjonas 22' Austin 89' |
Report | Muir 53' Hilton 56' |
Attendance: 559 Referee: Barry Cook |
5 February 2022 22 | Kelty Hearts | 4–0 | Elgin City | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Higginbotham 8 pen.' Agyeman 29', 56' Tidser 52' |
Report | Attendance: 433 Referee: Grant Irvine |
19 February 2022 23 | Forfar Athletic | 1–0 | Kelty Hearts | Links Park |
19:45 BST | Aitken 73' | Report | Attendance: 670 Referee: Alan Newlands |
22 February 2022 24 | Kelty Hearts | 1–0 | Cowdenbeath | New Central Park |
19:45 BST | Higginbotham 82 pen.' | Report | Attendance: 1,092 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
26 February 2022 25 | Kelty Hearts | 3–1 | Annan Athletic | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Moxon 5 o.g.' Barjonas 16' Cardle 72' |
Report | McCartney 78' | Attendance: 617 Referee: Ross Hardie |
5 March 2022 26 | Cowdenbeath | 0–1 | Kelty Hearts | Central Park |
15:00 BST | Report | Cardle 37' | Attendance: 475 Referee: Peter Stuart |
8 March 2022 27 | Stenhousemuir | 0–1 | Kelty Hearts | Ochilview Park |
19:45 BST | Report | Austin 90+2' | Attendance: 475 Referee: Peter Stuart |
12 March 2022 28 | Kelty Hearts | 3–1 | Albion Rovers | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Austin 1' Barjonas 36', 84' |
Report | Wilson 59' | Attendance: 635 Referee: Duncan Williams |
16 March 2022 29 | Albion Rovers | 0–0 | Kelty Hearts | Cliftonhill |
19:45 BST |
19 March 2022 30 | Elgin City | 0–0 | Kelty Hearts | Borough Briggs |
15:00 BST | Omar 57' | Attendance: 733 Referee: Calum Scott |
26 March 2022 31 | Kelty Hearts | 1–0 | Albion Rovers | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Kucheriavyi 84' | Report | Attendance: 812 Referee: Chris Graham |
1 April 2022 32 | Elgin City | 1–1 | Kelty Hearts | Ainslie Park |
19:45 BST | Shanley 66 pen.' | Report | Barjonas 48' | Attendance: 487 Referee: Matthew MacDermid |
9 April 2022 33 | Kelty Hearts | 1–1 | Stirling Albion | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Biabi 8' | Report | Moore 2' | Attendance: 519 Referee: Barry Cook |
16 April 2022 34 | Stranraer | 0–3 | Kelty Hearts | Stair Park |
15:00 BST | Report | McNab 48' Reilly 64' Higginbotham 81' |
Attendance: 301 Referee: Duncan Williams |
23 April 2022 35 | Kelty Hearts | 1–1 | Forfar Athletic | New Central Park |
15:00 BST | Hill 31' | Report | Warnock 47' McCluskey 50' |
Attendance: 903 Referee: Calum Scott |
Scottish League Cup
Group stage
Results
9 July 2021 Group stage | Kelty Hearts | 0–1 | Dundee United | Kelty |
19:45 | Report | Shankland 77' | Stadium: New Central Park Attendance: 500 Referee: Steven McLean |
17 July 2021 Group stage | Kelty Hearts | 3–0 | East Fife | Kelty |
15:00 | Austin 13', 25' Agyeman 87' |
Report | Stadium: New Central Park Attendance: 392 Referee: Barry Cook |
20 July 2021 Group stage | Elgin City | 1–3 | Kelty Hearts | Elgin |
19:45 | Little 5' | Report | Russell 52' Austin 76', 87' |
Stadium: Borough Briggs Attendance: 220 Referee: Chris Fordyce |
24 July 2021 Group stage | Arbroath | 3–2 | Kelty Hearts | Arbroath |
15:00 | Donnelly 31' Hamilton 52' Low 58 pen.' |
Report | Higginbotham 20' Cardle 27' |
Stadium: Gayfield Park Attendance: 626 Referee: Duncan Williams |
Scottish Challenge Cup
10 August 2021 First Round South | St Mirren B | 1–1 (3–0 p) | Kelty Hearts | Paisley |
19:45 | Jack 89 pen.' | Report | Tidser 70' | Stadium: St Mirren Park Referee: Chris Graham |
Scottish Cup
23 October 2021 Second round | Kelty Hearts | 4–1 | Buckie Thistle | Kelty |
15:00 | O'Ware 34' Cardle 36', 77' Philp 86' |
Report | Urquhart 79' | Stadium: New Central Park Attendance: 608 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
27 November 2021 Third round | Kelty Hearts | 0–0 | Montrose | Kelty |
15:00 | Report | Stadium: New Central Park Attendance: 805 Referee: Barry Cook |
4 December 2021 Third round replay | Montrose | 1–1 (1–3 p) | Kelty Hearts | Montrose |
15:00 | Johnston 42' | Report | Cardle 6' | Stadium: Links Park Attendance: 690 Referee: Barry Cook |
22 January 2022 Fourth round | Kelty Hearts | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | St Johnstone | Kelty |
15:00 | Higginbotham 103' | Report | Stadium: New Central Park Attendance: 2,183 Referee: Kevin Clancy |
Player statistics
Appearances and goals
- As of 30 April 2022
No. | Pos | Player | League Two | League Cup | Challenge Cup | Scottish Cup | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
1 | GK | Darren Jamieson | 35+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
2 | MF | Andrew Black | 14+8 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
3 | DF | Reis Peggie | 1+2 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
4 | DF | Dougie Hill | 16+2 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
5 | DF | Scott Hooper | 11+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
6 | DF | Jordon Forster | 22+1 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
7 | MF | Joe Cardle | 29+7 | 12 | 3+1 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 3 | 46 | 16 |
8 | MF | Thomas Reilly | 8+5 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
9 | FW | Nathan Austin | 19+7 | 17 | 3+1 | 4 | 0+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 35 | 21 |
10 | MF | Jamie Barjonas | 31+0 | 9 | 3+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 41 | 9 |
11 | MF | Kallum Higginbotham | 35+0 | 7 | 3+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 5+0 | 1 | 45 | 9 |
12 | MF | Michael Tidser | 31+1 | 2 | 4+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | 5+0 | 0 | 42 | 3 |
14 | MF | Ross Philp | 18+14 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 5+0 | 1 | 42 | 2 |
15 | DF | Daniel Finlayson | 19+4 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
16 | MF | Robbie McNab | 12+10 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
17 | MF | Max Kucheriavyi | 9+4 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
19 | MF | Connor Barron | 12+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
19 | MF | Harrison Clark | 1+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
20 | GK | Josh Donaldson | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
21 | FW | Botti Biabi | 8+18 | 3 | 1+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
22 | FW | Alfredo Agyeman | 15+19 | 6 | 1+3 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 43 | 7 |
23 | DF | Kieran Ngwenya | 22+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
25 | DF | Thomas O'Ware | 27+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | 31 | 2 |
26 | MF | Ben Finnan | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Team statistics
Competition Overview
Competition | Starting round | Final position | Record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
League Two | Matchday 1 | 1st | 36 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 68 | 28 | +40 | 66.67 |
Scottish League Cup | Group stage | Group stage | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 50.00 |
Scottish Challenge Cup | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 |
Scottish Cup | Second round | Fifth round | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | +0 | 60.00 |
Total | 46 | 29 | 10 | 7 | 83 | 40 | +43 | 63.04 |
Source: Competitions
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kelty Hearts (C, P) | 36 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 68 | 28 | +40 | 81 | Promotion to League One |
2 | Forfar Athletic | 36 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 57 | 36 | +21 | 60 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
3 | Annan Athletic | 36 | 18 | 5 | 13 | 64 | 51 | +13 | 59 | |
4 | Edinburgh City (O, P) | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 52 | |
5 | Stenhousemuir | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 49 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[9]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
League Cup table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | DUN | ARB | KEL | ELG | EFI | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dundee United | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 12 | Qualification for the second round | — | 1–0 | — | 6–1 | — | |
2 | Arbroath | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 9 | — | — | 3–2 | — | 2–0 | ||
3 | Kelty Hearts | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 6 | 0–1 | — | — | — | 3–0 | ||
4 | Elgin City | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 3 | — | 0–1 | 1–3 | — | — | ||
5 | East Fife | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 0 | 0–1 | — | — | 2–3 | — |
Transfers
Players in
|
Players out
|
Loans in
|
Loans out
|
References
- "Finalising season 2020/21". www.slfl.co.uk. Lowland Football League. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- "Kelty Hearts confirmed as the 89th Scottish FA member club". Scottish Football Association. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- "Barry Ferguson: Kelty Hearts manager departs after League Two play-off win". BBC Sport. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- McPheat, Nick (22 January 2022). "Kelty Hearts 1-0 St Johnstone: League 2 side stun Scottish Cup holders in extra-time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- "Kelty Hearts crowned League Two champions to record consecutive promotions". Football Scotland. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- "Kelty Hearts: Kevin Thomson's side crowned League 2 champions".
- Online, BBC Sport (26 March 2022). "Scottish League 2: Kelty Hearts crowned champions at first attempt after win over Stenhousemuir". Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- "cinch League Two Table". Scottish Prefessional Football League. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- "Summary - League Cup Group B". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- Temple, Alan (29 May 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Dundee defender Jordon Forster becomes Kevin Thomson's first Kelty Hearts signing – as Fifers eye Joe Cardle deal". thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Ex-Rangers kid Jamie Barjonas joins Kevin Thomson at Kelty Hearts after Ibrox departure". glasgowtimes.co.uk. Glasgow Times. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- @keltyheartsfc (3 June 2021). "We would like to welcome new recruit Andrew Black who joins from Edinburgh City to New Central Park" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 June 2022 – via Twitter.
- "Welcome to Kelty, Reis". twitter.com. Kelty Hearts FC. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Kelty add Agyeman". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Botti Biabi joins Kelty Hearts' League Two project". nottheoldfirm.com. Not the Old Firm. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- Temple, Alan. "Kelty Hearts seal transfer coup as former Morton and Partick Thistle defender arrives". The Courier. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Welcome Connor and Ben". twitter.com. Kelty Hearts FC. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Dumbarton Football Club - PAT BOYLE IS BACK WITH DUMBARTON". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Diamond Dylan on board". Airdrieonians FC. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron joins Kelty Hearts on loan". pressandjournal.co.uk. Press and Journal. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Kieran Ngwenya joins Kelty Hearts on Loan". afc.co.uk. Aberdeen FC. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- Hart, Ross (1 October 2021). "Kelty Hearts: Daniel Finlayson signs on loan from St Mirren". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- "Kelty Hearts secure signing of 'lucky' Livingston midfielder following Arbroath stint". The Courier Evening Telegraph. 1 January 2022.
- "Max Kucheriavyi: St Johnstone starlet in Kelty Hearts loan switch". thecourier.co.uk. The Courier. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- Hart, Ross (1 March 2022). "Scott Hooper returns!". annanathleticfc.com. Annan Athletic FC. Retrieved 4 June 2022.