Fife Council and its partners are celebrating the completion of a package of improvements to the synthetic pitch at Kelty, supporting both club football and wider community use.

The project, which represents a total investment of £354,000, has been made possible through partnership funding. Fife Council invested £177,000 from its Capital Fund, with a further £177,000 secured by Kelty Hearts Football Club through the Scottish Football Facilities Fund (SFFF). This includes £150,000 from the Scottish FA Member Support Fund and £27,000 from the Community Football Spaces Fund, reflecting the club’s work in partnership with Kelty Hearts Community Club.

This joint investment has delivered a number of upgrades to the facility which include a brand new synthetic playing surface, new 7v7 goals, improved floodlighting, and additional maintenance equipment to help keep the pitch in top condition.

The enhanced facilities will benefit Kelty Hearts Football Club and Kelty Hearts Community Club, as well as local schools, grassroots teams and community groups who regularly use the pitch.

The upgraded surface provides a safer, more reliable space for training and matches all year round, while also creating more opportunities for people of all ages to take part in sport and physical activity.

Councillor Linda Erskine, Fife Council’s Spokesperson for Communities said: “This is a great example of partners working together to improve local facilities for everyone who uses them. These upgrades will make a real difference for players, clubs and the wider community in Kelty, helping to create more opportunities to get active and take part in sport.

We know how important facilities like this are, not just for football, but for bringing people together and supporting healthier, more connected communities. I’d like to thank everyone who has played a part in delivering these improvements.”

Jim Kirk, CEO for Kelty Hearts Football Club said: On behalf of the club, I want to thank all parties involved in getting this new pitch installed. A lot of hard work went into securing the funding and navigating the project to the finish line. Kelty Hearts FC is happy to be part of a project that has benefits for the community as a whole. 

The project reflects a shared commitment from all partners to support both the ongoing development of football in Kelty and fair, inclusive access to quality facilities for the wider community.