The two best-supported clubs in the region are Dunfermline and Raith Rovers,[1] and in general their meetings attract the most interest, however any match between the five clubs is referred to as a 'Fife derby'.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] A sixth local club, Lochgelly United, competed in the Scottish Football League for five seasons (1921 to 1926).[11]
None of the clubs have won the Scottish League title or finished runners-up. Aside from Kelty Hearts, all have played in the top division at one point in their history (although never all at the same time). East Fife were Scottish League Cup winners three times in six years between 1947 and 1953, while Dunfermline won the Scottish Cup twice in the 1960s; The only occasion when two clubs from the region met in a major cup final was in October 1949, when East Fife defeated Dunfermline 3–0 at Hampden Park to win the 1949–50 League Cup; the crowd of 39,744 is a record for a Fife derby match.
Raith Rovers are the only Fife team to have won the Scottish Challenge Cup, achieving this in both 2022 and most notably 2014 with a win over Rangers.[12] Perhaps the most important Fife derby meeting of the early 21st century came a month after the Raith cup win, when Cowdenbeath overcame Dunfermline 4–1 on aggregate in the 2013–14 Championship play-off final to preserve their status in Scotland's second tier at their neighbours' expense.[13]
Dunfermline Athletic had their first sellout crowd in 15 years for a Fife derby played against First Division title rivals Raith Rovers in April 2011.[14] East Fife's record attendance at their old Bayview Park ground was also against Raith, attracting a 22,515 crowd in 1950.[15]
Meanwhile, Kelty were successful in achieving their ambition. In 2018 they were promoted to the Lowland Football League,[19] and were subsequently promoted to the SPFL in 2021, becoming the fifth Fife club in the league.[20]
^ abcdefgIncludes matches in different divisions, and from the different eras: SFL, SPL, SPFL.
^ abIncludes two matches in the 2021 playoffs (0–0, Raith 2–0 Dunfermline).
^Includes 1 penalty shootout victory for Dunfermline in 2023 following a draw, counted as a win in the source but usually considered a draw
^Includes 1 penalty shootout victory for Dunfermline in 2017 following a draw, counted as a win in the source but usually considered a draw
^ abIncludes two matches in the 2014 playoffs (1–1, Cowdenbeath 3–0 Dunfermline).
^Includes 2 penalty shootout victories for Dunfermline (in 2017 vs East Fife & in 2023 vs Raith) following a draw, counted as a win in the source but usually considered a draw
Kelty Hearts
Upon being promoted to the SPFL in 2021, Kelty Hearts became the fifth member from the Kingdom of Fife.[27] Playing in the 2021–22 Scottish League Two, they will play against Cowdenbeath, with the two teams separated by just 2.7 miles.
