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Fife derby

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LocationFife, Scotland
TeamsDunfermline Athletic
Raith Rovers
East Fife
Cowdenbeath
Kelty Hearts
First meeting22 August 1888
Cowdenbeath 2–4 Dunfermline Athletic
1888–89 Scottish Cup 2nd round
Latest meeting14 December 2024
Raith Rovers 2–0 Dunfermline Athletic
2024–25 Scottish Championship
Statistics
Meetings total622 (December 2024)
Most winsRaith Rovers (141)
All-time record
  • Raith Rovers (141)
  • Dunfermline Athletic (122)
  • East Fife (114)
  • Cowdenbeath (107)
  • Draw (138)

The Fife derby is a football rivalry that is based in Fife, Scotland. Matches are contested between any two SPFL clubs from Dunfermline Athletic, Raith Rovers (based in Kirkcaldy), East Fife (representing the Levenmouth area) and Cowdenbeath. As of 2021, a fifth Fife side, Kelty Hearts, entered the SPFL.

Overview

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]

Senior non-league and Juniors

Prior to 2017, most of the Fife clubs outwith the SPFL played in the Junior setup's East Region, with both Kelty Hearts and Tayport having won the East Superleague on two occasions. Burntisland Shipyard were the sole senior team, playing in the East of Scotland Football League.

In 2017 Kelty left the Juniors and joined the East of Scotland League (which is part of the senior pyramid) with the aim of rising through the divisions and becoming an SPFL club.[16][17] A year later several other teams from Fife followed suit, including Kelty's local rivals Hill of Beath Hawthorn,[18] plus Crossgates Primrose, Dundonald Bluebell, Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts, Oakley United, and St Andrews United, with Glenrothes following a year later.

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]

With the exception of Tayport who compete against teams in the Tayside area due to their proximity to Dundee via the Tay Road Bridge, the remainder of the Fife Junior clubs—Kennoway Star Hearts, Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Lochgelly Albert, Lochore Welfare, Newburgh, Rosyth, and Thornton Hibs—moved across to the East of Scotland League for the 2020–21 season.

Results tables

Dunfermline v Raith Rovers

As of: 14 December 2024.[21]

Competition[a] GP DNF Dr RAR DNFG RARG
League[b] 113[c] 44 29 40 165 163
Scottish Cup 7 3 0 4 6 12
League Cup 9 3 3[d] 3 13 15
Challenge Cup 2 1 0 1 1 2
Total 131 51 32 48 185 192

Dunfermline v East Fife

As of: 7 September 2024.[22]

Competition[a] GP DNF Dr EAF DNFG EAFG
League[b] 52 17 12 23 91 105
Scottish Cup 4 1 1 2 5 9
League Cup 11 3 2[e] 6 16 27
Challenge Cup 1 1 0 0 2 0
Total 68 22 15 31 114 141

East Fife v Raith Rovers

As of: 9 October 2021.[23]

Competition[a] GP EAF Dr RAR EAFG RARG
League[b] 74 29 14 31 126 133
Scottish Cup 4 3 1 0 9 4
League Cup 21 7 4 10 40 41
Challenge Cup 2 0 0 2 3 6
Total 101 39 19 43 178 184

Cowdenbeath v Dunfermline

As of: end of 2017–18 season.[24]

Competition[a] GP CWB Dr DNF CWBG DNFG
League[b] 80[f] 28 16 36 118 137
Scottish Cup 6 1 1 4 11 16
League Cup 8 0 1 7 7 23
Challenge Cup 2 0 0 2 2 6
Total 96 29 18 49 138 182

Cowdenbeath v East Fife

As of: 10 October 2020.[25]

Competition[a] GP CWB Dr EAF CWBG EAFG
League[b] 105 36 29 40 170 175
Scottish Cup 1 0 0 1 1 2
League Cup 6 4 0 2 13 8
Challenge Cup 4 2 1 1 7 3
Total 116 42 30 44 191 188

Cowdenbeath v Raith Rovers

As of: 10 July 2021.[26]

Competition[a] GP CWB Dr RAR CWBG RARG
League[b] 94 29 23 42 137 171
Scottish Cup 1 0 0 1 0 2
League Cup 12 6 1 5 16 21
Challenge Cup 3 1 0 2 2 3
Total 110 36 24 50 155 197

Totals for four clubs

As of: 14 December 2024.[21][22][23][24][25][26]

Competition[a] GP CWB DNF EAF RAR Dr CWBG DNF EAFG RARG
League[b] 518[c][f] 94 97 93 113 123 428 393 409 470
Scottish Cup 23 1 8 6 5 3 12 27 20 18
League Cup 67 10 13 15 18 11[g] 36 52 75 77
Challenge Cup 14 3 4 1 5 1 11 9 6 11
Total 622 107 122 114 141 138 487 481 510 576
Total goals: 2,054

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Does not include unofficial wartime competitions, or regional tournaments like the Fife Cup.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Includes matches in different divisions, and from the different eras: SFL, SPL, SPFL.
  3. ^ a b Includes two matches in the 2021 playoffs (0–0, Raith 2–0 Dunfermline).
  4. ^ Includes 1 penalty shootout victory for Dunfermline in 2023 following a draw, counted as a win in the source but usually considered a draw
  5. ^ Includes 1 penalty shootout victory for Dunfermline in 2017 following a draw, counted as a win in the source but usually considered a draw
  6. ^ a b Includes two matches in the 2014 playoffs (1–1, Cowdenbeath 3–0 Dunfermline).
  7. ^ 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.

Achievements by Fife clubs

Up to and including season 2022–23.

Club Top tier
seasons[28]		 Scottish League (level 1)[29] Scottish League (level 2)[30] Scottish League (level 3)[31] Scottish League (level 4)[32] Scottish Cup[33] League Cup[34] Challenge Cup[35]
W RU 3rd W RU W RU W RU W RU W RU W RU
Cowdenbeath 11 0 0 0 3 3 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dunfermline Athletic 38 0 0 2 4 9 3 2 0 0 2 3 0 3 0 1
East Fife 14 0 0 2 1 2 0 2 2 1 1 2 3 0 0 0
Raith Rovers 37 0 0 1 6 4 2 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 1

References

  1. ^ "Attendances: Archive Scotland 2018-19". European Football Statistics. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Managers ready for Fife derby showdown". BBC Sport. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Fife derby sees six of the best from Cowdenbeath". Scotland On Sunday. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  4. ^ Stewart, Craig (21 February 2011). "First Division: Raith Rovers enhance title credentials with impressive Fife derby win". The Scotsman. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  5. ^ "East Fife FC 2 Squad 2". Cowdenbeath F.C. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Feature: Cowdenbeath Living In Dreamland". Scotzine. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Ryan's rollercoaster ride at Dunfermline". Dunfermline Athletic F.C. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Vaughan strikes in derby victory". Raith Rovers F.C. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Dunfermline call to arms as the Pars continue to fight for survival". Daily Record. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Raith Rovers 0-2 Dunfermline". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Lochgelly United". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. ^ Forsyth, Roddy (6 April 2014). "Raith Rovers 1 Rangers 0 (aet)". Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Championship play-off: Dunfermline 0-3 Cowdenbeath". The Scotsman. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  14. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (20 April 2011). "East End Park prepares for biggest game in 15 years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  15. ^ "East Fife". scottishgrounds.co.uk. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Kelty Hearts confirmed as the 89th Scottish FA member club". Scottish Football Association. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Kelty Hearts continue perfect East of Scotland League record at Leith Athletic". Dunfermline Press. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  18. ^ Rivals Kelty Hearts and Hill of Beath Hawthorn ready for Junior Cup showdown, Dunfermline Press, 19 January 2017
  19. ^ "The only way is up for Kelty!". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Kelty Hearts promoted to SPFL | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Dunfermline Athletic head-to-head statistics (filter: vs Raith Rovers)". Fitbastats. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Dunfermline Athletic head-to-head statistics (filter: vs East Fife)". Fitbastats. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  23. ^ a b "East Fife head-to-head statistics (filter: vs Raith Rovers)". Fitbastats. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Cowdenbeath head-to-head statistics (filter: vs Dunfermline Athletic)". Fitbastats. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  25. ^ a b "Cowdenbeath head-to-head statistics (filter: vs East Fife)". Fitbastats. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Cowdenbeath head-to-head statistics (filter: vs Raith Rovers)". Fitbastats. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  27. ^ Smith, Tyrone (23 May 2021). "Barry Ferguson's side reach League 2 and send Brechin down". BBC. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Scotland - All-Time Table (since 1890/91)". RSSSF. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  29. ^ "Scotland - List of Champions". RSSSF. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  30. ^ "Scotland - List of 2nd Level Champions". RSSSF. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  31. ^ "Scotland - List of 3rd Level Champions". RSSSF. 18 June 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Scotland - List of 4th Level Champions". RSSSF. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  33. ^ "Scotland - List of Cup Finals". RSSSF. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  34. ^ "Scotland - List of League Cup Finals". RSSSF. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Scotland - All-Time Table (since 1890/91)". RSSSF. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
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