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| Full name | Darvel Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Vale | ||
| Founded | 1889 | ||
| Ground | Recreation Park, Darvel | ||
| Capacity | 2,200 (65 seated) | ||
| Manager | Nacho Novo | ||
| League | West of Scotland League First Division | ||
| 2024–25 | West of Scotland League Premier Division, 16th of 16 (relegated) | ||
| Website | https://www.darvelfc.com | ||
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Darvel Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Darvel, Ayrshire. Nicknamed "The Vale" and formed in 1889, the club play at Recreation Park, and currently compete in the West of Scotland League First Division.
History
[edit]The club reached the final of the 1975–76 Scottish Junior Cup, but were beaten 3–0 by Bo'ness United.[1]
Darvel won the Ayrshire District League title in 2016–17 to gain promotion to the West Super League First Division (renamed as the West Championship), the second tier of the SJFA West Region league structure.
The team was managed from June 2013 to November 2017 by Scott Clelland.[2] On 14 February 2019, Darvel announced that Mick Kennedy would be the new manager for the season 2019–20.
The club and Blantyre Victoria were declared joint-winners of the West Region Championship in 2019–20 after the season was prematurely halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Darvel joined the West of Scotland Football League in 2020–21 along with all other West Region junior clubs, and were promoted to the Premier Division for the inaugural season. In the first full season, they won the Premier Division in 2021–22.
On 23 January 2023, Darvel pulled off one of the biggest shocks in Scottish Cup history, as they beat Premiership side Aberdeen 1–0 in the fourth round at Recreation Park.[4]
In November 2025, the club announced that former Rangers striker Nacho Novo had been appointed as their new manager.[5]
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
[edit]As of 9 November 2025
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Nacho Novo |
| Assistant manager | |
| Coach | |
| Sports Therapist |
Honours
[edit]Senior
West of Scotland Football League Premier Division
- Champions: 2021–22
West of Scotland Football League Cup
- Winners: 2023–24
Junior
Scottish Junior Cup
- Winners: 2023–24
- Runners-up: 1975–76
- Joint-winners: 2019–20
- Winners: 2016–17
References
[edit]- ^ "Scottish Junior Cup Finals 1970-1979". Scottish Junior FA.
- ^ Wren, David (3 July 2014). "Darvel Juniors boss Scott Clelland optimistic ahead of new season". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ Thomson, Paul (22 May 2020). "Ex Hamilton Accies secretary and UEFA delegate to lead Junior title probe". Daily Record.
- ^ Murray, Keir (23 January 2023). "Darvel 1-0 Aberdeen: Sixth-tier hosts secure famous upset". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ McMillan, Martin (9 November 2025). "Nacho Novo lands new job in Scottish lower leagues". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2025.