PORTLAND, Maine — Mitchell Ketchen looked down at the series of long, white sheets that lay stretched out upon the sidewalk Wednesday outside Argenta Brewing Company.
He was inspecting the lines he had just drawn with a permanent marker on the Dirigo Union’s latest tifo, a soccer term for the large banners that supporters hold up in the stands at matches. The word comes from “tifosi,” Italian for a group of sports fans. Hunched down on the ground were a mix of the old and young, all fans of the Portland Hearts of Pine, as they filled in the lines with paint or left a personal message.
“All this effort is for what, 35 seconds?” said Ketchen, who is co-chair of the Dirigo Union. “And it’s so worth it.”
The Dirigo Union — or DU as it’s affectionately known — is the supporters’ group for the Hearts that has become known for its passion and its fun antics that collectively have brought a unique joy to Fitzpatrick Stadium. Before, during and after the matches, the DU provides a mix of chants, songs, multicolored smoke and a whole lot of noise.
On this Wednesday, small streams of people came and went, all stopping by to paint parts of three different tifos, socialize, grab a beer or have dinner.
“It’s an artistic representation of our community,” Ketchen said. “It lets people be a part of it.”
Unsurprisingly, the kids were having the most fun with it. That suited Alejandra Gilfillan just fine.
It’s a big reason why Gilfillan joined the DU in the first place. Fitzpatrick Stadium is known for being family-friendly, and Gilfillan and her husband and three children haven’t missed a home match in 2026 even though her family is like many Mainers: wishing they had season tickets. But between friends with tickets and StubHub, the Gilfillans have been regular attendees.
“I like to show my kids the view of being part of a community,” Gilfillan said. “And my kids, especially the twins, are a little young for community service. But this is a start.”
Gilfillan’s family is friends with injured Hearts star Ollie Wright, who recently underwent knee surgery. He has been to their house, played with her kids (7-year-old twins Finn and Mateo, and 11-year-old Declan) and overall just been a positive influence, she said. Declan wasn’t there Wednesday for the tifo painting because he was at his own soccer practice.
Spending an hour painting tifos for Saturday’s match vs. Athletic Club Boise felt like the least her family could do.
“This is a way to show that we are here for them because they are here for us,” Gilfillan said.
So her twins painted and played and then painted some more.
Ketchen was pleased with the turnout, particularly given that the club’s season hasn’t gone as planned. Officially, the Hearts were eliminated from the playoffs later in the day following a Fort Wayne FC victory over Corpus Christi FC.
“Even in a down season, we are still showing up,” Ketchen said.
While this is the third tifo the DU has made this season, this one will be the biggest effort.
So on Saturday night at Fitzy, whether you’re at the match or watching it on ESPN+, look for the tifo to come out before the game as a way to welcome the Hearts players onto the field. The tifo is stretched out as DU members pass one side up and over their heads. But make sure you’re paying attention because as Ketchen said, the tifos are shown for less than a minute.
“It’s still so worth it,” Ketchen said. “It’s a perfect example of the love for the team.”
To become a member of the Dirigo Union, go here and sign up. Cost is $25 for a 12-month membership. The fee goes toward events such as the tifo painting and supplies.
