Mission Statement

Dirigo Union members unite under the banner of unwavering support for our team, passion for soccer, and a profound commitment to our local community. We believe in the transformative power of the beautiful game to bring people together, regardless of background, race, creed, sexual preference, or gender identity. Our mission is to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment where all who share our love for soccer are embraced as part of our family. Through our fervent support of Portland Hearts of Pine and our dedication to making a positive impact in our community, we aim to inspire unity, camaraderie, and sportsmanship both on and off the pitch.

The below Mission Statements were translated by members of our DU Family:

Français

Les membres de Dirigo Union se rassemblent sous la bannière d'un soutien inébranlable à notre équipe, d'une passion pour le football et d'un engagement profond envers notre communauté locale. Nous croyons au pouvoir transformateur du « beau jeu », capable de rassembler les individus quelles que soient leur origine, leur race, leurs croyances, leur orientation sexuelle ou leur identité de genre. Notre mission est de favoriser un environnement accueillant et inclusif, où tous ceux qui partagent notre amour du football sont accueillis comme des membres à part entière de notre famille. À travers notre soutien fervent aux Portland Hearts of Pine et notre détermination à avoir un impact positif au sein de notre communauté, nous aspirons à inspirer l'unité, la camaraderie et l'esprit sportif, tant sur le terrain qu'en dehors.

Español

Los miembros de Dirigo Union se unen en torno al apoyo inquebrantable a nuestro equipo, pasión por el fútbol y un firme compromiso con nuestra comunidad. Creemos en el poder transformador del deporte rey, también conocido como el juego bonito (“jogo bonito” en portugués o “the beautiful game” en inglés), para reunir a las personas sin importar su origen, raza, credo, orientación sexual o identidad de género.

Nuestra misión es fomentar un ambiente acogedor, alegre e inclusivo donde todos los que comparten el amor por el fútbol sean bienvenidos como parte de una sola familia: nuestra familia. A través del apoyo a nuestro equipo, Portland Hearts of Pine, y dedicación a generar un impacto positivo en la comunidad, buscamos inspirar unidad, camaradería y espíritu deportivo, tanto dentro como fuera de la cancha

عربي

يتحد أعضاء Dirigo Union تحت راية الدعم الثابت لفريقنا، والشغف بكرة القدم، والالتزام العميق تجاه مجتمعنا المحلي.

نؤمن بالقوة التحويلية لـ”اللعبة الجميلة” في جمع الناس معًا، بغضّ النظر عن خلفياتهم أو أعراقهم أو معتقداتهم أو ميولهم أو هوياتهم.

تتمثل رسالتنا في خلق بيئة ترحيبية وشاملة، يشعر فيها كل من يشاركنا حب كرة القدم بأنه جزء من عائلتنا.

ومن خلال دعمنا المتحمّس لفريق Portland Hearts of Pine، والتزامنا بإحداث تأثير إيجابي في مجتمعنا، نسعى إلى تعزيز قيم الوحدة، وروح الصداقة، والروح الرياضية داخل الملعب وخارجه.

Português

Os membros da Dirigo Union unem-se sob a bandeira de um apoio inabalável à nossa equipa, da paixão pelo futebol e de um compromisso profundo com a nossa comunidade local. Acreditamos no poder transformador do "belo jogo" para unir as pessoas, independentemente da origem, raça, credo, orientação sexual ou identidade de género. A nossa missão é promover um ambiente acolhedor e inclusivo, onde todos aqueles que partilham o nosso amor pelo futebol sejam acolhidos como parte da nossa família. Através do nosso fervoroso apoio ao Portland Hearts of Pine e da nossa dedicação em gerar um impacto positivo na nossa comunidade, ambicionamos inspirar união, camaradagem e espírito desportivo, tanto dentro como fora do campo.

Meet The Board

Co-Chair

Mitchell Ketchen

I joined the Dirigo Union to help bring soccer culture to Maine. Being a fan of a club thousands of miles away is hard, now we get to support a professional club right at home.

Co-Chair

Sebastian Pettitt

Like most people growing up in rural Maine, Sebastian fell in love with the sport of soccer learning the game on gravel driveways & too-tall grass fields. Childhood dreams that one day his home would have a club like the ones on television became real, and now Sebastian has joined the union with the goal of growing the Union and the great community that has been forged. With a focus in media, Sebastian looks forward to lending a helping hand to any and all Union members and committees. Away from the Union, Sebastian is an avid gamer, occasionally streaming on Twitch, a league bowler/team co-owner in Bowl Portland, and has been the play-by-play voice of 13 different Southern Maine Huskies sports for programs (including Men's & Women's soccer) for over eight years.

Treasurer

Josh Ricker

Josh is a proud member of the Union and has been helping build Maine's soccer community organically through his Maine Stand podcast. Though he is an Aroostook County native, Josh has lived in Southern Maine for six of the last eight years, slowly watching the idea of a professional soccer team turn from dream into reality. With a background in marketing and content, he contributes to our social media channels and helps lead the Match Day Experience Committee. In his spare time, he can found at the Portland Zoo watching his beloved Liverpool.

Secretary & Co-Founder

Colin Durrant

Colin is a co-founder of Dirigo Union and a life-long soccer fan whose favorite teams are the U.S. Women's National Team and Liverpool. He's most excited about building a supporters group community that reflects the future of Maine and welcomes everyone while bringing an energetic, enthusiastic, and fun atmosphere from before kick-off to after the game ends.

Valentine Band Representative

Bill Sumner

Bill Sumner is the Valentine Bandits' Representative on the Dirigo Union Board. Bill plays drums for the Bandits alongside his daughter Grace while his wife Heather plays trumpet and serves as the Horns Captain. A native of Reading, Massachusetts, Bill graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Communications and settled in Portland where he handled Development & Fundraising for local non-profit organizations. Bill lives a stone’s throw from Fort Fitzy, and since 2015 he has enjoyed serving as the Lead Secretary for the East End Community School on Munjoy Hill - which is also the home of the Portland Soccer Project!

Membership

Justine Satterthwaite

To me, one of the best things about soccer is the community that comes with the game. From the players on the pitch, to the supporters in the stands, you really find the family you didn’t know you were missing. There is nothing quite like it. I am so excited to be part of Dirigo Union and look forward to growing our community even more and sharing that energy with you all.

Community Engagement

Aiyanna Maciel

I grew up in Maine and after living outside the state for almost 10 years, I’m back building community in Vacationland. Though I wasn’t always an avid sports fan, my Brazilian heritage made soccer an easy sport to love. When I found out the Hearts were coming to Portland, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the overall experience. I’m deeply passionate about community and creating a culture that represents Portland and Maine as a whole. Soccer is for everybody, and I’m excited to be a part of the DU’s mission and the Club’s to lead with our hearts. Find me in section

Board Member

Molly Wolkin

I grew up playing soccer and have missed the soccer community I had in my youth. When I heard that a soccer team was coming to Portland, I knew that I wanted to be involved. I’m excited to be a member of Dirigo Union and help support in any way I can. I can’t wait to build the Portland soccer experience from the ground up with everyone!

Up the Hearts!

Board Member

Travis Kroot

I played soccer through high school, and while I stepped away from the game for a long time afterward, my appreciation of the sport and culture stayed. Early on I earned the nickname “2 Foot 2” because I was short, wore number 2, and played with enough edge to make it memorable...which might be why I love seeing JayTee Kamara play. Formerly a striker/wing, I moved to goalkeeper because the team needed one (and because my big bro was a keeper, so we got to do a lot of training together). That shift has stuck with me. I believe in stepping in where you are needed and doing the work that helps the whole team.

The Hearts of Pine and the Dirigo Union did more than bring soccer back into my life. They gave me a community I did not realize I was missing and truly needed. The shared energy, the camaraderie after a tough result, and the pride in building something together have been meaningful in a way that goes beyond sport.

Today, I focus on strengthening supporter culture both in the stands and behind the scenes, but with a local and vocal spirit. I helped build the DU Ticket Exchange to keep ticket sharing local, fair, and community driven.

Honorary Members

Co-Founder

Mario Moretto

Mario has been involved in supporter culture for years, including as a leader in American Outlaws (USMNT/USWNT) and The Rebellion (New England Revolution), and as a member of Maine Gooners (Arsenal).

So when he heard in 2019 about an effort to bring a USL team to Portland, he sought like-minded people who shared a love of Maine and of soccer to create an independent supporters group. That originalgroup of volunteers represented fans in conversations with the nascent team front office, worked to generate buzz in the community, and laid the groundwork for an authentic, independent supporter culture in Portland.

Mario now lives in DC but can’t wait to be back in Portland for the first home match in 2025!