The club is discovering that altering tradition is risky, even with the best intentions. For nearly three decades, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the iconic Gorgie Road sign has been a hot topic among Tynecastle fans.

The news of an attempt to recreate the sign should have been met with celebration. Hearts officially announced on Thursday that the “reinstatement of the historic Tynecastle Park sign at the Gorgie Road entrance” was imminent.

With talk shifting away from their six straight defeats, this became the main subject of discussion on fan forums.

However, not everyone reacted positively. Many were disappointed to learn that the new version is merely an approximation of the old sign. It’s not the original – unsurprising – but it’s also not a completely faithful wooden replica.

According to the article, a traditional sign writer will spend the next few weeks recreating the sign on the side of the current stand using archival materials from the Hearts museum. “The sign will be painted by Thomas Payne, a traditional sign writer from East Lothian, supported by a skilled team,” it explained.

Work has already begun, with Payne estimating that 20 litres of maroon paint will be needed.

The replica is part of Hearts’ Maroon Mile project, which celebrates the club’s 150th anniversary and has been funded with over £200,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project aims to install signage and street furniture to highlight the club’s long-standing role in the community. Few pieces are as iconic as the Gorgie Road sign, hence the decision to “reinstate” it.

Still, some fans accused the club of cutting corners. One fan commented on X, “The word reinstatement is doing a lot of heavy lifting.” Another joked, “Emulsions are running high!” about it just being a paint job.

So, why the strong emotions? After all, it’s just a sign. The original, installed in 1928, read “Heart of Midlothian Football Club Ltd Tynecastle Park” in a saloon-style font. The recreation, however, seems to be a simpler version with all capital letters.

Later, “Ltd” was replaced with “Plc” to reflect a corporate shift under Wallace Mercer, who, in hindsight, might have ensured the sign’s preservation when he sold the club in 1994. Unfortunately, it vanished during redevelopment work on Tynecastle.

“I remember walking past the redevelopment with my newborn daughter,” recalls club historian David Speed. “One day the sign was there, and the next it was gone, along with half of the terracing at Gorgie Road. We assumed it had been kept safe, but we have no idea where it is. We’re hoping renewed interest might uncover something.”

It’s clear that the original sign won’t return. Speed believes that even if it were found, the wood would be too decayed to restore. “It was already deteriorating back then,” he says.

Given its size – as big as a double-decker bus – it’s hard to imagine how it could have disappeared unnoticed. “It’s never turned up on eBay,” says Speed.

Theories about its whereabouts linger. Some speculate it ended up in the garden shed of former owner Robinson or in Deans’ garage. But the feud between the two made it harder to track down, and with both men now deceased, the mystery remains unsolved.

For locals, the sign was a familiar and beloved sight. Speed recalls passing it daily on the No. 1 bus to school, with everyone turning their heads to catch a glimpse. “It’s been missed,” he says. “This recreation will help, but it won’t be the same.”

Speed is pleased that Hearts are making a sincere effort to replace the lost piece of history. Although an exact replica was deemed “structurally unfeasible,” the club’s project has shown respect for its heritage. Fans were consulted, as required for projects involving National Lottery funding.

Speed once asked Deans about the sign. Deans admitted that if anyone knew its whereabouts, it should have been him, but he didn’t. “I remember the sign well, but what happened to it, I don’t know. And before you ask, no, it’s not in my garden.”

GET MORE NEWS HERE ON LIFSTYLEROOM.NET