by Michael Collazo
For Harrisburg City Islanders star midfielder Jose Barril, everything about Pennsylvania was different.
It’s a familiar immigrant story. Looking for a better opportunity, Barril moved to America for work. He didn’t know English. He didn’t recognize the local food. He missed his family.
“It’s so different,” said Barril. “Usually (most Americans) don’t cook. In Spain, you cook and everyone is in the same table. I miss the food. I sit with my family.”
Nowadays, the Spaniard now leads the City Islanders in his third season in hopes of returning to the playoffs. He’s settled in now.
“The people here are very friendly,” raved Barril. “I don’t miss a lot. Here in the USA they have so many people here from so many different countries, they make the country better. It’s my third year here my English is pretty good and I understand everybody here.”
In 2013, things weren’t working out in his native Madrid, Spain, where he played for Real Madrid’s legendary academy. His hometown club didn’t see him in its future plans so after a very short stint in Italy, Barril’s agent directed him to sign with Harrisburg in 2014.
In addition to off-the-field life adjustments, on the pitch he had to adjust from playing in front of winning-is-everything futbol fans in European stadiums to serving as entertainment between t-shirt tosses in converted American ballparks.
“One of the biggest things [different in Europe] it’s like how the people been – pasión – is like everything,” said Barril. “In Europe it’s more important. It’s more a type of life than a hobby.”
“[Playing in FNB Field] it’s not much different but I think the corner kicks on one of the sides of the stadium, it’s tight,” reasoned Barril. “It’s pretty hard but it’s part of the game. It’s not for everybody.”
Barril’s career highlights as a City Islander include being part of the 2014 team that upset top-seeded Orlando towards a United Soccer League (USL) PRO Championship appearance and leading the 2015 team in assists with seven.
This season, Barril is happy with the home field and his team, which has lots of new players from all different places – from Mechanicsburg and York in PA to Jamaica and Bermuda in the Caribbean. Barril thinks despite being from different parts of the world, the team is coming together on and off the field. One of his friends on the club, goalkeeper Nick Noble, once even took him to a Spanish restaurant while in Baltimore for a match.
Barril is confident this coming together will result in winning.
“I think we are going to be consistent in the league,” predicts Barril. “We are playing good right now and I think we are going to keep that line. 100 percent we are going to be in playoffs. That’s the goal of the team. “
Barril also has been out in the community. Last year, he attended an area Latino festival and earlier this year he visited patients at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.
“It’s fun to go to the hospital so it’s pretty good for the kids,” said Barril. “ Maybe they have a bad moment in their life but we can in some way help the kids, make [them] smile. It’s a cool part of my job.”
Barril especially looks forward to see the Latino community at matches this season. Barril made it clear, saying in Spanish, it’s “un placer” to feel the support and warmth of the area’s Latino fans.
Indeed, for this Spaniard, it’s a pleasure to play soccer in America. It’s no longer different at all.