FC Barcelona passion among New York supporters' clubs

The third of FC Barcelona’s events with its supporters’ clubs in the United States happened in New York this Friday, with some 150 fans packing Smithfield Hall, Manhattan.

The Penya FC Barcelona NYC and Garden State Blaugrana Penya from New Jersey were the hosts, where they were joined by representatives of the club in vice-presidents Antonio Escudero and Elena Fort, and board members Josep Ignasi Macià, Xavier Puig and Joan Soler. Former star Juliano Belletti and Pedri’s father Fernando González, who is the president of the Tenerife supporters’ club, were also present.

Highlights included the Barça anthem blaring out to welcome the visitors from Catalonia, and when Josep Ignasi Macià, the director of the department that oversees the supporters movement, introduced Pedri’ father to the sound of a massive ovation and with everyone chanting the name of one of the current team’s most endearing players.

Jordi Getman, president of PB New York, and Christian Hernández, president of PB Garden State, gave speeches thanking everyone for coming and Hernández also expressed his gratitude to Getman for the invitation to co-host the celebrations. Although the venue was in New York, Saturday’s game against the NY Red Bulls will be played in New Jersey.

Josep Ignasi Macià mentioned that the New York supporters have always made him feel at home whenever he has visited their city, and also thanked all of the backroom staff who are so often forgotten, but who have done such a brilliant job of ensuring the success of this tour.

Finally the director of the Social Area, Antonio Escudero, described the various projects at the club and especially those of relevance to the fans, and ended his speech by saying, in English, that “This is my family”.