1970 National Soccer League season

Last updated
National Soccer League
Season1970
Champions
League cupToronto First Portuguese
Top goalscorerNino Flamini (25) [1]
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1971 →

The 1970 National Soccer League season was the forty-seventh season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late April and concluded in early November with the NSL Championship final. The regular-season title was clinched by Toronto Croatia by finishing first throughout the regular season. [2] [3] In the playoffs, the championship title was won by Hamilton Croatia after defeating Toronto Croatia. [4] The NSL Cup was secured by Toronto First Portuguese after defeating Toronto Hellas. [5] [6]

Contents

Overview

Before the commencement of the season, a dispute emerged between the National Soccer League (NSL) and the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) over a variety of issues during the OSA's annual meeting. [7] At the meeting, the NSL's delegation requested that the league receive more representatives in future OSA meetings and a percentage of the gate earnings from friendly matches involving touring European teams. [7] All of the NSL's requests were denied, and in addition, the league was required to recruit match officials from the local Referees Society. [7] The league's circuit become centered around a Montreal–London corridor with the league expanding to the Ottawa region for the first time in its history. [8]

The Ottawa franchise was given to Ottawa Sons of Italy, who were the 1969 champions of the Ottawa-Rideau Soccer League. [9] [10] Hamilton received further representation with the acceptance of Hamilton Apollos and Hamilton Croatia. [8] Hamilton Croatia previously competed in the Inter-City Soccer League. [11] The NSL retained its presence in Quebec with the Portuguese de Quebec of Montreal replacing Montreal Inter-Italia. [8] Two notable absentees were Toronto Italia and Sudbury Italia as both were given a leave of absence to settle their financial troubles. [8] [12] Another departing club was Arsenal Portuguese Oakville.

Reports were also circulating of a potential national Canadian championship featuring champions from the NSL and the Western Canada Soccer League. [12] The NSL began to experience an increase in match attendance since its initial decrease and stagnation in the mid-1960s. [13] [4] The Toronto-based teams at Stanley Park averaged the highest amount, with an average of 1000 per match, followed by London, which averaged around 680 spectators. [4]

Teams

TeamCityStadiumManager
Hamilton Apollos Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton AAA Grounds [14] Andy Pollack [15]
Hamilton Croatia Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton AAA Grounds [16] Joe Dundovic [17]
Hamilton Homer Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton AAA Grounds [18]
Kitchener Concordia Kitchener, Ontario
London German Canadians London, Ontario Cove Road Stadium [19] Phil Brooman [20]
Ottawa Sons of Italy Ottawa, Ontario St. Joseph's High School [21] Sandro Rausa [22]
Portuguese de Quebec of Montreal Montreal, Quebec Jarry Stadium [23]
Serbian White Eagles Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium [13] Alan Harvey [24]
Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium [13] Arthur Rodrigues [25]
Toronto First Portuguese Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium [13] Arthur Rodrigues [24] [note 1]
Toronto Hellas Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium [13]
Toronto Hungaria Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium [13]
Toronto Olympia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium [13]
Toronto Ukrainia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium [13] Leo Dowhaluk [26]
  1. ↑ Rodrigues was First Portugal's head coach at the start of the season then later joined Toronto Croatia

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of
departure		Date of
vacancy		Position in tableIncoming coachDate of
appointment
Toronto Croatia Marijan Bilić [27] End of caretaker spell Arthur Rodrigues


Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Toronto Croatia (C)2620337519+5643Qualification for Playoffs
2 Hamilton Croatia (O)2616826724+4340
3 Serbian White Eagles 2617546026+3439
4Toronto First Portuguese2615475637+1934
5 London German Canadians 2613675529+2632
6Toronto Hellas2613584936+1331
7Hamilton Homer2612774836+1231
8Ottawa Sons of Italy2696113949−1024
9Toronto Hungaria2678114243−122
10Soccer Portugais du Quebec of Montreal2667132345−2219
11 Toronto Ukrainians 2673163451−1717
12 Hamilton Apollos 2664162557−3216
13Kitchener Kickers2653183184−5313
14Toronto Olympia2611242391−683
Updated to match(es) played on October 30, 1970. Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NSL_1921_1992.pdf
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

October 22, 1970 Toronto Croatia 2–1 London German Canadians Toronto, Ontario
20:30[ [28] Report]Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
October 24, 1970 Toronto First Portuguese 5–0 Ottawa Sons of Italy Toronto, Ontario
20:30[ [29] Report]Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
October 25, 1970 Hamilton Croatia 5–1 Toronto Hellas Toronto, Ontario
14:00Karol Martisek Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg
Malcolm Sinclair Soccerball shade.svg
Soccerball shade.svg		[ [30] Report]John Stambolidis Soccerball shade.svgStadium: Stanley Park Stadium
Referee: Terry Bell
October 25, 1970 Serbian White Eagles 0–0 [note 1] Hamilton Homer Toronto, Ontario
16:00[ [31] Report]Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
  1. ↑ Serbia advanced to the semi-final as Hamilton was suspended

Semifinals

October 24, 1970 Toronto Croatia 4–1 Serbian White Eagles Toronto, Ontario
20:00[ [32] Report]Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
October 29, 1970 Toronto First Portuguese 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)		 Hamilton Croatia Toronto, Ontario
20:30[ [33] Report]Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium

Finals

November 1, 1970 Toronto Croatia 0–3 Hamilton Croatia Toronto, Ontario
[ [4] Report]Arpad Hoffman Soccerball shade.svg
Karol Martisek Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg		Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium

Cup

The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all fourteen teams took part. The tournament would conclude in a final match for the Cup.

Finals

September 27, 1970 Toronto First Portuguese 2–1 (a.e.t.) Toronto Hellas Toronto, Ontario
Alves Soccerball shade.svg57'
Yaúca Soccerball shade.svg120'		[ [34] Report]John Stampoulidis Soccerball shade.svg62'Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
Attendance: 7205
Referee: Terry Bell

References

  1. ↑ "Flamini winner". Ottawa Citizen . October 19, 1970. p. 15.
  2. ↑ "CSL Past Champions" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Two teammates start a fight, both ejected". The Globe and Mail . October 15, 1970. p. 45.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Soccer league has good year at gate". Toronto Daily Star . 14. November 3, 1970.
  5. ↑ Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 117.
  6. ↑ Ryan, Allan (September 28, 1970). "Portuguese gets his biggest goal as departure time draws near". Toronto Daily Star . p. 16.
  7. 1 2 3 Waring, Ed (February 23, 1970). "Soccer league loses bid to share revenue". The Globe and Mail . p. 21.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "NSL accepts four new teams; three droped". The Globe and Mail . March 2, 1970. p. 20.
  9. ↑ "Sons of Italy join National Soccer League". Ottawa Citizen . March 6, 1970. p. 16.
  10. ↑ "Ottawa Team Enters Pro Soccer Loop". Ottawa Journal . March 10, 1970. p. 14.
  11. ↑ "Hamilton Croatia - History". hamiltoncroatia.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-12. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  12. 1 2 "Selective fhieves take tickets for Celtic-United game". The Globe and Mail . April 24, 1970. p. 31.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Waring, Ed (July 30, 1970). "Brazilian rookie now NSL's Pele". The Globe and Mail . p. 35.
  14. ↑ "Apollos tie Kitchener". Hamilton Spectator . 1 June 1970. p. 18.
  15. ↑ Lovegrove, Don (3 March 1970). "Enter two Hamilton teams in semi-pro soccer league". Hamilton Spectator . p. 18.
  16. ↑ Lovegrove, Don (22 May 1970). "Croatia in home debut". Hamilton Spectator . p. 17.
  17. ↑ "Croatia club huge success this season". Hamilton Spectator . 8 October 1970. p. 26.
  18. ↑ "All soccer teams play". Hamilton Spectator . 25 June 1970. p. 25.
  19. ↑ "London Ontario Competitive Soccer History". www.gcfclondon.com. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  20. ↑ Meckbach, Bruce (June 9, 1970). "Germans beat touring Darmstadt - Trasia 3-2". London Free Press .
  21. ↑ "Soccer win to Ottawa". Ottawa Citizen . April 27, 1970. p. 19.
  22. ↑ "Ottawa Nips Montreal 2-1". Ottawa Journal . April 27, 1970. p. 14.
  23. ↑ "Sons of Italy Down Hamilton Team 4-1". Ottawa Journal . October 13, 1970. p. 24.
  24. 1 2 Waring, Ed (27 April 1970). "White Eagles blanked in NSL opener". The Globe and Mail . p. 21.
  25. ↑ "Rodrigues takes post with new club". The Globe and Mail . January 13, 1971. p. 27.
  26. ↑ "Leo Dowhaluk". National Soccer League. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  27. ↑ Fraser, Terry (July 10, 1970). "Varzim has yielded one goal on tour". Toronto Daily Star . p. 18.
  28. ↑ "Soccer scores - National League". The Toronto Daily Star . 23 October 1970. p. 15.
  29. ↑ "Soccer scores - National League". The Toronto Daily Star . 26 October 1970. p. 13.
  30. ↑ "Suspend Four for Attack on Referee". The Globe and Mail . 26 October 1970. p. 20.
  31. ↑ "All-Croatian Final Looms in National Soccer League". Hamilton Spectator . 27 October 1970. p. 14.
  32. ↑ "Soccer - National League Sunday". Kitchener-Waterloo Record . 26 October 1970. p. 21.
  33. ↑ "Croatia in Final on Penalty Kicks". Hamilton Spectator . 31 October 1970. p. 16.
  34. ↑ Waring, Ed (September 28, 1970). "Portuguese win soccer crown in overtime, 2-1". The Globe and Mail . p. 21.
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