1970 National Soccer League season

Last updated
National Soccer League
Season1970
Champions
League cupToronto First Portuguese
Top goalscorerNino Flamini (25) [1]
1969
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 their 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 Italy26961139491024
9Toronto Hungaria2678114243122
10Soccer Portugais du Quebec of Montreal26671323452219
11 Toronto Ukrainians 26731634511717
12 Hamilton Apollos 26641625573216
13Kitchener Kickers26531831845313
14Toronto Olympia2611242391683
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

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'
[ [28] Report]John Stampoulidis Soccerball shade.svg62'Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
Attendance: 7205
Referee: Terry Bell

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References

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  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.
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  25. "Rodrigues takes post with new club". The Globe and Mail . January 13, 1971. p. 27.
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