| Season | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Champions |
|
| League cup | Toronto Falcons |
| Top goalscorer | Sergio Clerici |
| Best goalkeeper | Tony Dallas |
← 1977 1979 → | |
The 1978 National Soccer League season was the fifty-fifth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May 1978 and concluded in late September 1978 with the Toronto Falcons defeating Hamilton Italo-Canadians for the NSL Cup. [1] [2] The regular-season title and NSL Championship were successfully defended by the Montreal Castors by finishing first in the First Division. [3] The Second Division title was won by St. Catharines Roma by finishing first in the standings. [4]
The NSL was operative in Northern Ontario, Quebec, and had a franchise in the United States in Upstate New York. The season also marked the final time the league employed the promotion and relegation system as the Second Division was dissolved the following year.
The membership in the First Division increased to 11 teams with Buffalo Blazers, Ottawa Tigers, and Toronto Falcons receiving promotions. [5] [6] Ottawa was defeated in the previous season's promotion and relegation match series by Toronto Croatia but still was granted promotion to the First Division. [7] The departing clubs were Toronto Macedonia, and the Serbian White Eagles were inactive for the season. [8] Toronto Macedonia attempted to sell their franchise rights to Montreal Stars, but the move was declined by the league ownership. [8]
A league meeting occurred in early September where the league ownership decided to eliminate the playoff format and conclude the season early after the completion of the NSL Cup tournament. [9] The league champions Montreal Castors decided to withdraw from the competition, while the Windsor Stars forfeited after protesting the league's decision to change their opponent. [10] The Second Division consisted of 7 teams with the Toronto Ukrainians returning to the NSL after a two-year absence. The Montreal Stars were absent for the season but returned for the 1979 season. Further changes occurred at the administrative level with John Fischer succeeding Joe Piccininni as the league's president. [11] [12]
| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Blazers | Sam Buscarino [34] | resigned | April 23, 1978 | 11th in June | Roberto Lonardo | June, 1978 |
  Bradford Buffalo Hamilton London Mississauga Ottawa St. Catharines Sudbury  TORONTO Windsor |  Montreal Locations of teams in Quebec for the 1978 NSL season. |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal Castors (C, O) | 20 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 55 | 22 | +33 | 33 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 2 | Toronto First Portuguese | 20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 34 | 15 | +19 | 29 | |
| 3 | Toronto Falcons | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 25 | |
| 4 | Toronto Panhellenic | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 28 | +9 | 24 | |
| 5 | Toronto Italia | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 23 | |
| 6 | Windsor Stars | 20 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 34 | 26 | +8 | 23 | |
| 7 | Ottawa Tigers | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 40 | 38 | +2 | 18 | |
| 8 | Hamilton Italo-Canadians | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 31 | 32 | −1 | 14 | |
| 9 | Toronto Croatia | 19 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 15 | 47 | −32 | 11 | |
| 10 | London City | 20 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 16 | 39 | −23 | 9 | |
| 11 | Buffalo Blazers | 20 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 56 | −30 | 9 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Catharines Roma (C, O) | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 7 | +28 | 22 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 2 | St. Catharines Heidelberg | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 12 | +25 | 18 | |
| 3 | Sudbury Cyclones | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 11 | +9 | 14 | |
| 4 | Toronto Polonia | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 18 | +7 | 13 | |
| 5 | Toronto Ukrainians | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 26 | −7 | 10 | |
| 6 | Mississauga Hungaria | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 33 | −20 | 6 | |
| 7 | Bradford Marshlanders | 12 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 50 | −42 | 1 |
The National Soccer League was a soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997. Teams were primarily based in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The league was renamed to Canadian National Soccer League in 1993 following the folding of the Canadian Soccer League, and the accepting of the Winnipeg Fury, making the league more national. In the 1960s, the Canadian National Soccer League was one of four major leagues in Canadian soccer alongside the Pacific Coast League, the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and the Western Canada Soccer League.
Toronto Falcons Soccer Club was a Canadian soccer club founded in 1975 that operated in the National Soccer League (NSL). The team initially operated in Oakville, Ontario under the name Oakville United, then moved to Toronto as the Toronto Falcons. The club's fledgling years were spent in the Second Division of the NSL, and ultimately secured promotion in 1977. Toronto achieved success in the First Division by winning the NSL Cup in 1978, and the regular-season championship in 1980. The Falcons competed in the NSL for eight seasons from 1975 till 1982.
The Buffalo Blazers were a soccer team in Buffalo, New York. They competed in the National Soccer League in 1976–1978 and 1980. They were one of only four American teams to have competed in the National Soccer League which was based in Canada.
The 1989 National Soccer League season was the sixty-sixth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season concluded on September 18, 1989, with Toronto Italia defending their seventh consecutive NSL Championship by finishing first in the First Division. Toronto Italia also claimed the NSL Canadian Championship by defeating Montreal Ramblers of the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ) on September 20, 1989, at the Claude Robilliard Stadium in Montreal, Quebec. The NSL Cup was also successfully defended by Toronto Croatia. Croatia would also defeat LNSQ Cup champions St. Leonard to win the Canada Cup.
The 1988 National Soccer League season was the sixty-fifth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began on May 10, 1988, and concluded on September 14, 1988, with Toronto Italia winning the NSL Championship by finishing first in the First Division. Toronto would also secure a double by defeating Montreal Superga of the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ) for the NSL Canadian Championship. The NSL Ontario Cup was won by Toronto Croatia on September 17, 1988. Croatia would face St. Leonard-Corfinium of the LNSQ for the NSL Canada Cup but was defeated by a score of 3-1. St. Catharines Roma II was the reserve division champions.
The 1986 National Soccer League season was the sixty-third season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late May 1986 and concluded in early October 1986 with the NSL Championship final where Toronto Italia defeated Toronto Blizzard. Though the Blizzard would still manage to secure a treble after finishing first in the standings to claim the regular-season title, and defeating London Marconi for the NSL Ontario Cup. Toronto would earn the treble by defeating Vancouver Columbus Italia for the NSL Canadian Championship. The fourth piece of silverware was claimed by the Blizzard after defeating Luso Stars of the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ) for the NSL Canada Cup.
The 1985 National Soccer League season was the sixty-second season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began on May 12, 1985, and concluded in early October 1985 with the NSL Championship final where Toronto Italia successfully defended their title against Windsor AC Roma. London Marconi secured the regular-season title by finishing first in the standings, and Dinamo Latino won the NSL Cup.
The 1981 National Soccer League season was the fifty-eighth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May, 1981 and concluded in October 1981 with the NSL Championship final where Hamilton Steelers defeated Toronto Italia in a two-legged series final. Hamilton would achieve a treble by also securing the regular-season title, and defeating Toronto Ukrainians for the NSL Cup.
The 1980 National Soccer League season was the fifty-seventh season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May 1980 and concluded in October 1980 with the NSL Championship final where Toronto Panhellenic defeated St. Catharines Roma. The Toronto Falcons won the regular-season title but were defeated by Toronto Italia for the NSL Cup.
Sudbury Cyclones was a soccer club based in Sudbury, Ontario. The club was formed in 1976 and originally competed in the Second Division of the National Soccer League (NSL). Sudbury played in the National Soccer League for five seasons from 1976 until the 1980 season. The club became the last representative from Northern Ontario to compete in the National Soccer League.
The 1979 National Soccer League season was the fifty-sixth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May 1979 and concluded in September 1979 with Toronto First Portuguese producing a perfect season, which granted them the NSL Championship. First Portuguese would also secure the double by defeating Toronto Panhellenic for the NSL Cup. Toronto's undefeated streak lasted until the 1980 season and amounted to 52 games with Toronto Panhellenic breaking the streak.
The 1977 National Soccer League season was the fifty-fourth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late April and concluded in early October with the Montreal Castors securing the double by finishing first in the First Division. The NSL Cup was claimed by Toronto Panhellenic. The Second Division title was won by Toronto Falcons by finishing first in the standings which allowed promotion to the First Division. The NSL was operative in Northern Ontario, Quebec, and had a franchise in the United States in Upstate New York.
The 1976 National Soccer League season was the fifty-third season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late April and concluded in early October with Toronto Panhellenic securing the double by defeating Toronto First Portuguese in a two-match series for the NSL Championship. In the NSL Cup final, Panhellenic defeated Toronto Italia, while Italia successfully defended the First Division title by finishing first in the standings. In the Second Division, Hamilton Italo-Canadians defeated Toronto Croatia for both the division title and NSL II Championship.
The 1975 Canadian Soccer League season was the fifty-second season for the National Soccer League (NSL) which operated under the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) name for the season. The season began in April and concluded in late October with Toronto Italia securing a double. Italia would also win the Canadian Open Cup by defeating the Challenge Trophy champions London Boxing and Athletic Club of Victoria from British Columbia. The Serbian White Eagles were the NSL Cup winners and the Canadian representative for the 1975 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
The 1972 National Soccer League season was the forty-ninth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late April and concluded in October with the Canadian Open Cup final. Toronto Croatia successfully defended its regular-season title for the third consecutive season with an undefeated regular season streak. Toronto would also defeat the Serbian White Eagles for the NSL Cup. The Croatians would secure a treble by winning the Open Canada Cup against Vancouver Columbus. In the playoffs, Toronto Italia defeated the Serbian White Eagles for the NSL Championship.
The 1971 National Soccer League season was the forty-eighth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in early May and concluded in October with the Canadian Open Cup final where Toronto Croatia defeated Challenge Trophy champions Vancouver Eintracht. The Croatians would secure a treble by successfully defending their regular-season title, and defeating Toronto First Portuguese for the NSL Championship. The NSL Cup was successfully defended by Toronto First Portuguese who defeated Sudbury City.
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. In the playoffs, the championship title was won by Hamilton Croatia after defeating Toronto Croatia. The NSL Cup was secured by Toronto First Portuguese after defeating Toronto Hellas.
The 1968 National Soccer League season was the forty-fifth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late May and concluded in early October with Sudbury Italia securing the double. Sudbury finished first in the standings with 29 points with a single-point difference between Toronto Hellas. Italia would face Toronto Hellas once more in the NSL Championship final. The league would serve as a secondary league in the Canadian soccer landscape as the American-based North American Soccer League expanded into British Columbia and Ontario.
The 1967 National Soccer League season was the forty-fourth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in early May and concluded in early November with Windsor Teutonia successfully defending the O’Keefe Trophy against Hamilton Primos. The regular-season title was clinched by Hamilton Primos by finishing first throughout the regular season.
The 1966 National Soccer Leagueseason was the forty-third season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late May and concluded in late October with Windsor Teutonia claiming their first NSL Championship against Toronto Croatia. The regular-season title was secured by Sudbury Italia by finishing first throughout the regular season.
