1986 National Soccer League (Canada) season

Last updated
National Soccer League
Season1986
Champions
League cup Toronto Blizzard
← 1985
1987 →

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. [1] 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. [2] [3] [4] Toronto would earn the treble by defeating Vancouver Columbus Italia for the NSL Canadian Championship. [5] 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. [6]

Contents

Overview

As the formation of the Canadian Soccer Association's (CSA) sanctioned national professional league was becoming more apparent, and with its policy of no ethnic associated clubs the National Soccer League (NSL) began organizing an alternative model to the CSA's version of a nationwide league. [7] The newly appointed NSL commissioner and Toronto Italia owner Rocco Lofranco began the process of formalizing affiliated agreements with professional leagues throughout the country to implement a national model with a regional format. [8] [9] The regional format would consist of separate regional leagues with independent schedules with the regional champions qualifying for a postseason tournament, which would ultimately determine the national champion. [8] The primary purpose of the regional format was to reduce the costly travel expenses associated with a national league employing an interlocking schedule. [7] The NSL's presence was successfully established in British Columbia through an affiliated agreement with the Pacific Rim Soccer League and in Quebec with the creation of the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ) in 1986. [10]

As the NSL expanded into British Columbia, and Quebec each league supplied their regional champions in a tournament for the NSL Canadian Championship intending to provide a Canadian representative to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. [11] The previous time a Canadian club competed in the Champions' Cup was in the 1976 CONCACAF Champions' Cup represented by Toronto Italia. [12] Several proposals and changes to the league's infrastructure were approved at the annual general meeting with the acceptance of the Petro Canada Soccer League as the NSL's developmental league, and the renaming of Toronto Dinamo to the Toronto Blizzard. [13] All teams from the previous season returned with Windsor AC Roma renaming themselves as Windsor Wheels in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience. [14]

Teams

TeamCityStadiumManager
London Marconi London, Ontario Cove Road Stadium
St. Catharines Roma St. Catharines, Ontario Club Roma Stadium [15] Jimmy Douglas [16]
Toronto Blizzard Toronto, Ontario Varsity Stadium [11] Dave Turner [17]
Toronto Croatia Etobicoke, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium [11] Bruno Pilaš [18]
Toronto First Portuguese Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium [11]
Toronto Italia Etobicoke, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium [11] Carlo Del Monte [19]
Toronto Panhellenic Scarborough, Ontario Birchmount Stadium [20] Colin Byron [21]
Windsor Wheels Windsor, Ontario Windsor Stadium [22] Vern Mittermeier [23]

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of
departure		Date of
vacancy		Position in tableIncoming coachDate of
appointment
Windsor Wheels Flag of Scotland.svg Gus Moffat [23] dismissedAugust 1, 19867th in AugustVern Mittermeier [23] August 1, 1986

Final standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Toronto Blizzard (C)1410133412+2221Qualification for Playoffs
2 Toronto Italia (O)137332512+1317
3Toronto Panhellenic146442323016
4 London Marconi 147162724+315
5Toronto First Portuguese146351718−115
6 Windsor Wheels 146352429−515
7 St. Catharines Roma 143291936−178
8 Toronto Croatia 130310930−213
Updated to match(es) played on September 18, 1986. Source: [24]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

Playoffs

Semifinals

September 21, 1986 Toronto Blizzard 1–0 Toronto Panhellenic Toronto, Ontario
Abascal Soccerball shade.svg90'[ [25] Report]Stadium: Varsity Stadium

Finals

September 24, 1986 Toronto Blizzard 0–1 Toronto Italia Toronto, Ontario
20:00[ [26] Report] Commisso Soccerball shade.svgStadium: Varsity Stadium
Attendance: 2,127
Referee: Tony Evangelista

Cup

The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all eight teams took part. All the matches were separate from the regular season, and the teams were grouped into two separate divisions. The two winners in the group stage would advance to a singles match for the Cup. The winner of the league cup would face the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ), and Pacific Rim Soccer League cup titleholders for the NSL Canada Cup. [5]

Finals

September 19, 1986 Toronto Blizzard 4–3 London Marconi Toronto, Ontario
Marinaro Soccerball shade.svg
Ntsoelengoe Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg		[ [27] Report]Phil Murphy Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg
Louie Fotia Soccerball shade.svg		Stadium: Varsity Stadium

NSL Canadian Championship

Since the 1986 season, a joint effort was conducted between the Pacific Rim Soccer League of British Columbia, National Soccer League, and the Quebec National Soccer League to provide a national champion. [28] [29] The original intention of the national tournament was to provide a potential Canadian representative for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. [30] The previous time a Canadian club competed in the Champions' Cup was in the 1976 CONCACAF Champions' Cup represented by Toronto Italia. [31] Their regional champions would face each other in a single-elimination tournament with a single match for the championship.

Semifinals

September 26, 1986 Laval Lavallois 0–1 Vancouver Columbus Italia Toronto, Ontario
[ [32] Report]Frank Ciaccia Soccerball shade.svgStadium: Lamport Stadium
Attendance: 75

Finals

NSL Canada Cup

The NSL Canada Cup was a separate tournament intended to crown a national league cup champion. [5] The participating teams were the league cup titleholders from the Pacific Rim Soccer League of British Columbia, the National Soccer League, and the Quebec National Soccer League. [9] The format of the competition was a single-elimination tournament with a single match for the national cup.

Semifinal

Final

October 5, 1986 Luso Stars Mount Royal 0–2 Toronto Blizzard Montreal, Quebec
[ [34] Report] Hooper Soccerball shade.svg17'
Ntsoelengoe Soccerball shade.svg58'		Stadium: Université de Montreal Stadium
Attendance: 532

Related Research Articles

The Open Canada Cup was an annual knock-out cup competition in Canadian Soccer. The competition was first held during the 1998 season as the CPSL League Cup. It was organized by the Canadian Soccer League originally as a League Cup for CSL member clubs. After operating the competition for several seasons as an exclusive tournament, the league's ownership decided in 2003 to grant accessibility to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs. The decision was influenced by the lack of initiative by the Canadian Soccer Association in providing a potential candidate for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Blizzard (1986–1993)</span> Former soccer team in Toronto, Ontario

The second iteration of the Toronto Blizzard was a Canadian professional soccer team in Toronto, Ontario that competed in the Canadian Soccer League, National Soccer League, and the American Professional Soccer League. The club was formed shortly after the folding of the original team that coincided with the folding of the North American Soccer League. This edition of the club folded in 1993 after poor financial prospects and lack of attendance.

Carlos Humberto Rivas Torres is a Chilean retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Salguero</span> Argentine footballer and coach

Carlos Salguero was an Argentine professional football forward. He died aged 51 from cancer in 2006. He spent one season in the North American Soccer League, one in the United Soccer League and nearly ten in various indoor leagues. Salguero also coached the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League for one season.

The Toronto Jets was a S.S. Pauline Soccer Club team that played in the Minor Division (MD) of the Canadian National Soccer League, formerly the National Soccer League (N.S.L.) between 1977–1979, and perhaps as early as 1976. The 1976 and 1979 teams were the boys under 19 Ontario Cup Champions, and the 1978 team was the N.S.L. - MD Jr. Playoff Champions.

The 1993 Canadian National Soccer League season was the seventy-first season for the Canadian National Soccer League. The season concluded on October 17, 1993, with St. Catharines Roma claiming their first CNSL Championship after defeating Toronto Rockets in a two-game series. Toronto Croatia secured their fifth CNSL league cup.

The 1992 National Soccer League season was the sixth ninth and final season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began May 8, 1992, with Richmond Hill Kick facing North York Atletico Argentina at Centennial Park Stadium. The season concluded with Toronto Croatia securing the league double. Croatia would defeat the North York Atletico Argentina SC for the NSL Ontario Cup by a score of 2-1 at Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke, Ontario.

The 1991 National Soccer League season was the sixty-eighth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season concluded on September 22, 1991, with Toronto Italia securing the NSL Championship by finishing first in the standings by a single-point difference between Scarborough International and St. Catharines Roma.

Peter Felicetti is a Canadian former soccer general manager and head coach who had notable stints in the Canadian Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League.

Dale Baxter is a former soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. Born in England, he represented Canada at youth level.

The 1990 National Soccer League season was the sixty-seventh season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season concluded on September 12, 1990, with Toronto First Portuguese claiming their third NSL Championship by finishing first in the First Division. First Portuguese would also secure the NSL Canadian Championship by defeating St. Leonard of the Quebec National Soccer League on September 29, 1990, in Toronto, Ontario. The NSL Cup was won by St. Catharines Roma, and North York Strikers secured the Second Division championship.

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 1987 National Soccer League season was the sixty-fourth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in early May 1987 and concluded in early October 1987 with the NSL Championship final where Toronto Italia defeated London Marconi. Toronto would secure a league treble by winning the NSL Ontario Cup against Windsor Wheels and claiming the NSL Canada Cup from St. Léonard-Corfinium of the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ). On the other hand, Windsor became the regular season champions by finishing first in the standings. As a result, Windsor would travel to Montreal, Quebec to face the LNSQ league champions Sherbrooke Univestrie, and would win the NSL Canadian Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Marconi</span> Canadian soccer team

London Marconi Soccer Club is a Canadian soccer club based in London, Ontario, that plays in the Western Ontario Soccer League. The club was founded in 1962 and originally competed in the London and District League. After several notable achievements at the amateur level, the organization joined the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1984. After competing in the NSL for five seasons they returned to the amateur level by joining the Western Ontario Soccer League.

Božidar Milenković was a Serbian professional footballer and coach.

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.

Nacional Latino was a soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. The club played in the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1982 originally under the name Dinamo Latino. In 1985, the ownership of the Toronto Blizzard purchased Dinamo's franchise rights, and competed in the NSL until the 1986 season. In 1987, the Blizzard joined the Canadian Soccer League, and the previous ownership retained control of the club under the name Nacional Latino. The club's final season at the professional level lasted until the 1987 season.

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.

Chile Lindo was a soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. The club was founded in 1975 and originally played in the Liga Hispanoamerica de Football Amateur (LHFA). After several successes' at the amateur level, the club was granted a franchise in the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1987. Lindo played in the NSL for two seasons from 1987 till 1988. The club's franchise was revoked in 1988 after a series of on-field incidents.

References

  1. ↑ Koep, Bob (September 25, 1986). "Italia blanks Blizzard for playoff cup". Toronto Star . p. D7.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "CSL Past Champions – Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  4. ↑ "1986 NSL Season" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca.
  5. 1 2 3 Zwolinski, Mark (September 29, 1986). "Blizzard tops Vancouver to capture national title". Toronto Star . p. B6.
  6. ↑ Meagher, John (October 6, 1986). "Suspended striker causes row after playing in semi-pro finale". Montreal Gazette . p. C5.
  7. 1 2 Da Costa, Norman (July 7, 1986). "Tough sledding for Blizzard opponents". Toronto Star . p. B4.
  8. 1 2 Da Costa, Norman (June 30, 1986). "Soccer boss proposes regional leagues format". Toronto Star . p. B6.
  9. 1 2 Da Costa, Norman (September 1, 1986). "11 teams in 2 divisions possible for new league". Toronto Star . p. D5.
  10. ↑ Da Costa, Norman (July 21, 1986). "New pro league starts play in May". Toronto Star . p. C8.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Koep, Bob (May 1, 1986). "Soccer loop aims to be truly national". Toronto Star . p. D7.
  12. ↑ "Italia retains NSL title with win over Hamilton". The Globe and Mail. September 30, 1976. p. 58.
  13. ↑ "NSL adds farm system, creates Quebec league". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. December 16, 1985. p. 31. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  14. ↑ Waddell, Dave (March 18, 1986). "Wheels to create image of speed and excitement". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. p. 21. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  15. ↑ "Roma opens NSL season". St. Catharines Standard . 7 May 1986. p. 32.
  16. ↑ Wallace, Jim (12 February 1986). "Douglas back as coach". St. Catharines Standard . p. 27.
  17. ↑ "Argentinian aces turn on the power". Toronto Star . May 19, 1986. p. B4.
  18. ↑ Da Costa, Norman (September 9, 1986). "Ottawa added to soccer league". Toronto Star . p. G6.
  19. ↑ Waddell, Dave (June 16, 1986). "Wheels run away with victory". Windsor Star . p. 28.
  20. ↑ Duffy, Andrew (August 12, 1986). "Scarborough soccer star, 19 has both craftiness and speed". Toronto Star . p. E12.
  21. ↑ Da Costa, Norman (October 14, 1986). "Canadians offered $1,000 to throw game". Toronto Star . p. B8.
  22. ↑ "Wheels get down to business". Windsor Star . May 24, 1986. p. 15.
  23. 1 2 3 Waddell, Dave (August 1, 1986). "Wheels fire Moffat". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. p. 31. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  24. ↑ "18 Sep 1986, 12 - The Windsor Star at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  25. 1 2 "Blizzard, Italia win soccer semifinals". Toronto Star . September 22, 1986. p. B8.
  26. ↑ Koep, Bob (September 25, 1986). "Italia blanks Blizzard for playoff cup". Toronto Star . p. D7.
  27. ↑ "Blizzard claim 2nd soccer title". Toronto Star . September 20, 1986. p. D5.
  28. ↑ Ferriss, Alan (September 18, 1986). "Support Soccer". Newspapers.com. Montreal Gazette. p. 33. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  29. ↑ "NSL expansion plan is to grow to 11 clubs". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. September 9, 1986. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  30. ↑ Koep, Bob (September 24, 1986). "Soccer champions ready for kickoff of east-west series". Toronto Star . p. H12.
  31. ↑ "Italia retains NSL title with win over Hamilton". The Globe and Mail. September 30, 1976. p. 58.
  32. ↑ "Vancouver to meet Blizzard in NSL final". Toronto Star . September 27, 1986. p. D8.
  33. ↑ Zwolinski, Mark (September 29, 1986). "Blizzard tops Vancouver to capture national title". Toronto Star . p. B6.
  34. ↑ Meagher, John (October 6, 1986). "Suspended striker causes row after playing in semi-pro finale". Montreal Gazette . p. C5.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.