1987 National Soccer League (Canada) season

Last updated
National Soccer League
Season1987
Champions
League cup Toronto Italia
Top goalscorerMarc Tirikian (17) [1]
1986
1988

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. [2] 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). [3] [4] On the other hand, Windsor became the regular season champions by finishing first in the standings. [5] [6] As a result, Windsor would travel to Montreal, Quebec to face the LNSQ league champions Sherbrooke Univestrie, and would win the NSL Canadian Championship. [7]

Contents

Overview

The 1987 season marked another major change in the Canadian soccer landscape as the Canadian Soccer Association's (CSA) nationally sanctioned Canadian Soccer League (CSL) made its debut with a consequential effect on the National Soccer League (NSL). [8] The formation of the CSL caused tension between both leagues and the national governing body. [9] [10] The original cause of divisiveness was based on the CSA's policy of no ethnic affiliated teams, which caused several rejections of noted NSL clubs in acquiring a franchise in the CSL. [11] [8] [10] In response, the Ontario-centered NSL began competing with the nascent national league by utilizing their affiliated agreements with the Pacific Rim Soccer League of British Columbia and the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ) for national recognition. [11] The agreements were based on an alternative method to the CSL's method of employing an interlocking national schedule. [12] The NSL's approach was in regards to travel expenses being reduced by providing a regionalized format where regionalized leagues with separate schedules would provide contenders to a postseason tournament, which determined the national champion. [12]

Before the commencement of both CSL and NSL seasons, various negotiations took place with proposals to integrate or establish a promotion and relegation system within both leagues and a reasonable compromise to the ethnically supported clubs. [12] [13] The discussions failed to produce any results and both leagues continued working in opposition to one another with different philosophical approaches to a national league system. [13] [14] Internally several changes were approved at the NSL annual general meeting with plans of reestablishing a reserve division, and intentions of creating a promotion and relegation system within the league. [15] League commissioner Rocco Lofranco continued negotiating with various organizations in hopes of establishing further affiliated agreements in the Maritimes and the Canadian Prairies. [11]

The membership in the league increased to eleven members with all clubs returning except the Toronto Blizzard defecting to the CSL. [16] [17] The new entries were centered in Toronto which included Chile Lindo, Nacional Latino, Toronto International, and the Mississauga Lakers of the Petro Canada League receiving an NSL franchise. [13] [18]

Teams

TeamCityStadiumManager
Chile Lindo Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium [13] Modesto Juárez [19]
London Marconi London, Ontario Cove Road Stadium
Mississauga Lakers Mississauga, Ontario
Nacional Latino Etobicoke, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium [13] Luis Ridoutt [20]
St. Catharines Roma St. Catharines, Ontario Club Roma Stadium Jimmy Douglas [21]
Toronto First Portuguese Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium
Toronto Croatia Etobicoke, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Vid Horvat [22]
Toronto International Etobicoke, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium [13] Ted Pope [23]
Toronto Italia Etobicoke, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Germán Sánchez [24]
Toronto Panhellenic Scarborough, Ontario Birchmount Stadium [19]
Windsor Wheels Windsor, Ontario Windsor Stadium Mirko Bazic [25]

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of
departure
Date of
vacancy
Position in tableIncoming coachDate of
appointment
Chile Lindo Flag of Chile.svg Carlos Rivas [26] suspendedAugust 26, 19877th in AugustModesto JuárezAugust 28, 1987 [19]
Nacional Latino Luis Caruso [27] [20] dismissedJuly 20, 198711th in July Flag of Peru.svg Luis RidouttJuly 22, 1987 [20]
Toronto Italia Flag of Peru.svg Luis Ridoutt [28] resignedMay 20, 19873rd in MayGermán Sánchez
Toronto Croatia Flag of Croatia.svg Bruno Pilaš [29] August 24, 19872nd in August Flag of Croatia.svg Vid Horvat [22]

Final standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Windsor Wheels (C)2013435418+3630Qualification for Playoffs
2 Toronto Croatia 2012354619+2727
3Toronto Panhellenic2012353424+1027
4 London Marconi 209653423+1124
5 Toronto Italia (O)208663028+222
6Toronto International207582921+819
7 Mississauga Lakers 204792325215
8 Chile Lindo 2039818442615
9 St. Catharines Roma 2039818301215
10Toronto First Portuguese20551021391815
11 Nacional Latino 2044124412+3212
Updated to match(es) played on September 17, 1987. Source: [30]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner

Cup

The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all eleven 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) cup titleholder for the NSL Canada Cup.

Finals

September 20, 1987 Toronto Italia 1–0 Windsor Wheels Etobicoke, Ontario
20:00Hardley Scott Soccerball shade.svg81'[ [31] Report]Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
September 24, 1987 Windsor Wheels 3–4 Toronto Italia Windsor, Ontario
20:00Franjo Domic Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg
Paul Pecoraro Soccerball shade.svg
[ [32] [33] Report]Hardley Scott Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg
Carmine Groe Soccerball shade.svg
Salguero Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Windsor Stadium
Attendance: 750

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. [34] [35] Their regional champions would face each other in a singles match for the championship. The Pacific Rim Soccer League participated in the first tournament but ceased operations in 1987. While their league cup champions would compete for the NSL Canada Cup.

NSL Canadian Championship

NSL Canada Cup

September 26, 1987 Toronto Italia 3–0 St. Leonard-Corfinium Etobicoke, Ontario
Salguero Soccerball shade.svg4', Soccerball shade.svg85'
Hardley Scott Soccerball shade.svg82'
Report Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium

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.

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

Thomas Angus Moffat was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a right winger. Active in England, Scotland, the United States and Canada between 1964 and 1983, Moffat made nearly 200 career league appearances.

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, 1995, 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.

Pedro Kozak was an Argentine football player and manager who played in the Argentine Primera División and the National Soccer League.

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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Marconi</span> Canadian association football 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.

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 1984 National Soccer League season was the sixty-first season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late May, 1984 and concluded in September 1984 with the NSL Championship final where Toronto Italia defeated London Marconi. Toronto Italia would also secure a treble by winning the regular-season title, and 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 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 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 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. Da Costa, Norman (November 2, 1987). "Major Toronto soccer tourney in the works". Toronto Star . p. D8.
  2. Waddell, Dave (October 1, 1987). "Dreadful effort flattens Wheels". Windsor Star . p. B3.
  3. 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.
  4. "Corfinium bows to Toronto Italia". Montreal Gazette . October 1, 1987. p. E9.
  5. "CSL Past Champions – Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  6. "1987 NSL Season" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca.
  7. "NSL title to Wheels". Windsor Star . October 6, 1987. p. B2.
  8. 1 2 Davidson, James (April 4, 1987). "CSL gives soccer one more kick at Canada". The Globe and Mail . p. C4.
  9. Da Costa, Norman (July 21, 1986). "New pro league starts play in May". Toronto Star . p. C8.
  10. 1 2 Da Costa, Norman (August 22, 1988). "Soccer's king seeking peace and order". Toronto Star . p. D8.
  11. 1 2 3 Da Costa, Norman (March 23, 1987). "Canada opens tour by whipping English team". Toronto Star . p. D8.
  12. 1 2 3 Da Costa, Norman (May 11, 1987). "Rocco Lofranco in new role as diplomat". Toronto Star . p. B7.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Koep, Bob (May 15, 1987). "Enlarged soccer league to open with some plans on hold for now". Toronto Star . p. F10.
  14. Da Costa, Norman (October 19, 1987). "Look for boom to continue in Ontario soccer popularity". Toronto Star . p. D9.
  15. Da Costa, Norman (October 12, 1987). "Canadians need $5 million for World Cup". Toronto Star . p. D6.
  16. Waddell, Dave (January 9, 1987). "NSL to add junior division". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. p. 13. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  17. "Soccer league set, without Montreal". Montreal Gazette . October 7, 1986. p. E2.
  18. Waddell, Dave (May 19, 1987). "Wheels rolling". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  19. 1 2 3 Vera Mendez, Hugo (August 28, 1987). "Breves Latinas De la NSL". El Popular. p. 14.
  20. 1 2 3 Vera Méndez, Hugo (July 22, 1987). "RIDPUT NUEVO ENTRENADOR". El Popular. p. 13.
  21. Wallace, Jim (15 May 2002). "Hard family to leave: Veteran fullback Hughes returns to Club Roma". St. Catharines Standard . pp. C3.
  22. 1 2 Da Costa, Norman (August 24, 1987). "Perennial NSL doormats reach for the top". Toronto Star . p. D6.
  23. "de seis jugadores profesionales brasileros". newspapers.lib.sfu.ca. El Popular. April 22, 1987. p. 19. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  24. "Norteamericana, nuevamente tendrá un torneo de segunda división". newspapers.lib.sfu.ca. El Popular. October 21, 1987. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  25. Waddell, Dave (March 19, 1987). "Wheels tab Yugoslavian to coach". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. p. 16. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  26. Waddell, Dave (August 26, 1987). "NSL suspends four Windsor players for part in brawl". Newspapers.com. The Windsor Star. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  27. "NACIONAL LATINO DEBUTO EN LA NATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUI". newspapers.lib.sfu.ca. El Popular. June 3, 1987. p. 13. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  28. Vera Mendez, Hugo (May 20, 1987). "Notas del Futbol Latino". El Popular. p. 16.
  29. Hall, Dave (May 25, 1987). "Wheels remain on roll". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. p. 25. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  30. "16 Sep 1987, 58 - The Windsor Star at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  31. "Big job facing Wheels in Cup". Windsor Star . September 21, 1987. p. 28.
  32. Waddell, Dave (September 25, 1987). "Wheels let League Cup slip out of their hands". Windsor Star . p. 46.
  33. Halberstadt, Alan (September 30, 1987). "Windsor teams toil in obscurity". Windsor Star . p. B2.
  34. Ferriss, Alan (September 18, 1986). "Support Soccer". Newspapers.com. Montreal Gazette. p. 33. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  35. "NSL expansion plan is to grow to 11 clubs". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. September 9, 1986. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-11-07.