1977 National Soccer League (Canada) season explained

Competition:National Soccer League
Season:1977
Shield:Toronto Panhellenic
Shieldtitle:League cup
League Topscorer:Saban Romanovic
Prevseason:1976

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 (First Division title, and NSL Championship) by finishing first in the First Division.[1] [2] The NSL Cup was claimed by Toronto Panhellenic.[3] The Second Division title was won by Toronto Falcons by finishing first in the standings which allowed promotion to the First Division.[4] The NSL was operative in Northern Ontario, Quebec, and had a franchise in the United States in Upstate New York.

Overview

The National Soccer League (NSL) had intentions of expanding westward with the idea of forming a division in British Columbia.[5] Though the idea never materialized the NSL would ultimately establish an affiliated league in British Columbia with the Pacific Rim Soccer League in the 1986 season.[6] Several changes were approved by the league owners to limit the usage of imports by placing a further restriction on foreign players from five to four.[7] [8] As the league attempted to curve the usage of imports it approved the requirement of every First Division club to field a feeder team in the NSL's youth division. The season produced several controversies as multiple riots and fan violence erupted throughout matches, which were primarily fueled by ethnic rivalries amongst the ethnically associated clubs.[9] [10] [11] One particular match that produced a riot occurred between Toronto Italia, and Toronto Panhellenic supporters which caused Italia to contemplate leaving the league before reconsidering.[12] [13] [14]

The membership in the league increased to 20 teams with 10 members in both divisions.[15] Hamilton Italo-Canadians and Toronto Croatia were promoted to the First Division, while Hamilton Croatia and Welland Lions departed from the league.[16] St. Catharines Roma with experience in the Inter-City Soccer League purchased Welland's franchise rights, and Toronto Hungaria returned and became based in Mississauga, Ontario.[17] [18] [19] The NSL expanded further into Montreal with the acceptance of the Montreal Stars, and the addition of the Bradford Marshlanders with both clubs operating in the Second Division.[20] Reports were also circulating about the league employing a potential commissioner with Toronto attorney Joe Kane as the primary candidate.[21] Kane served as the league's legal advisor and assisted in drafting the league's new constitution the previous year.[22]

Teams

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of
departure		Date of
vacancy		Position in tableIncoming coachDate of
appointment
Windsor Stars Ivan Marković[51] resigned preseason Jim TownsendApril 14, 1977
Sudbury CyclonesFulvio Stepancich[52] resigned 8th in May Branko Knezevich[53] May 28, 1977
Sudbury Cyclones Branko Knezevich[54] replaced8th in May Fulvio Stepancich[55] June 11, 1977
Bradford MarshlandersDerek Nash John Rowley replacedJuly 13, 19774th in JulyElio RadocchiaJuly 13, 1977
Sudbury CyclonesFulvio Stepancichfired7th in AugustPeter SeverinacAugust 8, 1977

Standings

Second Division

Promotion and relegation matches

The promotion and relegation system utilized by the National Soccer League operated with the last-placed team in the First Division being automatically relegated, while the Second Division champion would receive an automatic promotion to the First Division.[56] The second last team in the First Division would play in a series of matches against the runner-ups in the Second Division to determine which team would be relegated or promoted.

Matches

References

  1. Web site: CSL Past Champions – Canadian Soccer League. 2020-09-06. canadiansoccerleague.ca. en-US. 2020-10-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030000639/http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-past-champions/. dead.
  2. News: October 5, 1977. Castors clinch championship. 33. The Globe and Mail.
  3. Book: Jose, Colin. On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. 2001. Vaughan, Ontario. 117.
  4. News: Dowd. Eric. September 12, 1977. Ottawa sport - Soccer. 21. Ottawa Citizen.
  5. News: Hall. Dave. January 14, 1977. Stars on prowl for GM. 26. Windsor Star.
  6. News: Da Costa. Norman. July 21, 1986. New pro league starts play in May. C8. Toronto Star.
  7. News: Krivel. Peter. July 12, 1977. NSL division scheme boosts competition. C4. Toronto Star.
  8. News: Wilkinson. Jeff. October 11, 1977. Pro Soccer in Windsor: Still kicking. 51. Windsor Star.
  9. News: July 1, 1977. Guilty of assault, goalie must coach. B5. Toronto Star.
  10. News: Proudfoot. Jim. September 1, 1977. An easy solution for the problems of soccer league. C2. Toronto Star.
  11. News: September 3, 1977. London boss rips NSL ethnic makeup. 24. Windsor Star.
  12. News: September 5, 1977. Italian club is upset over replay order. B3. Toronto Star.
  13. News: Kernaghan. Jim. August 31, 1977. Italia may quit soccer league. C2.
  14. News: September 6, 1977. Italia delays decision on withdrawing from NSL. C3. Toronto Star.
  15. News: February 22, 1977. Stars open Apr. 24. 18. Windsor Star.
  16. News: April 30, 1977. Cyclones on road against Toronto Falcons. 30. Sudbury Star.
  17. Web site: CPSL - St. Catharines Roma Wolves. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20010224060814/http://www.canadakicks.com/cpsl/stcatharines.htm. February 24, 2001. 2021-04-06.
  18. News: Heppell. Jim. May 13, 1977. St. Anthony's plan rebuilding year. 19. Ottawa Journal.
  19. News: May 30, 1977. Roma too much for Cyclones. 15. Sudbury Star.
  20. News: Witten . Mark . 23 February 1977 . Businessman Form Soccer Club . The Witness.
  21. News: Hall. Dave. December 15, 1977. Kane, full of ideas, leans toward NSL position. 54. Windsor Star.
  22. News: Kernaghan. Jim. January 24, 1976. Soccer league's new plan gives owner more power. D3. Toronto Star.
  23. News: 27 April 1977 . Marshlanders play Sunday . The Bradford Witness . 5.
  24. News: Slykhus . John . 13 July 1977 . Marshlanders lose close one . The Bradford Witness . 14.
  25. News: Boeck. Greg. March 10, 1977. Sports Roundup. 42. Democrat and Chronicle.
  26. News: 21 February 1977 . Crawley to Coach Blazers . 13 . Buffalo Evening News.
  27. News: May 19, 1977. Stars help create logjam near top. 57. Windsor Star.
  28. Web site: Hall. Dave. May 2, 1977. City shuts down Stars. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416184907/http://www.newspapers.com/image/503084552/?terms=Ron+Clayton+london+city . 2021-04-16 . 2020-08-22. Newspapers.com. The Windsor Star. 26. en.
  29. News: Gallagher. Danny. June 11, 1977. Stepancich makes return. 14. Sudbury Star.
  30. News: August 1, 1977. Sports Roundup - Soccer. 15. The Globe and Mail.
  31. News: Phillips. Randy. April 30, 1977. Castors start drive for title in soccer. 28. Montreal Gazette.
  32. News: Dowd. Eric. August 5, 1977. Ottawa sport - Soccer. 15. Ottawa Citizen.
  33. News: May 13, 1977. Ottawa sport. 19. Ottawa Citizen.
  34. News: Warburton. Wendy. July 21, 1977. Tigers ready for Israel. 25. Ottawa Citizen.
  35. News: June 18, 1977. Weekend sports calendar - Soccer. 53. The Globe and Mail.
  36. News: Lewis. Michael. August 7, 1977. Lancers on the hot seat. 54. Democrat and Chronicle.
  37. News: Gallagher. Danny. April 27, 1977. Cyclones import adjusts. 17. Sudbury Star.
  38. News: Falldien. Jack. August 8, 1977. Stepancich is cut as Cyclones coach. 17. Sudbury Star.
  39. News: 2 June 1977 . Four Blazers Put Boot to Forner Club . 34 . Buffalo News.
  40. News: Kruse. Chuck. June 6, 1977. Halftime adjustments helps Cyclones win. 17. Sudbury Star.
  41. News: July 6, 1977. Stars shine again. 50. Windsor Star.
  42. News: Heppell. Jim. September 9, 1977. Playing space for Gloucester. 19. Ottawa Journal.
  43. News: June 30, 1977. Cyclones meeting powerful Falcons. 12. Sudbury Star.
  44. News: August 2, 1977. Stars control game, but come up empty. 35. Windsor Stars.
  45. Web site: 2018 Wall of Fame Induction. live. January 2, 2022. torontoazzurri.com. 17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102202314/https://torontoazzurri.com/index.php/wall-of-fame/ . 2022-01-02 .
  46. News: May 11, 1977. Wignot saves Stars. 53. Windsor Star.
  47. News: McKay. Jim. June 11, 1977. Newcomers stir Stars, 4-0. 24. Windsor Star.
  48. News: May 9, 1977. Cyclones drop second match in soccer play. 13. Sudbury Star.
  49. News: Hall. Dave. April 21, 1977. Townsend: We'll have a good team. 64. Windsor Star.
  50. News: Knack. Marty. April 14, 1977. No systems for new coach. 59. Windsor Star.
  51. News: April 12, 1977. Markovich quits Stars. 19. Windsor Star.
  52. News: Kruse. Chuck. May 28, 1977. Cyclones now lose off the field. 18. Sudbury Star.
  53. News: June 4, 1977. Knezevich named Cyclones' coach. 18. Sudbury Star.
  54. News: Gallagher. Danny. June 13, 1977. Knezevich riled by Cyclones. 19. Sudbury Star.
  55. News: Gallagher. Danny. June 11, 1977. Stepancich makes return. 14. Sudbury Star.
  56. News: Heppell. Jim. August 26, 1977. First place within reach. 18. Ottawa Journal.

External links

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