1973 National Soccer League season

National Soccer League 1973 Toronto Croatia (regular season, 4th title) Toronto Hungaria (playoffs, 1st title) Toronto Hungaria League cup John Fahy (24) Keith Summers (24) Blagoje TamindžićNational Soccer League 1926 to 1992 https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NSL_1921_1992.pdf live May 22, 2021 canadiansoccerleague.ca https://web.archive.org/web/20140628214309/http://canadiansoccerleague.ca:80/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NSL_1921_1992.pdf 2014-06-28 1972 1974 The 1973 National Soccer League season was the fiftieth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May and concluded in late October with Toronto Hungaria defeating Toronto Croatia for the NSL Championship. Toronto Hungaria repeated their success by defeating Croatia for the NSL Cup, which marked the organization's first league double.Jose Colin On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum 2001 Vaughan, Ontario 117 Although Toronto Croatia was defeated in the postseason, they still managed to secure the regular-season title and qualified for the Canadian Open Cup.CSL Past Champions https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Champions.pdf live April 30, 2021 canadiansoccerleague.ca https://web.archive.org/web/20210414193119/https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Champions.pdf 2021-04-14 October 4, 1973 Croatia wins NSL pennant C3 Toronto Star In the Canadian Open Cup final, Toronto successfully defended the title for the third consecutive season by defeating Challenge Trophy finalists Toronto West Indies United.Jose Colin Canadian Encyclopedia of Soccer - Keeping Score Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum 1998 0-9683800-0-X Vaughan, Ontario 121 Toronto Croatia was scheduled to participate in the 1973 CONCACAF Champions' Cup against Club América, but the series of matches failed to materialize.September 11, 1973 Croatia to play 2-game series against Americana of Mexico 37 The Globe and Mail Stanley Park Stadium was employed for the final time as the Toronto clubs transferred their home venue to the CNE Stadium in 1974. The league experienced a further increase in match attendance. Overview The National Soccer League (NSL) was embroiled in a dispute with the Toronto Indoor Soccer League over the usage of players during the offseason.Kernaghan Jim February 6, 1973 Indoor soccer loop players defy threats of suspension 37 Toronto Star The NSL teams forbade their contracted players from participating in the indoor league without the consent of their clubs.Kernaghan Jim January 5, 1973 Five teams in indoor soccer 15 Toronto Star Despite the ban, many NSL players ignored the decision and continued playing in the indoor league.February 5, 1973 Indoor loop ignores NSL player ban S5 The Globe and MailWaring Ed February 6, 1973 Players defy ban, play indoor soccer 32 The Globe and Mail The league increased in membership to 17 teams with the approval of additional teams in Toronto and Montreal. The NSL expanded into Quebec with the return of Montreal Cantalia, and the Toronto representatives were Toronto Melita and Toronto Polonia. Melita previously competed in the Toronto & District Soccer League.Kernaghan Jim May 15, 1973 Metros hope to improve materially by taking on such teams as Lazio 21 Toronto Star Several teams were rebranded, with Hamilton Apollos becoming Hamilton City, and Toronto Olympia was renamed Toronto Homer. London City acquired the NSL franchise rights from London German Canadians, and Toronto Hellas had its franchise revoked. The league had an increase in match attendance, with Serbian White Eagles and Toronto Croatia averaging the most.Waring Ed December 10, 1973 Eight of NSL's ten teams will call CNE Stadium home S2 The Globe and Mail The season also marked the final time the Toronto-based clubs would utilize Stanley Park Stadium as their home venue, as the municipal government decided to convert the field into a park. The league administration addressed the continuing fan violence throughout the NSL with league president Joe Piccininni committing to placing stiffer fines the following season.Kernaghan Jim October 26, 1973 Crackdown on soccer violence C4 Toronto Star The league table was modified after the Ottawa Tigers were suspended in late August after incurring financial problems.Gatecliff Jack 20 October 1973 Through the Sports Gate 23 St. Catharines Standard28 August 1973 Club Roma Takes on Nationals 24 St. Catharines Standard Teams TeamCityStadiumManagerHamilton CityHamilton, OntarioBrian Timmis StadiumLovegrove Don 10 May 1973 City Teams Ready for NSL Season Hamilton Spectator 32Jackie ThomsHamilton CroatiaHamilton, OntarioBrian Timmis StadiumJune 8, 1973 Fans unruly, NSL referee halts match 39 The Globe and Mail Ivor Wynne StadiumSid SoklesGatecliff Jack 10 September 1973 Slump Continues - Heidelberg Held to Draw 21 St. Catharines StandardHamilton Italo-CanadiansHamilton, OntarioBrain Timmis Stadium John PaolisLondon CityLondon, OntarioCove Road StadiumMontreal CantaliaMontreal, QuebecVerdun StadiumOnorato Andre May 12, 1973 Cantalia returns to local soccer 14 Montreal GazetteFranco GallinaOnorato Andre July 7, 1973 Cantalia sets sight on two weekend wins 10 Montreal GazetteOttawa Tigersnote Ottawa withdrew from league midway through the season Ottawa, OntarioMooney's Bay Sports ComplexBrown Dave May 3, 1973 Out of the Dark 50 Ottawa JournalSandro RausaDe Marinis Mariano June 9, 1973 Ottawa Tigers' franchise quite alive and kicking 18 Ottawa JournalSerbian White EaglesToronto, OntarioCNE StadiumNickleson Al May 11, 1973 College Bowl moves to CNE as mod sod gets more use - 17 NSL Games 18 Toronto Star Stanley Park StadiumMladen SarićKernaghan Jim April 19, 1973 9 Yugoslavian imports boost soccer club's bid 20 Toronto StarSrbija KitchenerKitchener, OntarioSt. Catharines HeidelbergSt. Catharines, OntarioClub Heidelberg Field10 May 1973 Nationals Open Season Sunday 32 St. Catharines StandardAlex CrawleyToronto CroatiaToronto, OntarioCNE Stadium Stanley Park StadiumVladimir ŠimunićKernaghan Jim May 25, 1973 This soccer club's success merely widens its horizons 18 Toronto StarToronto First PortugueseToronto, OntarioCNE Stadium Stanley Park StadiumEnidio GracaClifford Dale July 30, 1973 Tigers bow on disputed penalty 15 Ottawa CitizenToronto HomerToronto, OntarioCNE Stadium Stanley Park StadiumToronto HungariaToronto, OntarioCNE Stadium Stanley Park StadiumToronto ItaliaYork, OntarioYork StadiumWaring Ed July 4, 1973 Soccer crowds grow, NSL secretary feels 250,000 draw possible 33 The Globe and MailGiovanni FanelloJuly 18, 1973 6 Metros will face Italian Army team 45 The Globe and MailToronto MelitaToronto, OntarioCNE Stadium Stanley Park StadiumToronto PoloniaToronto, OntarioCNE Stadium Stanley Park StadiumToronto UkrainiansToronto, OntarioCNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium note Coaching changes TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointment Montreal Cantalia Ricardo MusciOnorato Andre May 9, 1973 Reborn Cantalia team will play in interprovincial soccer loop 44 Montreal GazettereplacedJuly, 1973Franco GallinaJuly, 1973 Toronto Italia Hector Marinaro, Sr.Kernaghan Jim May 10, 1973 Italia prepared for top role 17 Toronto Starreplaced July, 1973Giovanni FanelloJuly, 1973St. Catharines Heidelberg John SantessoGatecliff Jack 17 February 1973 Through the Sports Gate 25 St. Catharines Standard replacedAugust 25, 19731stAlex CrawleyGatecliff Jack 25 August 1973 Through the Sports Gate 31 St. Catharines StandardAugust 25, 1973Hamilton CroatiaKruno Gjuricreplaced September, 1973Sid SoklesSeptember, 1973 Canada Southern Ontario 400 center Location of NSL teams outside of Toronto for the 1973 NSL season.10px Canada Southern Ontario 43.251389 -79.830278 Hamilton left Blue pog.svg Canada Southern Ontario 43.418611 -80.472778 Kitchener left Blue pog.svg Canada Southern Ontario 42.9837 -81.2497 London left Blue pog.svg Canada Southern Ontario 45.370307 -75.692185 Ottawa right Blue pog.svg Canada Southern Ontario 43.183333 -79.233333 St. Catharines right Blue pog.svg Canada Southern Ontario 43.64 -79.42 TORONTO right Red pog.svg Canada Southern Quebec 400 center Locations of teams in Quebec for the 1973 NSL season. Canada Southern Quebec 45.554119 -73.636631 Montreal left Red pog.svg Standings main WDL Q 2 CRO Toronto Croatia SER Serbian White Eagles POR Toronto First Portuguese TOR Toronto Hungaria ITA Toronto Italia HOM Toronto Homer LON London City STH St. Catharines Heidelberg HAM Hamilton Croatia MEL Toronto Melita UKA Toronto Ukrainians WEL Hamilton City MON Montreal Cantalia HIC Hamilton Italo-Canadians SRK Srbija Kitchener POL Toronto Polonia 22 4 4 71 23 C 22 1 7 66 21 17 8 5 52 33 17 7 6 68 35 O 16 5 9 55 37 14 8 8 58 35 12 9 9 47 43 12 7 11 37 39 10 9 11 55 53 8 10 12 37 45 9 5 16 45 48 8 7 15 39 58 8 7 15 39 58 4 9 17 20 64 4 5 21 29 77 5 3 22 30 83 #ACE1AF Qualification for Playoffs Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. October 30, 1973 http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NSL_1921_1992.pdf Playoffs Quarterfinals October 13, 1973 Toronto Croatia 2–1 [Waring Ed October 15, 1973 Serbian White Eagles win 2-1 on disputed penalty-kick goal S5 The Globe and Mail Report] Toronto Italia Mirko Basic , Carlos Jorge Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario 871 October 14, 1973 Serbian White Eagles 2–1 [ Report] Toronto Homer Stojanovic , Peter Testepasis Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario 1112 John Highet October 14, 1973 Toronto First Portuguese 4–1 [October 15, 1973 Soccer scores B5 Toronto Star Report] London City Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario October 15, 1973 Toronto Hungaria 2–1 [October 16, 1973 Hungaria wins playoff spot in NSL action D6 Toronto Star Report] St. Catharines Heidelberg Fahy Allan Callender Daniel McIntosh Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario Semifinals October 16, 1973 20:30 Toronto Croatia 2–1 [Kernaghan Jim October 17, 1973 Croatia wins rough NSL semi C4 Toronto Star Report] Toronto First Portuguese Branko Trtanj Solak Emilio Hernandez Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario 1500 Bob Hughes October 17, 1973 Toronto Hungaria 2–1 [October 18, 1973 Hungaria win sparked by Fahy 48 The Globe and Mail Report] Serbian White Eagles Fahy , Stojanovic Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario Finals October 19, 1973 Toronto Croatia 1–2 [Waring Ed October 20, 1973 Hungaria wins over Croatia in NSL final 41 The Globe and Mail Report] Toronto Hungaria Solak 93 Allan Callender 2 Molnar 7 Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario 2313 Cup The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season in which all seventeen teams took part. The finals for the cup were to consist of a two-legged match, but were scrapped after the first match was abandoned due to fan violence.Kernaghan Jim October 26, 1973 Crackdown on soccer violence C4 Toronto Star The league decided to award the cup to Toronto Hungaria as they were leading the match before it was abandoned. Finals October 21, 1973 Toronto Croatia 1–3 [October 22, 1973 Violence puts premature end to NSL final at Stanley Park S5 The Globe and Mail Report] Toronto Hungaria Arslanovic Mario Garcia , Polyviou Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario 3341 Bill Divorski Canadian Open Cup The Canadian Open Cup was a tournament organized by the National Soccer League in 1971, where the NSL champion would face the Challenge Trophy winners to determine the best team throughout the country. The 1974 edition served as a qualifier match to determine the Canadian representative to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.Kernaghan Jim July 12, 1975 Eagles want to win but it is costly D5 Toronto Star Toronto Croatia was the NSL representative for the third consecutive year, while their opponents were the Toronto & District League champions, Toronto West Indies United.Koep Bob October 29, 1973 Croatia strikes early to win B6 Toronto Star The Vancouver Firefighters were the 1973 Challenge Trophy winners and originally were invited to participate, but declined, which allowed the Challenge Trophy runner-ups, Toronto West Indies United, to compete for the title. October 28, 1973 Toronto Croatia 3–1 [Waring Ed October 29, 1973 'Rain ends West Indies' breakaway threat: Croatia takes third Canadian crown in a row B7 The Globe and Mail Report] Toronto West Indies United Peric 5, 12, 70 Clarence Prendes 25 Stanley Park Stadium Toronto, Ontario 1103 References External links RSSSF CNSL page thecnsl.com - 1973 season Category:1973–74 in domestic association football leagues National Soccer League 1973