1977 National Soccer League (Canada) season

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National Soccer League
Season 1977
Champions
League cup Toronto Panhellenic
Top goalscorer Saban Romanovic
Best goalkeeper Paolo Cimpiel
← 1976
1978 →

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.[7] 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 which 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. Reports were also circulating about the league employing a potential commissioner with Toronto attorney Joe Kane as the primary candidate.[20] Kane served as the league's legal advisor and assisted in drafting the league's new constitution the previous year.[21]

Teams

Team City Stadium Manager
Bradford Marshlanders Bradford, Ontario John Crowley[22]

Derek Nash[22]
Buffalo Blazers Buffalo, New York War Memorial Stadium[23] Alex Crawley[24]
Hamilton Italo-Canadians Hamilton, Ontario Ivor Wynne Stadium[25]
London City London, Ontario Cove Road Stadium Ron Clayton[26]
Mississauga Hungaria Mississauga, Ontario Corn Starch Stadium[27] Andy Birk[28]
Montreal Castors Montreal, Quebec Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard[29] Hugo Nicolini[29]
Montreal Stars Montreal, Quebec Jarry Park[30]
Ottawa Tigers Ottawa, Ontario Lansdowne Park[31] Mario Carilli[32]
Serbian White Eagles Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium[33] Luis Dabo[34]
Sudbury Cyclones Sudbury, Ontario Queen's Athletic Field[35] Peter Severinac[36]
St. Catharines Heidelberg St. Catharines, Ontario Heidelberg Stadium[37] Frank McArdia[38]
St. Catharines Roma St. Catharines, Ontario Club Roma Stadium
Toronto Croatia Etobicoke, Ontario Lamport Stadium[39]
Toronto Falcons Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium[40] Kazimierz Drugalski[41]
Toronto First Portuguese Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium
Toronto Italia York, Ontario York Stadium[42] Fiorigi Pagliuso[43]
Toronto Macedonia Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium[44] Carlo Del Monte[45]
Toronto Panhellenic Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium[33]
Toronto Polonia Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium[46]
Windsor Stars Windsor, Ontario Mic Mac Park[47]

Windsor Stadium[47]

 Jim Townsend[48]

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of
departure		 Date of
vacancy		 Position in table Incoming coach Date of
appointment
Windsor Stars Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ivan Marković[49] resigned April 12, 1977 preseason Scotland Jim Townsend[48] April 14, 1977
Sudbury Cyclones Fulvio Stepancich[50] resigned May 26, 1977 8th in May Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Branko Knezevich[51] May 28, 1977
Sudbury Cyclones Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Branko Knezevich[52] replaced June 11, 1977 8th in May Fulvio Stepancich[53] June 11, 1977
Sudbury Cyclones Fulvio Stepancich fired August 8, 1977 7th in August Peter Severinac[36] August 8, 1977

Standings

First Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Montreal Castors (C, O) 36 24 8 4 93 56 +37 56 Qualification for Playoffs
2 Toronto Italia 36 22 10 4 74 22 +52 54
3 Toronto Panhellenic 36 21 7 8 74 47 +27 49
4 Windsor Stars 36 20 6 10 87 38 +49 46
5 Toronto First Portuguese 36 17 9 10 72 43 +29 43
6 London City 36 9 13 14 41 62 −21 31
7 Toronto Macedonia 36 12 6 18 40 56 −16 30
8 Hamilton Italo-Canadians 36 7 10 19 40 60 −20 24
9 Toronto Croatia 36 7 6 23 34 78 −44 20
10 Serbian White Eagles (R) 36 0 7 29 24 137 −113 7
Updated to match(es) played on September 30, 1977. Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NSL_1921_1992.pdf
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated.

Second Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Toronto Falcons (C, O, P) 18 15 2 1 48 10 +38 32 Qualification for Playoffs
2 Ottawa Tigers 18 14 1 3 66 17 +49 29
3 Buffalo Blazers 18 12 3 3 50 13 +37 27
4 Montreal Stars 18 11 2 5 53 23 +30 24
5 St. Catharines Roma 18 8 4 6 38 25 +13 20
6 Sudbury Cyclones 18 6 4 8 28 35 −7 16
7 St. Catharines Heidelberg 18 4 4 10 22 35 −13 12
8 Mississauga Hungaria 18 3 3 12 33 71 −38 9
9 Toronto Polonia 18 2 3 13 25 65 −40 7
10 Bradford Marshlanders 18 1 2 15 13 82 −69 4
Updated to match(es) played on September 30, 1977. Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NSL_1921_1992.pdf
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted.

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.[54] 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.[54]

Matches

References

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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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