Season | 1970 |
---|---|
Champions |
|
League cup | Toronto First Portuguese |
Top goalscorer | Nino Flamini (25) [1] |
←
1969
1971 → |
The 1970 National Soccer League season was the forty-seventh season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late April and concluded in early November with the NSL Championship final. The regular-season title was clinched by Toronto Croatia by finishing first throughout the regular season. [2] [3] In the playoffs, the championship title was won by Hamilton Croatia after defeating Toronto Croatia. [4] The NSL Cup was secured by Toronto First Portuguese after defeating Toronto Hellas. [5] [6]
Before the commencement of the season, a dispute emerged between the National Soccer League (NSL) and the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) over a variety of issues during the OSA's annual meeting. [7] At the meeting, the NSL's delegation requested that the league receive more representatives in future OSA meetings and a percentage of the gate earnings from friendly matches involving touring European teams. [7] All of the NSL's requests were denied, and in addition, the league was required to recruit match officials from the local Referees Society. [7] The league's circuit become centered around a Montreal–London corridor with the league expanding to the Ottawa region for the first time in its history. [8]
The Ottawa franchise was given to Ottawa Sons of Italy, who were the 1969 champions of the Ottawa-Rideau Soccer League. [9] [10] Hamilton received further representation with the acceptance of Hamilton Apollos and Hamilton Croatia. [8] Hamilton Croatia previously competed in the Inter-City Soccer League. [11] The NSL retained its presence in Quebec with the Portuguese de Quebec of Montreal replacing Montreal Inter-Italia. [8] Two notable absentees were Toronto Italia and Sudbury Italia as both were given a leave of absence to settle their financial troubles. [8] [12] Another departing club was Arsenal Portuguese Oakville.
Reports were also circulating of a potential national Canadian championship featuring champions from the NSL, and the Western Canada Soccer League. [12] The NSL began to experience an increase in match attendance since their initial decrease and stagnation in the mid-1960s. [13] [4] The Toronto-based teams at Stanley Park averaged the highest amount with an average of 1000 per match followed by London which averaged around 680 spectators. [4]
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy |
Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toronto Croatia | Marijan Bilić [27] | End of caretaker spell | Arthur Rodrigues |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Toronto Croatia (C) | 26 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 75 | 19 | +56 | 43 | Qualification for Playoffs |
2 | Hamilton Croatia (O) | 26 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 67 | 24 | +43 | 40 | |
3 | Serbian White Eagles | 26 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 60 | 26 | +34 | 39 | |
4 | Toronto First Portuguese | 26 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 56 | 37 | +19 | 34 | |
5 | London German Canadians | 26 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 55 | 29 | +26 | 32 | |
6 | Toronto Hellas | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 49 | 36 | +13 | 31 | |
7 | Hamilton Homer | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 48 | 36 | +12 | 31 | |
8 | Ottawa Sons of Italy | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 39 | 49 | −10 | 24 | |
9 | Toronto Hungaria | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 22 | |
10 | Soccer Portugais du Quebec of Montreal | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 23 | 45 | −22 | 19 | |
11 | Toronto Ukrainians | 26 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 34 | 51 | −17 | 17 | |
12 | Hamilton Apollos | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 25 | 57 | −32 | 16 | |
13 | Kitchener Kickers | 26 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 31 | 84 | −53 | 13 | |
14 | Toronto Olympia | 26 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 23 | 91 | −68 | 3 |
November 1, 1970 | Toronto Croatia | 0–3 | Hamilton Croatia | Toronto, Ontario |
[4] Report] | Arpad Hoffman Karol Martisek , |
Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium |
The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all fourteen teams took part. The tournament would conclude in a final match for the Cup.
September 27, 1970 | Toronto First Portuguese | 2–1 ( a.e.t.) | Toronto Hellas | Toronto, Ontario |
Alves 57' Yaúca 120' |
[28] Report] | John Stampoulidis 62' | Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium Attendance: 7205 Referee: Terry Bell |