1974 National Soccer League season
Season | 1974 |
---|---|
Champions |
|
League cup | Toronto Italia |
Top goalscorer | Momčilo Stojanović (54)[1] |
Best goalkeeper | Blagoje Tamindžić[2] |
← 1973 1975 → |
The 1974 National Soccer League season was the fifty-first season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in April and concluded in late October with Toronto Croatia defeating Toronto Homer for the NSL Championship.[3] The regular-season title was clinched by the Serbian White Eagles, and as a result, faced the Challenge Trophy champions Calgary Springer Kickers for the Canadian Open Cup and successfully claimed the title.[3][4] The NSL Cup was won by Toronto Italia after defeating Toronto First Portuguese.[5][6]
The league experienced a further increase in match attendance and contributed an instrumental role in the construction of Lamport Stadium.[7][8] Toronto Croatia became involved with the Toronto Metros to form Toronto Metros-Croatia to compete in the 1975 North American Soccer League season.[9]
Overview
[edit]The membership in the league increased to 19 members with the additions of Toronto Macedonia, and the Quebec Selects.[10] The Selects were a developmental team sponsored by the Quebec government, and Macedonia was another ethnic associated club that represented the Macedonian diaspora in Toronto.[11][12] The previous time the Macedonian community participated in the NSL was in the 1963 season.[13] The increase in teams prompted the league ownership to partition the league into two separate divisions with a promotion and relegation system for the following season.[14][8]
The average match attendance increased from the previous season with the Serbian White Eagles and Toronto Homer as the vanguard clubs in match attendance.[15][16] The match attendance throughout the NSL would range from 10,000 to 400 spectators.[17] The NSL experienced further riots and fan violence which was primarily fueled by ethnic rivalries amongst the ethnically associated clubs.[18][19] The frequent hooliganism throughout the season caused several referees to refuse to officiate several NSL matches.[20][21] The league responded by issuing heavier fines, and suspensions to the responsible parties.[22] On the North American Soccer League front the Toronto Metros were experiencing financial difficulties, which resulted in Toronto Croatia becoming an equal financial partner to form Toronto Metros-Croatia.[9]
Teams
[edit]Coaching changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy |
Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toronto Croatia | Tom Zlodre[31] | replaced | June 1974 | Vladimir Šimunić[31] | June, 1974 | |
Montreal Cantalia | Ottavio Cucuraghi[25] | replaced | June 1974 | Salvatore Italiano[25] | June, 1974 |
Standings
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Serbian White Eagles (C) | 36 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 118 | 16 | +102 | 63 | Qualification for Playoffs |
2 | Toronto Homer | 36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 89 | 41 | +48 | 57 | |
3 | Toronto Croatia (O) | 36 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 78 | 32 | +46 | 51 | |
4 | Toronto Italia | 36 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 99 | 36 | +63 | 51 | |
5 | Toronto Macedonia | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 102 | 42 | +60 | 51 | |
6 | Hamilton Croatia | 36 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 84 | 43 | +41 | 49 | |
7 | Toronto First Portuguese | 36 | 23 | 2 | 11 | 78 | 39 | +39 | 48 | |
8 | London City | 36 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 89 | 45 | +44 | 47 | |
9 | Hamilton City | 36 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 67 | 58 | +9 | 42 | |
10 | Hamilton Italo-Canadians | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 39 | 38 | +1 | 40 | |
11 | Quebec Selects | 36 | 13 | 4 | 19 | 44 | 78 | −34 | 30 | |
12 | Toronto Hungaria | 36 | 12 | 5 | 19 | 70 | 83 | −13 | 29 | |
13 | Montreal Cantalia | 36 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 42 | 64 | −22 | 25 | |
14 | St. Catharines Heidelberg | 36 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 39 | 67 | −28 | 25 | |
15 | Toronto Melita | 36 | 7 | 9 | 20 | 41 | 80 | −39 | 23 | |
16 | Toronto Ukrainians | 36 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 43 | 94 | −51 | 17 | |
17 | Toronto Polonia | 36 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 27 | 96 | −69 | 12 | |
18 | Srbija Kitchener | 36 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 49 | 150 | −101 | 12 | |
19 | Ottawa Tigers | 36 | 4 | 1 | 31 | 31 | 126 | −95 | 9 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Playoffs
[edit]Finals
[edit]October 20, 1974 | Toronto Croatia | 1–0 | Toronto Homer | Toronto, Ontario |
Psaker | [[3] Report] | Stadium: CNE Stadium Attendance: 3150 |
Cup
[edit]The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season in which all nineteen teams took part. The tournament would conclude in a two-legged match final for the Cup.
Finals
[edit]October 4, 1974 | Toronto First Portuguese | 1–0 | Toronto Italia | Toronto, Ontario |
Jorge Félix 44' | [[6] Report] | Stadium: CNE Stadium |
October 6, 1974 | Toronto Italia | 2–0 | Toronto First Portuguese | Toronto, Ontario |
Barbieri Romanovic |
Report | Stadium: CNE Stadium |
Canadian Open Cup
[edit]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.[34][35] The 1974 edition served as a qualifier match to determine the Canadian representative to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.[36] Serbian White Eagles were the NSL representative for the 1974 competition while their opponents were Calgary Springer Kickers, who were the Alberta Cup, and Challenge Trophy titleholders.[3][37]
October 19, 1974 | Serbian White Eagles | 3–1 | Calgary Springer Kickers | Toronto, Ontario |
Fahy 15' Stojanović 25' Mile Skoric 60' |
[[38] Report] | Ray Cannon 62' | Stadium: CNE Stadium Attendance: 366 |
References
[edit]- ^ "PROCESSION OF INCOMING TALENT KEY TO SUCCESS OF 2016 CHAMPIONS....never ending arrivals keep Serbian White Eagles on top". Canadian Soccer League. 2016-11-13. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
- ^ "National Soccer League 1926 to 1992" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-06-28. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Waring, Ed (October 21, 1974). "White Eagles romp to Canadian title, defeat Calgary 3-1". The Globe and Mail. p. S6.
- ^ "CSL Past Champions" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "1st Portuguese has 1-0 victory". Toronto Star. October 5, 1974. p. D5.
- ^ Waring, Ed (October 15, 1974). "President of NSL wants new stadium to bear his name". The Globe and Mail. p. 41.
- ^ a b Waring, Ed (April 16, 1974). "NSL primary tenant: Stadium to be built on reformatory site". The Globe and Mail. p. 37.
- ^ a b Kernaghan, Jim (November 9, 1974). "Soccer's Metros are given a reprieve by Toronto Croatia". Toronto Star. p. D6.
- ^ Waring, Ed (December 10, 1973). "Eight of NSL's ten teams will call CNE Stadium home". The Globe and Mail. p. S2.
- ^ Waring, Ed (May 27, 1974). "Quebec-financed soccer team loses both weekend matches". The Globe and Mail. p. S6.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Hungaria to meet Croatia in opener of NSL season". The Globe and Mail. April 20, 1974. p. 49.
- ^ Waring, Ed (June 29, 1963). "Macedonians Quit NSL, Player Costs Major Factor". The Globe and Mail. p. 34.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (April 17, 1974). "Soccer battle means spiraling costs". Toronto Star. p. C2.
- ^ Krivel, Peter (June 25, 1974). "Share NSL lead - Serbians could doff bridesmaid's role". Toronto Star. p. C2.
- ^ "Eagles, Homer stay unbeaten, tie 1-1 before 10,951 fans". The Globe and Mail. May 20, 1974. p. S8.
- ^ "Five shutouts in a row: Toronto Serbians boast perfect record". The Globe and Mail. May 13, 1974. p. S9.
- ^ Krivel, Peter (July 15, 1974). "Police quell angry soccer mob after referee stops the game". Toronto Star. p. B5.
- ^ Proudfoot, Jim (July 17, 1974). "National League must eliminate soccer brawling". Toronto Star. p. C2.
- ^ Krivel, Peter (October 15, 1974). "Getting referee a problem after NSL game abandoned". Toronto Star. p. C3.
- ^ Waring, Ed (October 16, 1974). "Toronto soccer refs strike against teams for attacks on field". The Globe and Mail. p. 32.
- ^ "NSL cracks down fines, suspensions, for violent game". Toronto Star. July 22, 1974. p. B5.
- ^ "Extra police called to quell NSL fracas". Toronto Star. June 19, 1974. p. C5.
- ^ a b Guernsey, Betty (March 8, 1974). "Did You Know? - Soccer". Montreal Gazette. p. 19.
- ^ a b c d Onorato, Andre (June 8, 1974). "Revamped Cantalia facing tough match". Montreal Gazette. p. 32.
- ^ a b Ziolkowski, Tony (May 3, 1974). "Only 15 parks for our 28, 000 soccer players". Montreal Gazette. p. 31.
- ^ "Soccer Tigers play two". Ottawa Citizen. May 3, 1974. p. 21.
- ^ a b "Want more goals: Fans berate players despite 1-0 victory". The Globe and Mail. July 1, 1974. p. S3.
- ^ Gatecliff, Jack (18 April 1974). "Through the Sports Gate - Soccer time again". St. Catharines Standard. p. 27.
- ^ "Club Heidelberg Explains Position on New Soccer Club". St. Catharines Standard. 1 February 1974. p. 22.
- ^ a b c Krivel, Peter (July 5, 1974). "Croatia is showing signs of recapturing soccer glory". Toronto Star. p. C3.
- ^ Koep, Bob (April 22, 1974). "NSL champs look ready to repeat as powerhouse". Toronto Star. p. B2.
- ^ Waring, Ed (June 10, 1974). "Geiger thwarts Hamilton City, improved Ukraing gains 0-0 draw". The Globe and Mail. p. S1.
- ^ Jose, Colin (1998). Canadian Encyclopedia of Soccer - Keeping Score. Vaughan, Ontario: Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 121. ISBN 0-9683800-0-X.
- ^ "Toronto meets B.C. in Canadian Open". The Globe and Mail. October 21, 1975. p. 34.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (July 12, 1975). "Eagles want to win but it is costly". Toronto Star. p. D5.
- ^ "Kickers capture cup". Calgary Herald. July 8, 1974. p. 17.
- ^ "White Eagles Put Boot to Kickers". Calgary Herald. October 21, 1974. p. 27.