1971 National Soccer League season

The National Soccer League became centered once more within the boundaries of Ontario after the departure of Soccer Portugais du Quebec of Montreal. The city of Hamilton also witnessed a reduction in team representation as Hamilton Homer requested a leave of absence.{{Cite news |last=Lovegrove |first=Don |date=29 April 1971 |title=No soccer lack in local area |pages=20 |work=Hamilton Spectator}}{{Cite news |last=Lovegrove |first=Don |date=6 May 1971 |title="Hard season" ahead for Croatia |pages=32 |work=Hamilton Spectator}} Despite the departures the region of Northern Ontario was added to the circuit once again as Sudbury Italia returned under the name Sudbury City.{{Cite news|last=Pascal|first=Randy|date=June 20, 2020|title=The Sudbury Cyclones and their semi-pro soccer stint|page=B1|work=Sudbury Star|url=|access-date=}} The league expanded into the Niagara region for the first time as St. Catharines Heidelberg was granted a franchise.{{Cite news |date=2 March 1971 |title=Club Heidelberg Officially Accepted in Pro League |pages=20 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} Heidelberg previously competed in the Inter-City Soccer League. Ottawa Sons of Italy began a process of Canadianizing their organization by renaming the team Ottawa Tigers.{{Cite news|date=April 1, 1971|title=Require 66 Young Soccer Players|page=20|work=Ottawa Journal}}{{Cite news|last=Henderson|first=Bruce|date=May 12, 1971|title=Pro brand slowly gaining popularity|page=23|work=Ottawa Journal}}

The NSL experienced competition from the American-based North American Soccer League as it expanded into Ontario with the creation of the Toronto Metros.{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=April 30, 1971|title=Zagreb soccer team plays Croatia July 3|page=29|work=The Globe and Mail}} The league's match attendance continued to surge and surpassed the previous season's gate earnings at Stanley Park Stadium.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=September 28, 1971|title=Soccer loop having a great year at gate|page=14|work=Toronto Daily Star}}{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=June 10, 1971|title=MSL pays its way drawing 1,507 fans|page=42|work=The Globe and Mail}} The Toronto-based teams averaged around 1100 fans at Stanley Park. The league ownership also approved the creation of an under-23 division.

class="wikitable sortable"
Team !Outgoing coach !Manner of departure !Date of vacancy !Position in table !Incoming coach !Date of appointment
St. Catharines Heidelberg |Alf Herman |Replaced |July 5, 1971 | |Eddie Brown |July 5, 1971

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+|Canada Southern Ontario|width=400 |float=center|caption=Location of NSL teams outside of Toronto for the 1971 NSL season.
10px

|places=

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.251389 |long= -79.830278 |label=Hamilton |position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.418611 |long= -80.472778 |label=Kitchener |position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=42.9837 |long=-81.2497 |label=London |position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat= 45.370307|long= -75.692185|label=Ottawa |position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.183333 |long= -79.233333|label=St. Catharines |position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=46.49 |long= -81.01|label=Sudbury |position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.64 |long=-79.42 |label=TORONTO |position=right|mark=Red pog.svg}}

}}

{{Col-end}}

== Standings ==

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Q

|winpoints=2

|team1=CRO|name_CRO=Toronto Croatia

|team2=POR|name_POR=Toronto First Portuguese

|team3=HAM|name_HAM=Hamilton Croatia

|team4=UKA|name_UKA=Toronto Ukrainians

|team5=SUD|name_SUD=Sudbury City

|team6=HOM|name_HOM=Toronto Olympia

|team7=LON|name_LON=London German Canadians

|team8=STH|name_STH=St. Catharines Heidelberg

|team9=SER|name_SER=Serbian White Eagles

|team10=HEL|name_HEL=Toronto Hellas

|team11=TOR|name_TOR=Toronto Hungaria

|team12=OTT|name_OTT=Ottawa Tigers

|team13=WEL|name_WEL=Hamilton Apollos

|team14=SRK|name_SRK=Kitchener Kickers

|win_CRO=22|draw_CRO=3|loss_CRO=1|gf_CRO=58|ga_CRO=14|status_CRO=CO

|win_POR=17|draw_POR=4|loss_POR=5|gf_POR=45|ga_POR=19

|win_HAM=14|draw_HAM=5|loss_HAM=7|gf_HAM=38|ga_HAM=31

|win_UKA=14|draw_UKA=3|loss_UKA=9|gf_UKA=47|ga_UKA=28

|win_SUD=14|draw_SUD=3|loss_SUD=9|gf_SUD=55|ga_SUD=34

|win_HOM=11|draw_HOM=5|loss_HOM=10|gf_HOM=49|ga_HOM=40

|win_LON=12|draw_LON=2|loss_LON=12|gf_LON=57|ga_LON=54

|win_STH=11|draw_STH=3|loss_STH=12|gf_STH=42|ga_STH=42

|win_SER=9|draw_SER=5|loss_SER=12|gf_SER=37|ga_SER=39

|win_HEL=10|draw_HEL=3|loss_HEL=13|gf_HEL=36|ga_HEL=41

|win_TOR=11|draw_TOR=1|loss_TOR=14|gf_TOR=40|ga_TOR=52

|win_OTT=5|draw_OTT=8|loss_OTT=12|gf_OTT=29|ga_OTT=53

|win_WEL=3|draw_WEL=5|loss_WEL=18|gf_WEL=23|ga_WEL=69

|win_SRK=2|draw_SRK=6|loss_SRK=18|gf_SRK=31|ga_SRK=65

|col_Q=#ACE1AF|text_Q=Qualification for Playoffs

|result1=Q|result2=Q|result3=Q|result4=Q|result5=Q|result6=Q|result7=Q|result8=Q

|class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

|update=October 30, 1971

|source={{Cite news|date=September 21, 1971|title=Soccer scores, standings - National League|page=13|work=Toronto Daily Star}}

}}

==Playoffs==

===Quarterfinals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 3, 1971

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 3–0

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 4, 1971|title=Sudbury beaten twice in games at Toronto|page=S7|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Sudbury City

| goals1 = Bradvic {{goal|18}}
Mesik Slatko {{goal|27}}
Pilaš {{goal|37}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 1837

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 3, 1971

| time =

| team1 = Hamilton Croatia

| score = 2–0

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 4, 1971|title=Soccer scores - National League playoffs|page=15|work=Toronto Daily Star}} Report]

| team2 = London German Canadians

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 4, 1971

| time =

| team1 = Toronto First Portuguese

| score = 5–2

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=October 5, 1971|title=First Portuguese suffer no letdown|page=15|work=Toronto Daily Star}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Olympia

| goals1 = Antonio Rodrigues {{goal|16}}, {{goal|22}}, {{goal|43}}
Emilio Hernandez {{goal|21}}
Costa {{goal|37}}

| goals2 = John McGurk {{goal|22}}
John Wark {{goal|70}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 5, 1971

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Ukraina

| score = 2–1

| report = [{{Cite news |date=6 October 1971 |title=Nationals Eliminated on Goal in Overtime |pages=34 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} Report]

| team2 = St. Catharines Heidelberg

| goals1 = Keith Summers {{goal|88}}, {{goal|114}}

| goals2 = Douglas {{goal|25}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 1000

| referee =

| result =

}}

===Semifinals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 7, 1971

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 1–0

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 8, 1971|title=Croatia in soccer final|page=22|work=Toronto Daily Star}} Report]

| team2 = Hamilton Croatia

| goals1 = Pilaš {{goal|30}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 8, 1971

| time = 20:30

| team1 = Toronto First Portuguese

| score = 3–0

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 9, 1971|title=Portuguese in finals|page=48|work=Toronto Daily Star}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Ukraina

| goals1 = Antonio Rodrigues {{goal}}, {{goal}}
Paulino Ferrari {{goal}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

===Finals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 11, 1971

| time = 15:00

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 1–0

| aet =

| report = [ Report]

| team2 = Toronto First Portuguese

| goals1 = Pilaš {{goal|31}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 7000

| referee = Alf Roberts

| result =

}}

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.

===Semifinals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = August 23, 1971

| time =

| team1 = Toronto First Portuguese

| score = 1–0

| report = [{{Cite news|date=August 24, 1971|title=Penalty goal ousts Hellas in cup play|page=29|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Hellas

| goals1 = Correia {{goal|56}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 3457

| referee = Alf Roberts

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = September 26, 1971

| time =

| team1 = Sudbury City

| score = 1–0

| report = [{{Cite news|date=September 27, 1971|title=Ottawa Tigers lose to Sudbury|page=19|work=Ottawa Journal}} Report]

| team2 = Ottawa Tigers

| goals1 = Ferruccio Deni {{goal|10}}
George Courtney {{goal|49}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium =

| location = Sudbury, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

===Finals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 3, 1971

| time =

| team1 = Toronto First Portuguese

| score = 3–0

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 4, 1971|title=Sudbury beaten twice in games at Toronto|page=S7|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Sudbury City

| goals1 = Piotti {{goal|26}}
Valdemar Serrano {{goal|40}}
Paulino Ferrari {{goal|65}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 3518

| referee =

| result =

}}

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.{{Cite book|last=Jose|first=Colin|title=Canadian Encyclopedia of Soccer - Keeping Score|publisher=Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum|year=1998|isbn=0-9683800-0-X|location=Vaughan, Ontario|pages=121}} The tournament intended to form an annual knock-out cup competition open to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs to determine a national champion. The championship was initially sponsored by the Macdonald Tobacco Company and was named the Export Trophy.{{Cite news|date=October 16, 1971|title=Plane switch saves playoff in soccer|page=45|work=The Globe and Mail}} Toronto Croatia as the NSL champions was selected as the league's representative while their opponents were Vancouver Eintracht of the Pacific Coast Soccer League, who were the Challenge Trophy titleholders.{{Cite news|date=October 18, 1971|title=Semi-pros knock off Eintracht|page=21|work=Times Colonist}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 17, 1971

| time = 14:30

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 3–0

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=October 18, 1971|title=Croatia too good for Eintracht; Toronto team blanks champs, 3-0|page=S10|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Vancouver Eintracht

| goals1 = Pilaš {{goal|38}}
Solak {{goal|45}}
Bradvic {{goal|87}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 4373

| referee = Emerson Mathurin

| result =

}}

The NSL awards were given to recipients from St. Catharines Heidelberg, Sudbury City, and Toronto Croatia.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=November 22, 1971|title=Expansion planned for NSL next season|page=19|work=Toronto Daily Star}} The most gentlemanly team award was given to St. Catharines, and league official John Parfect received the most dedicated official award.{{Cite news|date=November 22, 1971|title=Croatia sweeps honors at NSL awards dinner|page=S9|work=The Globe and Mail}} Željko Bilecki of Toronto Croatia was named the goalkeeper of the year, and would later represent the Canada national team and play in the North American Soccer League. The league's top goal scorer was Sudbury's Ferruccio Deni, and he later returned to the NSL to play with the Sudbury Cyclones.{{Cite news|date=May 3, 1979|title=Meet your 1979 Sudbury Cyclones|page=15|work=Sudbury Star}} The final award went to Hugh Morrow as the top referee throughout the season.

class="wikitable"

style="background:#cccccc;" !Award !Player (Club)

NSL Top Goal scorer | Ferruccio Deni (Sudbury Italia)

NSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award | Željko Bilecki (Toronto Croatia)

NSL Referee of the Year Award | Hugh Morrow

NSL Official of the Year Award | John Parfect

NSL Most Gentlemanly Team Award | St. Catharines Heidelberg

• [https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/cnsl.html RSSSF CNSL page]
• [https://thecnsl.com/1971-2/ thecnsl.com - 1971 season]

{{Canadian National Soccer League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Soccer League 1971 Season}}

Category:1971–72 domestic association football leagues

National Soccer League

1971