1973 National Soccer League season

The National Soccer League (NSL) was embroiled in a dispute with the Toronto Indoor Soccer League over the usage of players during the offseason.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=February 6, 1973|title=Indoor soccer loop players defy threats of suspension|page=37|work=Toronto Star}} The NSL teams forbade their contracted players from participating in the indoor league without the consent of their clubs.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=January 5, 1973|title=Five teams in indoor soccer|page=15|work=Toronto Star}} Despite the ban, many NSL players ignored the decision and continued playing in the indoor league.{{Cite news|date=February 5, 1973|title=Indoor loop ignores NSL player ban|page=S5|work=The Globe and Mail}}{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=February 6, 1973|title=Players defy ban, play indoor soccer|page=32|work=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.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=May 15, 1973|title=Metros hope to improve materially by taking on such teams as Lazio|page=21|work=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 their franchise revoked. The league had an increase in match attendance with Serbian White Eagles, and Toronto Croatia averaging the most.{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=December 10, 1973|title=Eight of NSL's ten teams will call CNE Stadium home|page=S2|work=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.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=October 26, 1973|title=Crackdown on soccer violence|page=C4|work=Toronto Star}} The league table was modified after the Ottawa Tigers were suspended in late August after incurring financial problems.{{Cite news |last=Gatecliff |first=Jack |date=20 October 1973 |title=Through the Sports Gate |pages=23 |work=St. Catharines Standard}}{{Cite news |date=28 August 1973 |title=Club Roma Takes on Nationals |pages=24 |work=St. Catharines Standard}}

class="wikitable sortable" !Team !City !Stadium !Manager

Hamilton City |Hamilton, Ontario | |

Hamilton Croatia |Hamilton, Ontario |Brian Timmis Stadium{{Cite news|date=June 8, 1973|title=Fans unruly, NSL referee halts match|page=39|work=The Globe and Mail}} |Sid Sokles{{Cite news |last=Gatecliff |first=Jack |date=10 September 1973 |title=Slump Continues - Heidelberg Held to Draw |pages=21 |work=St. Catharines Standard}}

Hamilton Italo-Canadians |Hamilton, Ontario |Brain Timmis Stadium |

London City |London, Ontario |Cove Road Stadium |

Montreal Cantalia |Montreal, Quebec |Verdun Stadium{{Cite news|last=Onorato|first=Andre|date=May 12, 1973|title=Cantalia returns to local soccer|page=14|work=Montreal Gazette}} |Franco Gallina{{Cite news|last=Onorato|first=Andre|date=July 7, 1973|title=Cantalia sets sight on two weekend wins|page=10|work=Montreal Gazette}}

Ottawa Tigers{{refn|group=note|Ottawa withdrew from league midway through the season}} |Ottawa, Ontario |Mooney's Bay Sports Complex{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Dave|date=May 3, 1973|title=Out of the Dark|page=50|work=Ottawa Journal}} |Sandro Rausa{{Cite news|last=De Marinis|first=Mariano|date=June 9, 1973|title=Ottawa Tigers' franchise quite alive and kicking|page=18|work=Ottawa Journal}}

Serbian White Eagles |Toronto, Ontario |CNE Stadium{{Cite news|last=Nickleson|first=Al|date=May 11, 1973|title=College Bowl moves to CNE as mod sod gets more use - 17 NSL Games|page=18|work=Toronto Star}} Stanley Park Stadium |Mladen Sarić{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=April 19, 1973|title=9 Yugoslavian imports boost soccer club's bid|page=20|work=Toronto Star}}

Srbija Kitchener |Kitchener, Ontario | |

St. Catharines Heidelberg |St. Catharines, Ontario |Club Heidelberg Field{{Cite news |date=10 May 1973 |title=Nationals Open Season Sunday |pages=32 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} |Alex Crawley

Toronto Croatia |Toronto, Ontario |CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium |Vladimir Šimunić{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=May 25, 1973|title=This soccer club's success merely widens its horizons|page=18|work=Toronto Star}}

Toronto First Portuguese |Toronto, Ontario |CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium |Enidio Graca{{Cite news|last=Clifford|first=Dale|date=July 30, 1973|title=Tigers bow on disputed penalty|page=15|work=Ottawa Citizen}}

Toronto Homer |Toronto, Ontario |CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium |

Toronto Hungaria |Toronto, Ontario |CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium |

Toronto Italia |York, Ontario |York Stadium{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=July 4, 1973|title=Soccer crowds grow, NSL secretary feels 250,000 draw possible|page=33|work=The Globe and Mail}} |Giovanni Fanello{{Cite news|date=July 18, 1973|title=6 Metros will face Italian Army team|page=45|work=The Globe and Mail}}

Toronto Melita |Toronto, Ontario |CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium |

Toronto Polonia |Toronto, Ontario |CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium |

Toronto Ukrainians |Toronto, Ontario |CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium |

{{reflist|group=note}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Team !Outgoing coach !Manner of departure !Date of vacancy !Position in table !Incoming coach !Date of appointment
Montreal Cantalia |Ricardo Musci{{Cite news|last=Onorato|first=Andre|date=May 9, 1973|title=Reborn Cantalia team will play in interprovincial soccer loop|page=44|work=Montreal Gazette}} |replaced |July, 1973 | |Franco Gallina |July, 1973
Toronto Italia |Hector Marinaro, Sr.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=May 10, 1973|title=Italia prepared for top role|page=17|work=Toronto Star}} |replaced | July, 1973 | |Giovanni Fanello |July, 1973
St. Catharines Heidelberg |John Santesso{{Cite news |last=Gatecliff |first=Jack |date=17 February 1973 |title=Through the Sports Gate |pages=25 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} |replaced |August 25, 1973 |1st |Alex Crawley{{Cite news |last=Gatecliff |first=Jack |date=25 August 1973 |title=Through the Sports Gate |pages=31 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} |August 25, 1973

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+|Canada Southern Ontario|width=400 |float=center|caption=Location of NSL teams outside of Toronto for the 1973 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=43.64 |long=-79.42 |label=TORONTO |position=right|mark=Red pog.svg}}

}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+ |Canada Southern Quebec |width=400 |float=center |caption=Locations of teams in Quebec for the 1973 NSL season.|places=

{{Location map~ | Canada Southern Quebec |lat= 45.554119|long= -73.636631 |label=Montreal |position=left|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=SER|name_SER=Serbian White Eagles

|team3=POR|name_POR=Toronto First Portuguese

|team4=TOR|name_TOR=Toronto Hungaria

|team5=ITA|name_ITA=Toronto Italia

|team6=HOM|name_HOM=Toronto Homer

|team7=LON|name_LON=London City

|team8=STH|name_STH=St. Catharines Heidelberg

|team9=HAM|name_HAM=Hamilton Croatia

|team10=MEL|name_MEL=Toronto Melita

|team11=UKA|name_UKA=Toronto Ukrainians

|team12=WEL|name_WEL=Hamilton City

|team13=MON|name_MON=Montreal Cantalia

|team14=HIC|name_HIC=Hamilton Italo-Canadians

|team15=SRK|name_SRK=Srbija Kitchener

|team16=POL|name_POL=Toronto Polonia

|win_CRO=22|draw_CRO=4|loss_CRO=4|gf_CRO=71|ga_CRO=23|status_CRO=C

|win_SER=22|draw_SER=1|loss_SER=7|gf_SER=66|ga_SER=21

|win_POR=17|draw_POR=8|loss_POR=5|gf_POR=52|ga_POR=33

|win_TOR=17|draw_TOR=7|loss_TOR=6|gf_TOR=68|ga_TOR=35|status_TOR=O

|win_ITA=16|draw_ITA=5|loss_ITA=9|gf_ITA=55|ga_ITA=37

|win_HOM=14|draw_HOM=8|loss_HOM=8|gf_HOM=58|ga_HOM=35

|win_LON=12|draw_LON=9|loss_LON=9|gf_LON=47|ga_LON=43

|win_STH=12|draw_STH=7|loss_STH=11|gf_STH=37|ga_STH=39

|win_HAM=10|draw_HAM=9|loss_HAM=11|gf_HAM=55|ga_HAM=53

|win_MEL=8|draw_MEL=10|loss_MEL=12|gf_MEL=37|ga_MEL=45

|win_UKA=9|draw_UKA=5|loss_UKA=16|gf_UKA=45|ga_UKA=48

|win_WEL=8|draw_WEL=7|loss_WEL=15|gf_WEL=39|ga_WEL=58

|win_MON=8|draw_MON=7|loss_MON=15|gf_MON=39|ga_MON=58

|win_HIC=4|draw_HIC=9|loss_HIC=17|gf_HIC=20|ga_HIC=64

|win_SRK=4|draw_SRK=5|loss_SRK=21|gf_SRK=29|ga_SRK=77

|win_POL=5|draw_POL=3|loss_POL=22|gf_POL=30|ga_POL=83

|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, 1973

|source=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NSL_1921_1992.pdf

}}

===Quarterfinals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 13, 1973

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 2–1

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=October 15, 1973|title=Serbian White Eagles win 2-1 on disputed penalty-kick goal|page=S5|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Italia

| goals1 = Mirko Basic {{goal}}, {{goal}}

| goals2 = Carlos Jorge {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 871

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 14, 1973

| time =

| team1 = Serbian White Eagles

| score = 2–1

| report = [ Report]

| team2 = Toronto Homer

| goals1 = Stojanovic {{goal}}, {{goal}}

| goals2 = Peter Testepasis {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 1112

| referee = John Highet

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 14, 1973

| time =

| team1 = Toronto First Portuguese

| score = 4–1

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 15, 1973|title=Soccer scores|page=B5|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

| team2 = London City

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 15, 1973

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Hungaria

| score = 2–1

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 16, 1973|title=Hungaria wins playoff spot in NSL action|page=D6|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

| team2 = St. Catharines Heidelberg

| goals1 = Fahy {{goal}}
Allan Callender {{goal}}

| goals2 = Daniel McIntosh {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

===Semifinals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 16, 1973

| time = 20:30

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 2–1

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=October 17, 1973|title=Croatia wins rough NSL semi|page=C4|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto First Portuguese

| goals1 = Branko Trtanj {{goal}}
Solak {{goal}}

| goals2 = Emilio Hernandez {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 1500

| referee = Bob Hughes

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 17, 1973

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Hungaria

| score = 2–1

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 18, 1973|title=Hungaria win sparked by Fahy|page=48|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Serbian White Eagles

| goals1 = Fahy {{goal}}, {{goal}}

| goals2 = Stojanovic {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

===Finals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 19, 1973

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 1–2

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=October 20, 1973|title=Hungaria wins over Croatia in NSL final|page=41|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Hungaria

| goals1 = Solak {{goal|93}}

| goals2 = Allan Callender {{goal|2}}
Molnar {{goal|7}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 2313

| referee =

| result =

}}

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.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=October 26, 1973|title=Crackdown on soccer violence|page=C4|work=Toronto Star}} The league decided to award the cup to Toronto Hungaria as they were leading the match before it was abandoned.

===Finals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 21, 1973

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 1–3

| report = [{{Cite news|date=October 22, 1973|title=Violence puts premature end to NSL final at Stanley Park|page=S5|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Hungaria

| goals1 = Arslanovic {{goal}}

| goals2 = Mario Garcia {{goal}}, {{goal}}
Polyviou {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 3341

| referee = Bill Divorski

| 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. The 1974 edition served as a qualifier match to determine the Canadian representative to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.{{Cite news|last=Kernaghan|first=Jim|date=July 12, 1975|title=Eagles want to win but it is costly|page=D5|work=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.{{Cite news|last=Koep|first=Bob|date=October 29, 1973|title=Croatia strikes early to win|page=B6|work=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.

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 28, 1973

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Croatia

| score = 3–1

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Waring|first=Ed|date=October 29, 1973|title='Rain ends West Indies' breakaway threat: Croatia takes third Canadian crown in a row|page=B7|work=The Globe and Mail}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto West Indies United

| goals1 = Peric {{goal|5}}, {{goal|12}}, {{goal|70}}

| goals2 = Clarence Prendes {{goal|25}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Stanley Park Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 1103

| referee =

| result =

}}

• [https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/cnsl.html RSSSF CNSL page]
• [https://thecnsl.com/1973-2/ thecnsl.com - 1973 season]

{{Canadian National Soccer League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Soccer League 1973 Season}}

Category:1973–74 domestic association football leagues

National Soccer League

1973