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1978 National Soccer League (Canada) season

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = National Soccer League

| season = 1978

| winners = {{ubl|Montreal Castors (regular season) | Toronto Falcons (playoffs, 1st title)}}

| shield = Toronto Falcons

| shieldtitle = League cup

| league topscorer = Sergio Clerici

| best goalkeeper = Tony Dallas

| biggest home win =

| biggest away win =

| matches =

| highest scoring =

| total goals =

| average goals =

| longest wins =

| longest unbeaten =

| longest losses =

| highest attendance =

| lowest attendance =

| average attendance =

| prevseason = 1977

| nextseason = 1979

}}

The 1978 National Soccer League season was the fifty-fifth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May 1978 and concluded in late September 1978 with the Toronto Falcons defeating Hamilton Italo-Canadians for the NSL Cup.{{Cite book|last=Jose|first=Colin|title=On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario|publisher=Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum|year=2001|location=Vaughan, Ontario|pages=117}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=September 21, 1978|title=Falcons gain soccer final with 0-0 tie|page=B1|work=Toronto Star|url=|access-date=}} The regular-season title and NSL Championship were successfully defended by the Montreal Castors by finishing first in the First Division.{{Cite web|title=CSL Past Champions – Canadian Soccer League|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-past-champions/|access-date=2020-09-06|website=canadiansoccerleague.ca|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030000639/http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-past-champions/|url-status=dead}} The Second Division title was won by St. Catharines Roma by finishing first in the standings.{{Cite web|date=|title=CPSL Featured Team - St. Catharines Wolves|url=http://www.cpsl.ca/featuredteam.asp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030416144433/http://www.cpsl.ca/featuredteam.asp|archive-date=April 16, 2003|access-date=2021-04-04}}

The NSL was operative in Northern Ontario, Quebec, and had a franchise in the United States in Upstate New York. The season also marked the final time the league employed the promotion and relegation system as the Second Division was dissolved the following year.

Overview

The membership in the First Division increased to 11 teams with Buffalo Blazers, Ottawa Tigers, and Toronto Falcons receiving promotions.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=April 20, 1978|title=Hibs soccer visitors in June|page=28|work=Ottawa Citizen|url=|access-date=}}{{Cite news|last=Burke|first=Tim|date=May 10, 1978|title=More on soccer|page=23|work=Montreal Gazette|url=|access-date=}} Ottawa was defeated in the previous season's promotion and relegation match series by Toronto Croatia but still was granted promotion to the First Division.{{Cite news|date=October 11, 1977|title=Tigers lose relegation series|page=30|work=Ottawa Journal}} The departing clubs were Toronto Macedonia, and the Serbian White Eagles were inactive for the season. Toronto Macedonia attempted to sell their franchise rights to Montreal Stars, but the move was declined by the league ownership.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=March 6, 1978|title=In a nutshell|page=30|work=Windsor Star|url=|access-date=}}

A league meeting occurred in early September where the league ownership decided to eliminate the playoff format and conclude the season early after the completion of the NSL Cup tournament.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=September 13, 1978|title=Playoffs out but Stars go in Cup|page=30|work=Windsor Star|url=|access-date=}} The league champions Montreal Castors decided to withdraw from the competition, while the Windsor Stars forfeited after protesting the league's decision to change their opponent.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=September 18, 1978|title=Stars throw up hands, decide to end season|page=36|work=Windsor Star|url=|access-date=}} The Second Division consisted of 7 teams with the Toronto Ukrainians returning to the NSL after a two-year absence. The Montreal Stars were absent for the season but returned for the 1979 season. Further changes occurred at the administrative level with John Fischer succeeding Joe Piccininni as the league's president.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=March 6, 1978|title=Kitchener man new NSL boss|page=B4|work=Toronto Star|url=|access-date=}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=March 6, 1978|title=Sports Roundup - Soccer|page=S6|work=The Globe and Mail|url=|access-date=}}

Teams

class="wikitable sortable"

!Team

!City

!Stadium

!Manager

Bradford Marshlanders

|Bradford, Ontario

|Bradford High School{{Cite news |date=14 June 1978 |title=Marshlanders tie |pages=B4 |work=The Liberal |url=http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/RHPL/RHPL003216842pf_0016.pdf |access-date=30 December 2022}}

|Dave Reid{{Cite news|date=May 23, 1978|title=Cyclones deserving of shoutout triumph|page=16|work=Sudbury Star}}

Buffalo Blazers

|Buffalo, New York

Niagara Falls, New York

|War Memorial Stadium
Hyde Park Stadium{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=July 17, 1978|title=Red tape idles Stars|page=30|work=Windsor Star|url=|access-date=}}

|Roberto Lonardo{{Cite news|date=June 11, 1978|title=Blazers Set Talks With Falls Brass|page=279|work=Buffalo Courier-Express}}

Hamilton Italo-Canadians

|Hamilton, Ontario

|Ivor Wynne Stadium{{Cite news|date=May 10, 1978|title=Blazers' Goalie Signs Contract|page=7|work=Buffalo Courier-Express}}

|Frank Donlavey{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=1981 Hamilton Steelers - Team of Distinction|url=http://hshof.ca/team/1981-hamilton-steelers/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924111521/http://hshof.ca/team/1981-hamilton-steelers/|archive-date=September 24, 2020|access-date=January 5, 2021|website=}}

London City

|London, Ontario

|Cove Road Stadium{{Cite news |date=29 May 1978 |title=A Late Goal Gives Blazers a 1-1 Deadlock |pages=14 |work=Buffalo News}}

|Graham Sawyer{{Cite news|last=Hall|first=Dave|date=May 11, 1978|title=Hard work pays for Stars|page=34|work=Windsor Star|url=|access-date=}}

Mississauga Hungaria

|Mississauga, Ontario

|

|

Montreal Castors

|Montreal, Quebec

|Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard

|Tony Iammatteo{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=July 25, 1978|title=Montreal ties for top after 3-2 triumph|page=32|work=The Globe and Mail|url=|access-date=}}

Ottawa Tigers

|Ottawa, Ontario

|Lansdowne Park{{Cite news|last=Henderson|first=Bruce|date=May 12, 1978|title=Pro brand slowly gaining popularity|page=23|work=Ottawa Journal|url=|access-date=}}

|Tommy Henderson{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=April 18, 1978|title=Tigers sign coach|page=25|work=Ottawa Journal|url=|access-date=}}

Sudbury Cyclones

|Sudbury, Ontario

|Queen's Athletic Field{{Cite news|date=May 15, 1978|title=Cyclones win out in first contest|page=12|work=Sudbury Star}}

|Jim Thomson{{Cite news|last=Gallagher|first=Danny|date=May 5, 1978|title=Czerwinec, Gonko are unsure as Cyclones appear weaker|page=13|work=Sudbury Star}}

St. Catharines Heidelberg

|St. Catharines, Ontario

|

|

St. Catharines Roma

|St. Catharines, Ontario

|Club Roma Stadium

|

Toronto Croatia

|Etobicoke, Ontario

|Centennial Park Stadium

|Bruno Pilaš{{Cite news|last=Nelson|first=Jim|date=July 31, 1978|title=Stars coast over Croatia|page=35|work=Windsor Star|url=|access-date=}}

Toronto Falcons

|Toronto, Ontario

|Lamport Stadium

|Wacław Sąsiadek{{Cite web|last=Czado|first=Pawel|date=July 30, 2004|title=Gdzie są gwiazdy z tamtych lat: Wacław Sąsiadek|url=https://www.sport.pl/sport/1,69628,2206003.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206160515/https://www.sport.pl/sport/1,69628,2206003.html |archive-date=2021-02-06 |access-date=2021-02-03|website=Sport.pl|language=pl}}

Toronto First Portuguese

|Toronto, Ontario

|Lamport Stadium{{Cite news|last=Falldien|first=Jack|date=July 31, 1978|title=Cyclones stage big upset by beating Portuguese 3-1|page=13|work=Sudbury Star}}

|Assis Viola

Toronto Italia

|York, Ontario

|York Stadium{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=July 10, 1978|title=Calendar - Soccer|page=S7|work=The Globe and Mail|url=|access-date=}}

|Fiorigi Pagliuso{{Cite news|last=Henderson|first=Bruce|date=July 6, 1978|title=Tigers roar but come up empty-handed|page=16|work=Ottawa Journal|url=|access-date=}}

Toronto Panhellenic

|Toronto, Ontario

|Lamport Stadium

|

Toronto Polonia

|Toronto, Ontario

|Lamport Stadium{{Cite news|date=May 12, 1978|title=Cyclones open season|page=16|work=Sudbury Star}}

|

Toronto Ukrainians

|Etobicoke, Ontario

|Centennial Park Stadium{{Cite news|date=June 24, 1978|title=Key encounter for Cyclones|page=17|work=Sudbury Star}}

|

Windsor Stars

|Windsor, Ontario

|Windsor Stadium

|Pedro Da Silva{{Cite news|last=Knack|first=Marty|date=April 13, 1978|title=Stars turning to local soccer talent again|page=30|work=Windsor Star|url=|access-date=}}

= Coaching changes =

class="wikitable sortable"
Team

!Outgoing coach

!Manner of
departure

!Date of
vacancy

!Position in table

!Incoming coach

!Date of
appointment

Buffalo Blazers

|Sam Buscarino{{Cite news|last=Billoni|first=Mike|date=April 23, 1978|title=Buscarino Named Blazers' Coach|page=47|work=Buffalo Courier-Express}}

|resigned

| {{dts|April 23, 1978}}

|11th in June

|Roberto Lonardo

|June, 1978

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+|Canada Southern Ontario|width=400 |float=center|caption=Location of NSL teams outside of Toronto for the 1978 NSL season.
10px

|places=

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=44.133333|long= -79.633333 |label=Bradford |position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=42.904722 |long= -78.849444 |label=Buffalo |position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{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=42.9837 |long=-81.2497 |label=London |position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.6323 |long=-79.6535 |label=Mississauga |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}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=42.2939 |long= -83.0191 |label=Windsor |position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+ |Canada Southern Quebec |width=400 |float=center |caption=Locations of teams in Quebec for the 1978 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 ==

= First Division =

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

|res_col_header=Q

|winpoints=2

|team1=MON|name_MON=Montreal Castors

|team2=POR|name_POR=Toronto First Portuguese

|team3=FAL|name_FAL=Toronto Falcons

|team4=PAN|name_PAN=Toronto Panhellenic

|team5=ITA|name_ITA=Toronto Italia

|team6=WIN|name_WIN=Windsor Stars

|team7=OTT|name_OTT=Ottawa Tigers

|team8=HAM|name_HAM=Hamilton Italo-Canadians

|team9=CRO|name_CRO=Toronto Croatia

|team10=LON|name_LON=London City

|team11=BUF|name_BUF=Buffalo Blazers

|win_MON=15|draw_MON=3|loss_MON=2|gf_MON=55|ga_MON=22|status_MON=CO

|win_POR=10|draw_POR=9|loss_POR=1|gf_POR=34|ga_POR=15

|win_FAL=10|draw_FAL=5|loss_FAL=5|gf_FAL=26|ga_FAL=23

|win_PAN=9|draw_PAN=6|loss_PAN=5|gf_PAN=37|ga_PAN=28

|win_ITA=9|draw_ITA=5|loss_ITA=6|gf_ITA=31|ga_ITA=19

|win_WIN=7|draw_WIN=9|loss_WIN=4|gf_WIN=34|ga_WIN=26

|win_OTT=6|draw_OTT=6|loss_OTT=8|gf_OTT=40|ga_OTT=38

|win_HAM=5|draw_HAM=4|loss_HAM=10|gf_HAM=31|ga_HAM=32

|win_CRO=5|draw_CRO=1|loss_CRO=13|gf_CRO=15|ga_CRO=47

|win_LON=3|draw_LON=3|loss_LON=14|gf_LON=16|ga_LON=39

|win_BUF=3|draw_BUF=3|loss_BUF=14|gf_BUF=26|ga_BUF=56

|col_Q=#ACE1AF|text_Q=Qualification for Playoffs

|result1=Q|

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

|update=September 30, 1978

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

}}

= Second Division =

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

|res_col_header=Q

|winpoints=2

|team1=STC|name_STC=St. Catharines Roma

|team2=STH|name_STH=St. Catharines Heidelberg

|team3=SUD|name_SUD=Sudbury Cyclones

|team4=POL|name_POL=Toronto Polonia

|team5=UKA|name_UKA=Toronto Ukrainians

|team6=MIS|name_MIS=Mississauga Hungaria

|team7=BAD|name_BAD=Bradford Marshlanders

|win_STC=10|draw_STC=2|loss_STC=0|gf_STC=35|ga_STC=7|status_STC=CO

|win_STH=9|draw_STH=0|loss_STH=3|gf_STH=37|ga_STH=12

|win_SUD=6|draw_SUD=2|loss_SUD=4|gf_SUD=20|ga_SUD=11

|win_POL=5|draw_POL=3|loss_POL=4|gf_POL=25|ga_POL=18

|win_UKA=4|draw_UKA=2|loss_UKA=6|gf_UKA=19|ga_UKA=26

|win_MIS=3|draw_MIS=0|loss_MIS=9|gf_MIS=13|ga_MIS=33

|win_MON=10|draw_MON=4|loss_MON=9|gf_MON=45|ga_MON=36

|win_BAD=0|draw_BAD=1|loss_BAD=11|gf_BAD=8|ga_BAD=50

|col_Q=#ACE1AF|text_Q=Qualification for Playoffs

|result1=Q|

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

|update=September 30, 1978

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

}}

References

External links

  • [https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/cnsl.html RSSSF CNSL page]
  • [https://thecnsl.com/1978-2/ thecnsl.com - 1978 season]

{{Canadian National Soccer League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Soccer League 1978 Season}}

Category:1978–79 domestic association football leagues

Category:1978 in Canadian soccer

1978