1986 National Soccer League (Canada) season

As the formation of the Canadian Soccer Association's (CSA) sanctioned national professional league was becoming more apparent, and with its policy of no ethnic associated clubs the National Soccer League (NSL) began organizing an alternative model to the CSA's version of a nationwide league.{{Cite news|last=Da Costa|first=Norman|date=July 7, 1986|title=Tough sledding for Blizzard opponents|page=B4|work=Toronto Star}} The newly appointed NSL commissioner and Toronto Italia owner Rocco Lofranco began the process of formalizing affiliated agreements with professional leagues throughout the country to implement a national model with a regional format.{{Cite news|last=Da Costa|first=Norman|date=June 30, 1986|title=Soccer boss proposes regional leagues format|page=B6|work=Toronto Star}} The regional format would consist of separate regional leagues with independent schedules with the regional champions qualifying for a postseason tournament, which would ultimately determine the national champion. The primary purpose of the regional format was to reduce the costly travel expenses associated with a national league employing an interlocking schedule. The NSL's presence was successfully established in British Columbia through an affiliated agreement with the Pacific Rim Soccer League and in Quebec with the creation of the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ) in 1986.{{Cite news|last=Da Costa|first=Norman|date=July 21, 1986|title=New pro league starts play in May|page=C8|work=Toronto Star}}

As the NSL expanded into British Columbia, and Quebec each league supplied their regional champions in a tournament for the NSL Canadian Championship intending to provide a Canadian representative to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The previous time a Canadian club competed in the Champions' Cup was in the 1976 CONCACAF Champions' Cup represented by Toronto Italia.{{Cite news|date=September 30, 1976|title=Italia retains NSL title with win over Hamilton|page=58|work=The Globe and Mail}} Several proposals and changes to the league's infrastructure were approved at the annual general meeting with the acceptance of the Petro Canada Soccer League as the NSL's developmental league, and the renaming of Toronto Dinamo to the Toronto Blizzard.{{Cite web|date=December 16, 1985|title=NSL adds farm system, creates Quebec league|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/504109651/?terms=national%20soccer%20league&match=1|access-date=2020-12-08|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Windsor Star|page=31|language=en}} All teams from the previous season returned with Windsor AC Roma renaming themselves as Windsor Wheels in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience.{{Cite web|last=Waddell|first=Dave|date=March 18, 1986|title=Wheels to create image of speed and excitement|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/504292468/?terms=national%20soccer%20league%20windsor%20roma&match=1|access-date=2020-12-08|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Windsor Star|page=21|language=en}}

=== Teams ===

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

London Marconi |London, Ontario |Cove Road Stadium |

St. Catharines Roma |St. Catharines, Ontario |Club Roma Stadium{{Cite news |date=7 May 1986 |title=Roma opens NSL season |pages=32 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} |Jimmy Douglas{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=Jim |date=12 February 1986 |title=Douglas back as coach |work=St. Catharines Standard |pages=27}}

Toronto Blizzard |Toronto, Ontario |Varsity Stadium{{Cite news|last=Koep|first=Bob|date=May 1, 1986|title=Soccer loop aims to be truly national|page=D7|work=Toronto Star}} |Dave Turner{{Cite news|date=May 19, 1986|title=Argentinian aces turn on the power|page=B4|work=Toronto Star}}

Toronto Croatia |Etobicoke, Ontario |Centennial Park Stadium |Bruno Pilaš{{Cite news|last=Da Costa|first=Norman|date=September 9, 1986|title=Ottawa added to soccer league|page=G6|work=Toronto Star}}

Toronto First Portuguese |Toronto, Ontario |Lamport Stadium |

Toronto Italia |Etobicoke, Ontario |Centennial Park Stadium |Carlo Del Monte{{Cite news|last=Waddell|first=Dave|date=June 16, 1986|title=Wheels run away with victory|page=28|work=Windsor Star}}

Toronto Panhellenic |Scarborough, Ontario |Birchmount Stadium{{Cite news|last=Duffy|first=Andrew|date=August 12, 1986|title=Scarborough soccer star, 19 has both craftiness and speed|page=E12|work=Toronto Star}} |Colin Byron{{Cite news|last=Da Costa|first=Norman|date=October 14, 1986|title=Canadians offered $1,000 to throw game|page=B8|work=Toronto Star}}

Windsor Wheels |Windsor, Ontario |Windsor Stadium{{Cite news|date=May 24, 1986|title=Wheels get down to business|page=15|work=Windsor Star}} |Vern Mittermeier{{Cite web|last=Waddell|first=Dave|date=August 1, 1986|title=Wheels fire Moffat|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/503846259/?terms=national%20soccer%20league&match=1|access-date=2020-12-05|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Windsor Star|page=31|language=en}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Team !Outgoing coach !Manner of departure !Date of vacancy !Position in table !Incoming coach !Date of appointment
Windsor Wheels |{{flagicon|SCO}} Gus Moffat |dismissed | {{dts|August 1, 1986}} | 7th in August |Vern Mittermeier |August 1, 1986

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+|Canada Southern Ontario|width=400 |float=center|caption=Location of NSL teams outside of Toronto for the 1986 NSL season.
10px

|places=

{{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=43.183333 |long= -79.233333|label=St. Catharines |position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=42.2939 |long= -83.0191 |label=Windsor |position=left|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 Toronto|width=400 |float=center|caption=Location of NSL teams in Toronto for the 1986 NSL season.
10px

|places=

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.667 |long=-79.399 |label=Toronto Blizzard |position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.638889 |long=-79.423056 |label=First Portuguese |position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.694 |long=-79.265 |label=Panhellenic |position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.653611 |long=-79.584444 |label=Toronto Croatia |position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.653611 |long=-79.584444 |label=Toronto Italia |position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

}}

{{Col-end}}

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

|res_col_header=Q

|winpoints=2

|team1=TOR|name_TOR=Toronto Blizzard

|team2=ITA|name_ITA=Toronto Italia

|team3=PAN|name_PAN=Toronto Panhellenic

|team4=LON|name_LON=London Marconi

|team5=POR|name_POR=Toronto First Portuguese

|team6=WHE|name_WHE=Windsor Wheels

|team7=STC|name_STC=St. Catharines Roma

|team8=CRO|name_CRO=Toronto Croatia

|win_TOR=10|draw_TOR=1|loss_TOR=3|gf_TOR=34|ga_TOR=12|status_TOR=C

|win_ITA=7|draw_ITA=3|loss_ITA=3|gf_ITA=25|ga_ITA=12|status_ITA=O

|win_PAN=6|draw_PAN=4|loss_PAN=4|gf_PAN=23|ga_PAN=23

|win_LON=7|draw_LON=1|loss_LON=6|gf_LON=27|ga_LON=24

|win_WHE=6|draw_WHE=3|loss_WHE=5|gf_WHE=24|ga_WHE=29

|win_POR=6|draw_POR=3|loss_POR=5|gf_POR=17|ga_POR=18

|win_STC=3|draw_STC=2|loss_STC=9|gf_STC=19|ga_STC=36

|win_CRO=0|draw_CRO=3|loss_CRO=10|gf_CRO=9|ga_CRO=30

|col_Q=#ACE1AF|text_Q=Qualification for Playoffs

|result1=Q|result2=Q|result3=Q|result4=Q

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

|update=September 18, 1986

|source={{Cite web|title=18 Sep 1986, 12 - The Windsor Star at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/504174347/?terms=national%20soccer%20league&match=1|access-date=2020-12-05|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}}

}}

== Playoffs ==

=== Semifinals ===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = September 21, 1986

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Blizzard

| score = 1–0

| report = [{{Cite news|date=September 22, 1986|title=Blizzard, Italia win soccer semifinals|page=B8|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Panhellenic

| goals1 = Abascal {{goal|90}}

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Varsity Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = September 21, 1986

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Italia

| score = 2–1

| report = [ Report]

| team2 = London Marconi

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Centennial Park Stadium

| location = Etobicoke, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

=== Finals ===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = September 24, 1986

| time = 20:00

| team1 = Toronto Blizzard

| score = 0–1

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Koep|first=Bob|date=September 25, 1986|title=Italia blanks Blizzard for playoff cup|page=D7|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Italia

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Commisso {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Varsity Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 2,127

| referee = Tony Evangelista

| result =

}}

The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all eight teams took part. All the matches were separate from the regular season, and the teams were grouped into two separate divisions. The two winners in the group stage would advance to a singles match for the Cup. The winner of the league cup would face the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ), and Pacific Rim Soccer League cup titleholders for the NSL Canada Cup.

===Finals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = September 19, 1986

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Blizzard

| score = 4–3

| report = [{{Cite news|date=September 20, 1986|title=Blizzard claim 2nd soccer title|page=D5|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

| team2 = London Marconi

| goals1 = Marinaro {{goal}}
Ntsoelengoe {{goal}}, {{goal}}, {{goal}}

| goals2 = Phil Murphy {{goal}}, {{goal}}
Louie Fotia {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Varsity Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

Since the 1986 season, a joint effort was conducted between the Pacific Rim Soccer League of British Columbia, National Soccer League, and the Quebec National Soccer League to provide a national champion.{{Cite web|last=Ferriss|first=Alan|date=September 18, 1986|title=Support Soccer|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/422462328/?terms=ontario+national+soccer+league|access-date=2020-11-07|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Montreal Gazette|page=33|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=September 9, 1986|title=NSL expansion plan is to grow to 11 clubs|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/504169281/?terms=ontario+national+soccer+league|access-date=2020-11-07|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Windsor Star|page=20|language=en}} The original intention of the national tournament was to provide a potential Canadian representative for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.{{Cite news|last=Koep|first=Bob|date=September 24, 1986|title=Soccer champions ready for kickoff of east-west series|page=H12|work=Toronto Star}} The previous time a Canadian club competed in the Champions' Cup was in the 1976 CONCACAF Champions' Cup represented by Toronto Italia.{{Cite news|date=September 30, 1976|title=Italia retains NSL title with win over Hamilton|page=58|work=The Globe and Mail}} Their regional champions would face each other in a single-elimination tournament with a single match for the championship.

===Semifinals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = September 26, 1986

| time =

| team1 = Laval Lavallois

| score = 0–1

| report = [{{Cite news|date=September 27, 1986|title=Vancouver to meet Blizzard in NSL final|page=D8|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

| team2 = Vancouver Columbus Italia

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Frank Ciaccia {{goal}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Lamport Stadium

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 75

| referee =

| result =

}}

===Finals===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = September 28, 1986

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Blizzard

| score = 2–1

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Zwolinski|first=Mark|date=September 29, 1986|title=Blizzard tops Vancouver to capture national title|page=B6|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

| team2 = Vancouver Columbus Italia

| goals1 = Marinaro {{goal|58}}
Hooper {{goal|88}}

| goals2 = John Guzzo {{goal|67}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Centennial Park Stadium

| location = Etobicoke, Ontario

| attendance = 1500

| referee =

| result =

}}

The NSL Canada Cup was a separate tournament intended to crown a national league cup champion. The participating teams were the league cup titleholders from the Pacific Rim Soccer League of British Columbia, the National Soccer League, and the Quebec National Soccer League.{{Cite news|last=Da Costa|first=Norman|date=September 1, 1986|title=11 teams in 2 divisions possible for new league|page=D5|work=Toronto Star}} The format of the competition was a single-elimination tournament with a single match for the national cup.

=== Semifinal ===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 3, 1986

| time =

| team1 = Toronto Blizzard

| score = 3–0

| report = [https://www.newspapers.com/image/423399261/?terms=national%20soccer%20league%20luso%20stars&match=1 Report]

| team2 = Vancouver Columbus Italia

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Université de Montreal Stadium

| location = Montreal, Quebec

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

=== Final ===

{{Football box collapsible

| round =

| date = October 5, 1986

| time =

| team1 = Luso Stars Mount Royal

| score = 0–2

| report = [{{Cite news|last=Meagher|first=John|date=October 6, 1986|title=Suspended striker causes row after playing in semi-pro finale|page=C5|work=Montreal Gazette}} Report]

| team2 = Toronto Blizzard

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Hooper {{goal|17}}
Ntsoelengoe {{goal|58}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Université de Montreal Stadium

| location = Montreal, Quebec

| attendance = 532

| referee =

| result =

}}

• [https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/cnsl.html RSSSF CNSL page]
• [https://thecnsl.com/1986-2/ thecnsl.com - 1986 season]

{{Canadian National Soccer League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Soccer League 1986 Season}}

Category:1986–87 domestic association football leagues

National Soccer League

1986