1991 National Soccer League season

The membership in the league increased to a total of ten clubs from the nine of the previous season.{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Dave|date=May 11, 1991|title=Pieces fall in place for Wheels' opener|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/504199503/?terms=toronto+panhellenic|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Windsor Star|page=24|language=en}} Two of the new additions were revealed at the annual general meeting held in Toronto on December 2, 1990. NSL Second Division titleholders North York Strikers were promoted to the First Division, while Toronto International later relocated to Scarborough, Ontario returned to the league after a stint in the Ontario Soccer League. The Toronto Jets and Woodbridge Azzuri were also promoted to the First Division. While Toronto Argentina was the lone expansion franchise that made its NSL debut in 1991.

The increase in membership was rather poignant as the league lost two established clubs Toronto First Portuguese and Toronto Panhellenic due to a depletion of financial resources.{{Cite web|title=The Portuguese Canadian History Project|url=https://fernandesgilberto.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/exhibit-catalogue-inside-en-revised-2.pdf|page=7}} America United and Oshawa Italia were the other two clubs that were disbanded. After establishing the necessary connections in the Quebec soccer structure league commissioner Rocco Lofranco announced potential expansion plans into the province.{{Cite news|last=Da Costa|first=Norm|date=May 29, 1991|title=Still Kicking|page=C6|work=Toronto Star}} The member clubs also began the transition of recruiting more domestic players instead of relying on imports. After a series of philosophical differences and disputes with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) about the structure of professional soccer officials from the NSL began negotiations with the CSA, which resulted in a friendly match between the Canadian Olympic team and Toronto Italia.{{Cite news|last=Laskaris|first=Sam|date=August 22, 1991|title=Exhibition game heals soccer feud|page=W11|work=Toronto Star}}

The league continued operating the NSL Canadian Cup where the NSL Ontario Cup champions faced the league cup winner from the Quebec National Soccer League.{{Cite web|date=September 26, 1991|title=Ontario champs defeat Dollard to take Cup|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/424041174/?terms=national+soccer+league|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Montreal Gazette|page=93|language=en}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+|Canada Southern Ontario|width=400 |float=center|caption=Location of NSL teams outside of Toronto for the 1991 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=43.816111 |long=-79.424444 |label=Vaughan |position=left|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 1991 NSL season.
10px

|places=

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.775556 |long=-79.446667 |label=North York |position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

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

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.775556 |long=-79.446667 |label=Toronto Jets |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=43.694 |long=-79.265 |label=Scarborough |position=right|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}}

== Final standings ==

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

|res_col_header=Q

|winpoints=2

|team1=ITA|name_ITA=Toronto Italia

|team2=SCI|name_SCI=Scarborough International

|team3=STC|name_STC=St. Catharines Roma

|team4=CRO|name_CRO=Toronto Croatia

|team5=SCA|name_SCA=Toronto Argentina

|team6=WOD|name_WOD=Woodbridge Azzuri

|team7=WHE|name_WHE=Windsor Wheels

|team8=NOR|name_NOR=North York Strikers

|team9=JET|name_JET=Toronto Jets

|team10=LON|name_LON=London City

|win_ITA=11|draw_ITA=5|loss_ITA=2|gf_ITA=28|ga_ITA=13|status_ITA=C

|win_SCI=10|draw_SCI=6|loss_SCI=2|gf_SCI=25|ga_SCI=11

|win_STC=12|draw_STC=2|loss_STC=3|gf_STC=37|ga_STC=18

|win_CRO=9|draw_CRO=4|loss_CRO=5|gf_CRO=22|ga_CRO=13

|win_SCA=8|draw_SCA=5|loss_SCA=5|gf_SCA=30|ga_SCA=18

|win_WOD=6|draw_WOD=5|loss_WOD=7|gf_WOD=23|ga_WOD=30

|win_WHE=5|draw_WHE=3|loss_WHE=10|gf_WHE=22|ga_WHE=33

|win_NOR=4|draw_NOR=2|loss_NOR=11|gf_NOR=12|ga_NOR=26

|win_JET=2|draw_JET=5|loss_JET=10|gf_JET=16|ga_JET=27

|win_LON=2|draw_LON=3|loss_LON=13|gf_LON=15|ga_LON=36

|col_Q=#ACE1AF|text_Q=Qualification for Playoffs

|result1=Q

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

|update=September 23, 1991

|source={{Cite web|title=23 Sep 1991, 26 - The Windsor Star at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/503850402/?terms=National+soccer+league|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}}

}}

The recipients of the annual NSL awards were announced on December 18, 1991, with members from London City, Toronto Croatia, and Toronto Italia receiving the awards. After successfully leading Italia to a championship title Peter Felicetti was named the Coach of the Year. Felicetti previously had managerial experience in the Canadian Soccer League, and later managed in the American Professional Soccer League with Toronto Rockets.{{Cite web|date=July 2, 1994|title=The APSL lineup for 1994|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/495702988/?terms=peter+felicetti|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Vancouver Sun|page=28|language=en}} London City's Paul Hillman was recognized as the Rookie of the Year. Ivica Raguž of Toronto Croatia was given the MVP award, and would ultimately play in the Croatian First Football League, and the S. League.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/cnsl.html RSSSF CNSL page]
• [https://thecnsl.com/1991-2/ thecnsl.com - 1991 season]

{{Canadian National Soccer League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Soccer League 1991 Season}}

Category:1991–92 domestic association football leagues

National Soccer League

1991