1963 National Soccer League season

National Soccer League
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The 1963 National Soccer League season was the fortieth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late April and concluded in late October with Toronto Ukrainia defeating Toronto Hakoah for the O’Keefe Trophy (NSL Championship).[1][2][3] The regular-season title was won by Italian Virtus by finishing first throughout the regular season.[4][5]

Overview

The creation of the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League (ECPSL) in 1961 directly affected the National Soccer League (NSL) financially.[6] The competition including the defection of the top NSL clubs to the ECPSL caused a major decrease in their match attendance throughout the early 1960s.[7] Their drop-in the gate earnings at Stanley Park Stadium contributed to their failure in fully paying their tax and loan payments.[8] The club members successfully managed to pay off their taxes from the 1961 season and received an extension from the Toronto Board of Control for the remainder of their debt.[6][8] The Board of Control further intervened by volunteering to serve as a mediator between the ECPSL and NSL, with intentions of merging both leagues as a solution to the NSL's financial issues.[9] The NSL had hoped to create a two-tiered league with a promotion and relegation format, but the proposal was rejected by the ECPSL ownership.[10]

League membership decreased from twelve to eight members with several notable clubs departing.[7] A keynoted departure was charter member Toronto Ulster United, which decided to join the amateur ranks in the Toronto and District Soccer League due to financial difficulties.[11] Oshawa Italia and Oshawa Hungaria also returned to the amateur level and Queen City disbanded their team.[12][13] Toronto Hakoah, a Jewish-sponsored team was the sole addition to the circuit.[14] Though the season began with eight members Toronto Macedonians withdrew from the competition, due to financial difficulties and the inability to afford quality players to remain competitive.[15] Several of the top players in the NSL were reported to have been earning $100 a week while in the ECPSL top players were earning about $200 per week.[16]

Changes occurred at the administrative side midway through the season as Walter Freer resigned as league president and was succeeded by vice-president Bill Boytchuk.[17][10] A league scoring record was also recorded by Toronto Ukrainia after defeating Toronto Macedonians by a score of 16-1.[18]

Teams

Team City Stadium Manager
Italian Virtus Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[12]
Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[12]
Toronto Estonia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[12] Bruno Gerzeli[19]
Toronto Hakoah Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[12]
Toronto Hungaria Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[12]
Toronto Macedonians[note 1] Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[12]
Toronto Olympia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[12] Harry Bogdanow[20]

Wally Mrusic[20]

Toronto Ukrainia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[12]
  1. ^ Toronto Macedonians withdrew from league

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Italian Virtus (C) 18 12 3 3 53 13 +40 27 Qualification for Playoffs
2 Toronto Hakoah 18 11 4 3 50 17 +33 26
3 Toronto Ukrainians (O) 18 11 2 5 46 27 +19 24
4 Toronto Hungaria 18 10 1 7 42 32 +10 21
5 Toronto Olympia 18 7 3 8 32 40 −8 17
6 Toronto Estonia 18 3 4 11 23 47 −24 10
7 Toronto Croatia 18 0 1 17 17 87 −70 1
Updated to match(es) played on October 1, 1963. Source: NSL Standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

Playoffs

Semifinals

October 1, 1963 Toronto Hakoah 3–2 Toronto Hungaria Toronto, Ontario
Lefkos 4', 70'
Lou Wolanski 65'		 [[21] Report] Frank Kili 27'
Vic Ivonyi 77'		 Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
Referee: Bobby Reid
October 4, 1963 Toronto Hungaria 0–5 Toronto Hakoah Toronto, Ontario
[[22] Report] Lefkos , ,
Noel Di Castro , 		Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium

Toronto Hakoah won the series 2-0.

October 3, 1963 Italian Virtus 0–1 Toronto Ukrainia Toronto, Ontario
[[23] Report] Leo Dowhaluk 10' Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
Referee: Hugh Morrow
October 6, 1963 Toronto Ukrainia 1–0 Italian Virtus Toronto, Ontario
Jackie O'Neill 82' [[24] Report] Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
Referee: Kelly Haupt

Toronto Ukrainia won the series 2-0.

Finals

October 13, 1963 Toronto Hakoah 0–2 Toronto Ukrainia Toronto, Ontario
[[25] Report] Jackie O'Neill
John Ihnatowych 		Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
October 20, 1963 Toronto Ukrainia 3–2 Toronto Hakoah Toronto, Ontario
Fred Patterson
Leo Dowhaluk
John Ihnatowych 		[[26][2] Report] Lefkos
Noel Di Castro 		Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
Attendance: 1200
Referee: Hugh Morrow

References

  1. ^ Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 116.
  2. ^ a b Waring, Ed (October 21, 1963). "Ukes Capture NSL Laurels On 3-2 Victory". The Globe and Mail. p. 21.
  3. ^ Zwadiuk, Oleh (October 26, 1963). "Sports Scene - Toronto Ukraina On Top" (PDF). Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "CSL Past Champions" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  5. ^ Waring, Ed (September 27, 1963). "Italia-Virtus Victory Clinches NSL Pennant". The Globe and Mail. p. 40.
  6. ^ a b "Pro Soccer League Rejects Plan For Merger With NSL Teams". The Globe and Mail. March 20, 1963. p. 24.
  7. ^ a b Waring, Ed (April 27, 1963). "NSL Opens Tomorrow: Can Soccer Pay Its Way This Year?". The Globe and Mail. p. 26.
  8. ^ a b "Soccer Settle Tax Bill". Toronto Daily Star. April 23, 1963. p. 13.
  9. ^ "Soccer Merger No Soap-EPSL". Toronto Daily Star. March 20, 1963. p. 15.
  10. ^ a b Waring, Ed (July 12, 1963). "NSl Favors Partnership With ECPSL". The Globe and Mail. p. 34.
  11. ^ Waring, Ed (May 2, 1963). "Once-Powerful Ulster United in Decline". The Globe and Mail. p. 25.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NSL Plans to Operate, President Announces". The Globe and Mail. January 10, 1963. p. 22.
  13. ^ "Kingston Eliminated by Oshawa". Kingston Whig-Standard. July 20, 1964. p. 8.
  14. ^ "Green Light For National Soccer Loop". The Globe and Mail. April 23, 1963. p. 30.
  15. ^ Waring, Ed (June 29, 1963). "Macedonians Quit NSL, Player Costs Major Factor". The Globe and Mail. p. 34.
  16. ^ "High Price Tags May Slow Canadian Soccer". The Sun Times (Owen Sound). June 29, 1963. p. 20.
  17. ^ Waring, Ed (July 13, 1963). "Ukes Lose To Hakoah, Drop Lead". The Globe and Mail. p. 22.
  18. ^ Waring, Ed (June 7, 1963). "Ukes Set Scoring Record, Blasting Macedonians 16-1". The Globe and Mail. p. 37.
  19. ^ Waring, Ed (May 8, 1963). "Canada Impressive, Scottish Soccer Star To Make Home Here". The Globe and Mail. p. 14.
  20. ^ a b Taylor, Joe (April 29, 1963). "Soccer Opener Draws 1,200". Toronto Daily Star. p. 11.
  21. ^ Waring, Ed (October 2, 1963). "Hakoah Wins NSL Playoff Tilt". The Globe and Mail. p. 30.
  22. ^ "3 for Lefkos As Hakoah Wins Berth in Final". The Globe and Mail. October 5, 1963. p. 28.
  23. ^ Waring, Ed (October 4, 1963). "Ukes Play Different Tune Now, Upset Italian-Virtus Club 1-0". The Globe and Mail. p. 46.
  24. ^ Waring, Ed (October 7, 1963). "Ukrainian Eleven Beats Italia-Virtus To Advance to Final". The Globe and Mail. p. 32.
  25. ^ Waring, Ed (October 14, 1963). "Ukes Blank Hakoah In NSL Final Opener". The Globe and Mail. p. 25.
  26. ^ Taylor, Joe (October 21, 1963). "National Soccer loop faces forbidding financial future". Toronto Daily Star. p. 13.