1968 National Soccer League season

National Soccer League
Season1968
Champions
  • Sudbury Italia (regular season)
  • Sudbury Italia (playoffs, 1st title)
← 1967
1969 →

The 1968 National Soccer League season was the forty-fifth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late May and concluded in early October with Sudbury Italia securing the double (regular-season title, and NSL Championship).[1][2] Sudbury finished first in the standings with 29 points with a single-point difference between Toronto Hellas.[3][4] Italia would face Toronto Hellas once more in the NSL Championship final.[5] The league would serve as a secondary league in the Canadian soccer landscape as the American-based North American Soccer League expanded into British Columbia and Ontario.[6]

Overview

The membership in the league decreased to ten teams with Hamilton Primos, and Toronto Roma disbanding their teams.[6] Stanley Park Stadium the league's primary stadium for its Toronto members received the necessary funds from the city to renovate the facility.[7][8]

Teams

Team City Stadium Manager
Kitchener Kickers Kitchener, Ontario
Serbian White Eagles Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[6] Ray Dobrijevic[9]
Sudbury Italia Sudbury, Ontario
Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[6]
Toronto Hellas Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[6] Alex Marshall[10]
Toronto Hungaria Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[6]
Toronto Olympia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[6]
Toronto Portuguese Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[6]
Toronto Ukrainia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[6] Ostap Steckiw[11]
Windsor Teutonia Windsor, Ontario Wigle Park[12]

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. ^ "CSL Past Champions" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sudbury Italia wins National League title". The Globe and Mail. September 9, 1968. p. 21.
  4. ^ "Sudbury wins title". Toronto Daily Star. September 9, 1968. p. A12.
  5. ^ "Hungaria ties Sudbury Italia". The Globe and Mail. September 30, 1968. p. 20.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dineen, Patrick (May 24, 1968). "National loop works to alter soccer image". The Globe and Mail. p. 28.
  7. ^ Waring, Ed (May 11, 1968). "Falcons' opener clouded by dispute". The Globe and Mail. p. 39.
  8. ^ "Field will be moved, clubhouse replaced". The Globe and Mail. February 20, 1968. p. 33.
  9. ^ "Eagles' coach happy as team victorious". The Globe and Mail. July 4, 1968. p. 32.
  10. ^ Harrison, Ian (May 31, 1968). "Smith stars in Hellas soccer win". Toronto Daily Star. p. B17.
  11. ^ Waring, Ed (July 22, 1968). "Student scores both the goals as Ukes blank Windsor Teutonia". The Globe and Mail. p. 18.
  12. ^ "Teutonia A opens play". Windsor Star. May 24, 1968. p. 31.