1967 National Soccer League season

National Soccer League
Season1967
Champions
Top goalscorerAnders Yrfeldt[1]
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The 1967 National Soccer League season was the forty-fourth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in early May and concluded in early November with Windsor Teutonia successfully defending the O’Keefe Trophy (NSL Championship) against Hamilton Primos.[2][3] The regular-season title was clinched by Hamilton Primos by finishing first throughout the regular season.[4]

The NSL merged with its competitor the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League (ECPSL) in December 1966, which elevated the status of the NSL in the Canadian soccer landscape to a secondary league behind the American-based National Professional Soccer League, and the United Soccer Association.[5][6]

Overview

The financial instability of the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League was becoming more apparent as key club members Toronto City, and Toronto Italia-Falcons departed to soccer leagues based in the United States (National Professional Soccer League, and United Soccer Association).[7] In late December 1966, the ECPSL merged with the National Soccer League with their remaining active clubs Hamilton Primos, and Toronto Inter-Roma joining the Ontario-based circuit.[8][9] The acquisition of the ECPSL clubs along with the return of Toronto Olympia, and an expansion club increased the membership to 12 clubs.[10] The twelfth member known as the Serbian White Eagles was the expansion club that represented the Serbian community in Toronto.[10] Several reforms were presented at the annual owners meeting with the proposal of a promotion and relegation system, and a partitioning of the league into two separate divisions.[10] The league also received an inquiry from American interests in attempts of acquiring an NSL franchise.[8]

Throughout the season a dispute emerged over Toronto Roma's usage of illegal players.[11] The dispute centered around the usage of Carlos Metidieri, and Jorge Piotti, as both were signed to Boston Rovers of the United Soccer Association, and failed to receive permission from the Canadian Soccer Football Association in the usage of these contracted players.[11] The league in response issued a fine and suspension to both players, and an additional fine to the Toronto Roma.[12] Roma's defense was that the club received permission from Boston in the usage of both players.[13] Toronto challenged the ruling and threatened to withdraw from the league.[14] The league had a slight increase in match attendance since their initial decrease in the early 1960s.[15]

Teams

Team City Stadium Manager
Hamilton Primos Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton Civic Stadium[16] Bill Paterson[17]
Kitchener Kickers Kitchener, Ontario Woodside Park[18] Eric Boeme[18]
Serbian White Eagles Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[8]
Sudbury Italia Sudbury, Ontario
Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[8]
Toronto Hellas Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[8]
Toronto Hungaria Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[8] Julius Schmidt[11]
Toronto Olympia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[8]
Toronto Portuguese Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[8]
Toronto Roma Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[8]
Toronto Ukrainia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[8]
Windsor Teutonia Windsor, Ontario Wigle Park[19] Pete Laudenbach[20]

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of
departure 		Date of
vacancy 		Position in table Incoming coach Date of
appointment
Windsor Teutonia Henry Wolf[21] replaced Pete Laudenbach[20]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Hamilton Primos (C) 22 18 1 3 74 15 +59 37 Qualification for Playoffs
2 Toronto Roma 22 17 1 4 67 19 +48 35
3 Toronto Hellas 22 14 1 7 50 37 +13 29
4 Windsor Teutonia (O) 22 13 2 7 52 39 +13 28
5 Toronto Hungaria 22 11 4 7 61 50 +11 26
6 Sudbury Italia 22 11 3 8 38 39 −1 25
7 Toronto Portuguese 22 5 8 9 36 44 −8 18
8 Toronto Ukrainians 22 4 6 12 21 49 −28 14
9 Toronto Olympia 22 5 4 13 27 55 −28 14
10 Toronto Croatia 22 4 5 13 40 66 −26 13
11 Serbian White Eagles 22 6 1 15 35 71 −36 13
12 Kitchener Kickers 22 4 4 14 27 61 −34 12
Updated to match(es) played on October 30, 1967. Source: CSL standings
Standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

Playoffs

The preliminary round of the playoffs was contested in a round-robin style with two separate groups where the two group winners would qualify for the final.[22] Sudbury Italia, Toronto Roma, and Windsor Teutonia were placed in the first group, while Hamilton Primos, Toronto Hellas, and Toronto Hungaria were placed in the second group.[22][23] Toronto Roma would withdraw from the playoffs after refusing to travel to Sudbury.[24][25] Windsor and Hamilton finished as their respective group champions, and as a result, qualified for the O’Keefe Trophy final.[25] The championship final was contested in a best-of-three series.[26]

Finals

November 5, 1967 Hamilton Primos 1–3 Windsor Teutonia Hamilton, Ontario
Jack Thomas 53' [[27] Report]
[[28] Report]		 Bob Cain
Jovan Urukala
Jurisevic 68'		 Attendance: 150
November 12, 1967 Windsor Teutonia 1–0 Hamilton Primos Windsor, Ontario
15:00 Gaetano Feregotto 22' [[29] Report] Stadium: Wigle Park

References

  1. ^ Kernaghan, Jim (July 9, 1969). "Italia's coach proves soccer a world game". Toronto Daily Star. p. 15.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Teutonia tops Primos in final". The Globe and Mail. November 13, 1967. p. 34.
  4. ^ "CSL Past Champions" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  5. ^ Waring, Ed (December 21, 1966). "Semi-pro soccer: ECPSL decides to amalgamate with National". The Globe and Mail. p. 30.
  6. ^ Dineen, Patrick (June 16, 1967). "Amateur holds first-round lead in U.S. Open: Hellas bows to Roma 5-2 in NSL tilt". The Globe and Mail. p. 28.
  7. ^ Waring, Ed (January 10, 1966). "Amalgamation proposal rejected, Toronto City quits ECPSL: League can't prosper under present setup, says owner Stavro". The Globe and Mail. p. 23.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Soccer leagues join together in 10-team loop". The Globe and Mail. February 20, 1967. p. 21.
  9. ^ "Soccer leagues to merge form semi-pro outfit". Toronto Daily Star. December 21, 1966. p. 15.
  10. ^ a b c Szende, Andy (May 26, 1967). "Soccer needs an Eddie Shack". Toronto Daily Star. p. 16.
  11. ^ a b c Waring, Ed (June 21, 1967). "Roma's win protested by Hungaria". The Globe and Mail. p. 36.
  12. ^ "2,723 watch Falcons win in soccer (?)". The Globe and Mail. July 5, 1967. p. 23.
  13. ^ Waring, Ed (June 9, 1967). "$12,000-a-year pro helps Roma to victory in Ontario soccer league for $40 per game". The Globe and Mail. p. 34.
  14. ^ "Inter-Roma quits mad at $600 in fines". Toronto Daily Star. August 3, 1967. p. 16.
  15. ^ Waring, Ed (May 11, 1968). "Falcons' opener clouded by dispute". The Globe and Mail. p. 39.
  16. ^ Waring, Ed (July 10, 1967). "Glentoran's semi-pros hold haughty Hibs to 1-1 deadlock: Goal in last minute saves Toronto club from defeat". The Globe and Mail. p. 19.
  17. ^ Lovegrove, Don (22 April 1967). "Paterson Changes Primo Image". Hamilton Spectator. p. 14.
  18. ^ a b Campbell, Fran (27 April 1967). "Off the Record". Waterloo Region Record. p. 15.
  19. ^ "Home debut for Teutons". Windsor Star. May 27, 1967. p. 29.
  20. ^ a b "Teutonia locks up 4th spot". Windsor Star. October 2, 1967. p. 22.
  21. ^ "Teutonia shuts out Sudbury". Windsor Star. June 12, 1967. p. 22.
  22. ^ a b "Teutons open round-robin". Windsor Star. October 7, 1967. p. 29.
  23. ^ "Teutonia opens up, 6-0". Windsor Star. October 10, 1967. p. 30.
  24. ^ "Inter-Roma Won't Play". Hamilton Spectator. 17 October 1967. p. 15.
  25. ^ a b "Teutonia gains NSL final berth". Windsor Star. October 16, 1967. p. 23.
  26. ^ "Title stake for Teutons". Windsor Star. November 10, 1967. p. 26.
  27. ^ "Hand first home loss to Primos". Windsor Star. November 6, 1967. p. 24.
  28. ^ "Windsor is one up". Toronto Daily Star. November 6, 1967. p. 18.
  29. ^ "Teutons repeat, 1-0". Windsor Star. November 13, 1967. p. 23.