National Soccer League
Season1964
Champions
← 1963
1965 →

The 1964 National Soccer League season was the forty-first season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in early May and concluded in October with Toronto Ukrainia successfully defending their NSL Championship by defeating Toronto Abruzzi.[1][2] Ukrainia also won the league double by finishing first in the standings.[3][4]

The league returned once more into the province of Quebec with the return of both Montreal Cantalia, and Montreal Ukrainians.[5] As the league was entangled in a fierce rivalry with the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League (ECPSL) it also faced further competition in the Greater Toronto Area where several of their former clubs formed a breakaway league known as the Ontario Soccer League (OSL).[6]

Overview

The creation of the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League (ECPSL) in 1961 had a direct financial effect on the National Soccer League (NSL).[7] 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.[8][9] Their drop in the gate earnings at Stanley Park Stadium contributed to their failure in fully paying their tax and loan payments.[8] Fortunately, the Toronto Board of Control granted the NSL a grace period by extending the deadline another year.[10][11]

The membership in the league increased to eight teams with the league expanding out of Ontario, and into Quebec.[12] Two new editions were based in Toronto with Toronto Abruzzi, and Toronto Polonia being granted franchises.[12] The Quebec representatives were returnees Montreal Cantalia, and Montreal Ukraina, where both clubs previously departed to compete in the ECPSL.[13] Montreal's return to the NSL circuit caused further tension with the ECPSL as both Montreal clubs had scheduled their home matches on the same night as their ECPSL counterpart Montreal Italica.[14] In response, Italica appealed to the Quebec Soccer Federation with the governing body ordering the schedule to be remodified.[15] The situation was settled with Montreal Ukraina transferring their home venue to Jarry Park Stadium and scheduling their matches on a different date.[16]

The league also faced opposition on the home front when Italian Virtus, Toronto Estonia, and Toronto Hakoah splintered from the NSL to form the Ontario Soccer League.[6] Throughout the season relations between the NSL and ECPSL improved with both parties entering into negotiations about a potential merger.[17][18] Ultimately in early October the ECPSL ownership rejected the proposal and continued the rivalry for another two seasons.[19]

The regular season finished with a controversial ending with Montreal Cantalia originally clinching the title but had several points revoked due to Montreal fielding an ineligible player.[20][21] After their deduction in points Cantalia finished as runners-up to Toronto Ukraina with Montreal protesting the reversal by opting out of the playoffs.[21][22]

Teams

Team City Stadium Manager
Montreal Cantalia Montreal, Quebec Delorimier Stadium[23] Sebastiano Buzzin[24]
Montreal Ukraina Montreal, Quebec Jarry Park Stadium[16]
Toronto Abruzzi Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[11] Alberto De Rosa[25]
Toronto Croatia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[11] Tony Ercegovic[26]
Toronto Hungaria Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[11]
Toronto Olympia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[11] Jimmy Lauder[27]
Toronto Polonia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[11]
Toronto Ukrainia Toronto, Ontario Stanley Park Stadium[11] Oleksandr Skotsen[28]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Toronto Ukrainians (C, O) 21 12 7 2 58 28 +30 31 Qualification for Playoffs
2 Montreal Cantalia[note 1] 21 12 3 6 56 33 +23 27
3 Toronto Olympia 21 8 7 6 46 25 +21 23 Qualification for Playoffs
4 Toronto Abruzzi 21 9 5 7 23 21 +2 23
5 Toronto Hungaria 21 9 5 7 42 40 +2 23
6 Toronto Polonia 21 7 3 11 49 56 −7 17
7 Toronto Croatia 21 4 3 14 21 46 −25 11
8 Montreal Ukrainians 21 4 3 14 21 49 −28 11
Updated to match(es) played on September 20, 1964. Source: NSL Standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
  1. ↑ Montreal withdrew from playoffs

Playoffs

Finals

October 4, 1964 Toronto Ukrainia 1–0 Toronto Abruzzi Toronto, Ontario
[[29] Report] Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium
October 12, 1964 Toronto Abruzzi 1–4 Toronto Ukrainia Toronto, Ontario
[[29] Report] Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium

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. pp. 116, 172.
  2. ↑ Zwadiuk, Oleh (October 17, 1964). "Sports Scene - Toronto Ukraina Wins Double" (PDF). The Ukrainian Weekly. p. 3. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ "CSL Past Champions" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  4. ↑ Waring, Ed (September 16, 1964). "Soccer Champs Cost Boss $9,000". The Globe and Mail. p. 25.
  5. ↑ "NSL Head Says Loop to Operate At Stanley Park". The Globe and Mail. February 11, 1964. p. 29.
  6. 1 2 Waring, Ed (June 13, 1964). "Increased Prices... . ..Lack of Stars Hurt: Bust at the Box Office, Soccer Slump Seribus". The Globe and Mail. p. 25.
  7. ↑ Kernaghan, Jim (June 30, 1965). "Soccer loop fights grim survival battle". Toronto Daily Star. p. 17.
  8. 1 2 Rimstead, Paul (May 6, 1964). "In struggling National loop - Loss of ball catastrophe". Toronto Daily Star. p. 9.
  9. ↑ Waring, Ed (April 29, 1965). "Soccer - National Expands". The Globe and Mail. p. 32.
  10. ↑ Waring, Ed (April 17, 1964). "National League...: . ..at Stanley Park Soccer Will Remain Despite Debt". The Globe and Mail. p. 43.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Waring, Ed (May 1, 1964). "Soccer Coaching Post: Ex-Star in Erin, Feeney Is Signed By St. Andrew's". The Globe and Mail. p. 39.
  12. 1 2 Gillespie, Norman (April 1, 1964). "Ukraina Joins Soccer League". Montreal Gazette. p. 20.
  13. ↑ Gillespie, Norman (March 7, 1964). "National Soccer League Resumes Operation Here". Montreal Gazette. p. 40.
  14. ↑ Rimstead, Paul (May 1, 1964). "Soccer war looms in Montreal". Toronto Daily Star. p. 12.
  15. ↑ Campbell, Doug (May 8, 1964). "Soccer Schedule Rejected". Montreal Star. p. 48.
  16. 1 2 Gillespie, Norman (May 22, 1964). "Ukraina Rejoins League Plays Polonia Sunday". Montreal Gazette. p. 27.
  17. ↑ Campbell, Doug (August 21, 1964). "Italians Planning for '65". Montreal Star. p. 22.
  18. ↑ Campbell, Doug (August 1, 1964). "Soccer Leagues Feuding". Montreal Star. p. 15.
  19. ↑ Waring, Ed (October 8, 1964). "Pro Soccer Leaders Spurn Union With National Loop". The Globe and Mail. p. 29.
  20. ↑ Gillespie, Norman (September 16, 1964). "Playoff Plans Rapped by Cantalia President". Montreal Gazette. p. 38.
  21. 1 2 Waring, Ed (September 16, 1964). "Soccer Champs Cost Boss $9,000 - NSL Playoffs". The Globe and Mail. p. 25.
  22. ↑ Campbell, Doug (October 31, 1964). "Soccer Honors to Cori". Montreal Star. p. 16.
  23. ↑ Campbell, Doug (April 14, 1964). "Cantalia Planning Program". Montreal Star. p. 58.
  24. ↑ "Soccer Clubs Bolster for Toronto Invasion". Montreal Star. June 20, 1964. p. 17.
  25. ↑ "2019 Toronto Azzurri Wall of Fame" (PDF). torontoazzurri.com. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-05. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  26. ↑ Campbell, Doug (July 13, 1964). "Brizeula Nets Pair to Spark Cantalia". Montreal Star. p. 42.
  27. ↑ "Olympia Wins 1-0 Over Croatia". The Globe and Mail. May 6, 1964. p. 28.
  28. ↑ Campbell, Doug (June 22, 1964). "Buzzin Sparks Cantalia Win Over Toronto Ukraina Side". Montreal Star. p. 42.
  29. 1 2 "1964 Season". National Soccer League. 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
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