Canadian National Soccer League
The National Soccer League was a soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997.[1][2] Teams were primarily based in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The league was renamed to Canadian National Soccer League in 1993 following the folding of the Canadian Soccer League, and the accepting of the Winnipeg Fury, making the league more national. In the 1960s, the Canadian National Soccer League was one of four major leagues in Canadian soccer alongside the Pacific Coast League, the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and the Western Canada Soccer League.[3]
Founded | 1926 |
---|---|
Folded | 1997 |
Country | Canada |
Confederation | CONCACAF |
Promotion to | None |
Relegation to | None |
Most championships | Play-off: Toronto Italia & Toronto Ulster United FC (8 titles) Regular Season: Montréal Carsteel FC (11 titles) |
It was replaced by the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1998, after an agreement between the CNSL and the Ontario Soccer Association.[4]
NSL/CNSL champions
Season | Playoff champions | Score | Playoff runners-up | Regular season champions | Runners-up | Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1926 | Toronto Ulster United FC | 5–1 /1-0 | Montréal Maroons | Toronto Ulster United FC | Montréal Maroons | NSL Cup: Toronto Ulster United FC |
1927 | Not completed | |||||
1928 | Montréal CNR | 1–2 / 4–0 | Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: National Breweries Western: Hamilton Thistles | Eastern: Montreal CNR Western: Toronto Scottish FC | |
1929 | Montréal CNR | 1–0 / 3–2 | Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Montréal CNR Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Hamilton Thistles | |
1930 | Toronto Scottish FC | 1–1 / 4–3 | Montréal CNR | Eastern: Montréal CNR Western: Toronto Scottish FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto CNR | |
1931 | Toronto Scottish FC | 2–1 / 2–2 | Montréal Carsteel FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Scottish FC | Eastern: Montreal CPR Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | |
1932 | Toronto Ulster United FC | 4–3 / 3–1 | Montréal Carsteel FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Montréal CNR Western: Hamilton City | |
1933 | Toronto Ulster United FC | 5–0 / 3–2 | Montréal Carsteel FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Scottish FC | Eastern: Emard St. Paul Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | |
1934 | Toronto Ulster United FC | 2–0 / 3–2 | Montréal Carsteel FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Hamilton United Western: Toronto British Consols | |
1935 | Frood Mines | 3–1 | Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Montréal Aldred Northern:Frood Mines Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Emard St. Paul Northern: Western: Toronto Scottish FC | |
1936 | Montréal Carsteel FC | 5–3 / 1–0 | Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Northern:Falconbridge Falcons Western: Hamilton Thistles | Eastern: Notre Dame de Grace Northern:Frood Mines Western: Toronto British Consols | |
1937 | Toronto British Consols | 1–3 / 5–1 | Falconbridge Falcons | Eastern: CNR Scottish Northern:Falconbridge Falcons Western: Toronto British Consols | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Northern:Frood Mines Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | |
1938 | Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital | w/o | Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital Western: Toronto Maple Leafs | |
1939 | Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital | w/o | Toronto British Consols | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | Eastern: Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital Western: Toronto British Consols | |
1940 | Montréal Carsteel FC | 3–2 / 2–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Maple Leafs | Eastern: Maisonneuve Rovers Western: England United | |
1941 | Toronto Ulster United FC | 0–1 / 2–0 | Montréal Carsteel FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Maple Leafs | Eastern: Montréal Wings Western: Toronto Ulster United FC | |
1942–46 | Not played during World War II. | |||||
1947 | Toronto Greenbacks | Montréal Stelco | Toronto Ulster United FC | |||
1948 | Montréal Carsteel FC | 3–1 / 3–3 | Hamilton Westinghouse | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Hamilton Westinghouse | Eastern: Canadair Falcons Western: | |
1949 | Toronto East End Canadians | 7–1 / 4–1 | Montréal Carsteel FC | Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto East End Canadians | Eastern: Montréal Stelco Western: Hamilton Westinghouse | |
1950 | Hamilton Westinghouse | 3–2 / 1–1 | Montréal Canadian Falcons | Eastern: Montréal Canadian Falcons Western: Hamilton Westinghouse | Eastern: Westmount Western: Toronto St. Andrews | |
1951 | Toronto Ukraina | 1–0 | Toronto East End Canadians | Toronto St. Andrews | Toronto Ulster United FC | Dominion Cup: Toronto Ulster United FC |
1952 | Toronto Ulster United FC | Toronto St. Andrews | Toronto East End Canadians | Toronto Hungaria | Arnold Cup: Toronto Ukraina | |
1953 | Toronto Ukraina | Toronto Ukraina | Toronto Ulster United FC | |||
1954 | Toronto Ulster United FC | 2–1 / 0–1 / 6–0 | Polish White Eagles | Toronto Ukraina | Toronto Ulster United FC | |
1955 | Toronto Ulster United FC | Polish White Eagles | Toronto Ukraina | Toronto Ulster United FC | ||
1956 | Polish White Eagles | 2–1 / 2–2 | Toronto Italia FC | Polish White Eagles | Toronto Italia FC | |
1957 | Toronto Italia FC | 1–0 / 1–1 / 1–2 / 2–0 | Toronto Hungaria | Toronto Italia FC | Polish White Eagles | |
1958 | Montréal Hungaria | 2–2 / 2–2 | Toronto Italia FC | Montréal Hungaria | Toronto Italia FC | |
1959 | Toronto Italia FC | 1–0 / 1–1 | Montréal Cantalia FC | Montréal Cantalia FC | Toronto Italia FC | |
1960 | Toronto Italia FC | 2–2 / 0–0 / 4–2 | Montréal Cantalia FC | Toronto Italia FC | Toronto Sparta | |
1961 | Toronto Ukraina | 1–0 / 1–0 | Toronto Hungaria | Toronto Roma FC | Montréal Concordia | |
1962 | Italian Virtus | 2–0 / 2–3 | Toronto Ukraina | Olympia-Harmonie | Toronto Ukraina | |
1963 | Toronto Ukraina | 2–0 / 3–2 | Toronto Hakoah | Italian Virtus | Toronto Hakoah | |
1964 | Toronto Ukraina | 1–0 / 4–1 | Toronto Abruzzi | Toronto Ukraina | Montréal Cantalia FC | |
1965 | Toronto Hakoah | 2–3 / 3–1 | Toronto Ukraina | Toronto Ukraina | Toronto Hakoah | |
1966 | Windsor Teutonia | 1–1 / 1–0 | Toronto Croatia | Sudbury Italia | Toronto Hellas | |
1967 | Windsor Teutonia | 3–1 / 1–0 | Hamilton Primos | Hamilton Primos | Toronto Roma FC | |
1968 | Sudbury Italia | Toronto Hellas | Sudbury Italia | Toronto Hellas | ||
1969 | no play-off | Toronto First Portuguese | Toronto Hellas | NSL Cup: Toronto Italia | ||
1970 | Hamilton Croatia | 3–0 | Toronto Croatia | Toronto Croatia | Hamilton Croatia | NSL Cup: Toronto First Portuguese |
1971 | Toronto Croatia | 1–0 | Toronto First Portuguese | Toronto Croatia | Toronto First Portuguese | Canadian Open Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto First Portuguese |
1972 | Toronto Italia | Serbian White Eagles | Toronto Croatia | Serbian White Eagles | Canadian Open Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia | |
1973 | Toronto Hungaria | 2–1 | Toronto Croatia | Toronto Croatia | Serbian White Eagles | Canadian Open Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto Hungaria |
1974 | Toronto Croatia | 1–0 | Toronto Homer | Serbian White Eagles | Toronto Homer | Canadian Open Cup: Serbian White Eagles NSL Cup: Toronto Italia |
1975 | no play-off | Toronto Italia | Toronto First Portuguese | Canadian Open Cup: Toronto Italia NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia | ||
1976 | Toronto First Portuguese | 2–0 / 2–1 | Toronto Italia | Toronto Italia | Montréal Castors | NSL Cup: Toronto Panhellenic |
1977 | no play-off | Montréal Castors | Toronto Italia | NSL Cup: Toronto Panhellenic | ||
1978 | Toronto Falcons | Hamilton Italo-Canadians | Montréal Castors | Toronto First Portuguese | NSL Cup: Toronto Falcons | |
1979 | no play-off | Toronto First Portuguese | Toronto Falcons | NSL Cup: Toronto First Portuguese | ||
1980 | Toronto Panhellenic | 1–0 | St. Catharines Roma | Toronto Falcons | Toronto First Portuguese | NSL Cup: Toronto Italia |
1981 | Hamilton Steelers | Toronto Italia | Hamilton Steelers | Toronto Panhellenic | NSL Cup: Hamilton Steelers | |
1982 | Hamilton Steelers | 2–1 / 1–1 | Toronto Italia | Toronto Italia | Hamilton Steelers | NSL Cup: Toronto Italia |
1983 | Toronto Italia | 0–2 / 2–0 (4–3 p.) | Dinamo Latino | Toronto Panhellenic | Toronto Italia | NSL Cup: Toronto Italia |
1984 | Toronto Italia | London Marconi | Toronto Italia | NSL Cup: Toronto Italia | ||
1985 | Toronto Italia | 1–1 / 1–0 | Windsor Roma | London Marconi | Dinamo Latino | NSL Cup: Dinamo Latino |
1986 | Toronto Italia | 1–0 | Toronto Blizzard | Toronto Blizzard | Toronto Italia | NSL Cup: Toronto Blizzard NSL Canadian Championship: Toronto Blizzard NSL Canada Cup: Toronto Blizzard |
1987 | Toronto Italia | 2–0 | London Marconi | Windsor Wheels | Toronto Croatia | NSL Cup: Toronto Italia NSL Canadian Championship: Windsor Wheels NSL Canada Cup: Toronto Italia |
1988 | Toronto Croatia | Toronto Italia | Toronto Italia | Toronto Panhellenic | NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Canadian Championship: Toronto Italia NSL Canada Cup: Corfinium de St-Léonard | |
1989 | no play-off | Toronto Italia | Toronto Croatia | NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Canadian Championship: Toronto Italia NSL Canada Cup: Toronto Croatia | ||
1990 | no play-off | Toronto First Portuguese | Toronto Italia | NSL Cup: St. Catharines Roma NSL Canadian Championship: Toronto First Portuguese | ||
1991 | no play-off | Toronto Italia | Scarbourough International | NSL Cup: Toronto Argentina NSL Canada Cup: Toronto Argentina | ||
1992 | no play-off | Toronto Croatia | St. Catharines Roma | NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia | ||
1993 | St. Catharines Roma | 0–0 / 1–0 | Toronto Rockets | Toronto Rockets | Croatia de Montréal | CNSL Cup: Toronto Croatia |
1994 | Toronto Italia | 0–1 / 3–1 | St. Catharines Roma | Toronto Italia | St. Catharines Roma | CNSL Cup: St. Catharines Roma |
1995 | St. Catharines Wolves | 1–1 / 2–1 | Toronto Jets | Toronto Jets | St. Catharines Wolves | CNSL Cup: St. Catharines Wolves |
1996 | Toronto Italia | 5–0 / 6–0 | St. Catharines Wolves | Toronto Italia | St. Catharines Wolves | CNSL Cup: St. Catharines Wolves |
1997 | St. Catharines Wolves | 0–0 / 4–3 | Toronto Supra | St. Catharines Wolves | Toronto Croatia | CNSL Cup: Toronto Supra |
thecnsl.com – Canadian National Soccer League / Update: 6 June 2022
RSSSF – Canadian National Soccer League / Update: 6 June 2022
Titles
Team | Playoff championships | Regular season championships | Total championships | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titles | Years | Titles | Years | ||
Toronto Italia (1972–96) | 8 | 1972, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1996 | 9 | 1975, 1976, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1996 | 17 |
Toronto Ulster United FC | 8 | 1926, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1941, 1952, 1954, 1955 | 7 | 1926, 1929w, 1932w, 1934w, 1935w, 1938w, 1939w | 15 |
Montréal Carsteel FC | 3 | 1936, 1940, 1948 | 11 | 1931e, 1932e, 1933e, 1934e, 1936e, 1938e, 1939e, 1940e, 1941e, 1948e, 1949e | 14 |
Toronto Ukrainia | 5 | 1951, 1953, 1961, 1963, 1964 | 5 | 1953, 1954, 1955, 1964, 1965 | 10 |
Toronto Croatia | 3 | 1971, 1974, 1988 | 5 | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1992 | 8 |
Toronto Italia FC (1953–68) | 3 | 1957, 1959, 1960 | 2 | 1957, 1960 | 5 |
Toronto Scottish FC | 2 | 1930, 1931 | 3 | 1930w, 1931w, 1933w | 5 |
St. Catharines Roma / St. Catharines Wolves | 3 | 1993, 1995, 1997 | 1 | 1997 | 4 |
Montréal CNR | 2 | 1928, 1929 | 2 | 1929e, 1930e | 4 |
Toronto First Portuguese | 1 | 1976 | 3 | 1969, 1979, 1990 | 4 |
Hamilton Steelers | 2 | 1981, 1982 | 1 | 1981 | 3 |
Hamilton Westinghouse (1948–55) | 1 | 1950 | 2 | 1948w, 1950w | 3 |
Toronto East End Canadians | 1 | 1949 | 2 | 1949w, 1952 | 3 |
Sudbury Italia | 1 | 1968 | 2 | 1966, 1968 | 3 |
Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital | 2 | 1938, 1939 | 0 | 2 | |
Windsor Teutonia | 2 | 1966, 1967 | 0 | 2 | |
Frood Mines | 1 | 1935 | 1 | 1935n | 2 |
Toronto British Consols | 1 | 1937 | 1 | 1937w | 2 |
Polish White Eagles | 1 | 1956 | 1 | 1956 | 2 |
Montréal Hungaria | 1 | 1958 | 1 | 1958 | 2 |
Italian Virtus | 1 | 1962 | 1 | 1963 | 2 |
Toronto Falcons | 1 | 1978 | 1 | 1980 | 2 |
Toronto Panhellenic | 1 | 1980 | 1 | 1983 | 2 |
Hamilton Thistles | 0 | 2 | 1928w, 1936w | 2 | |
Falconbridge Falcons | 0 | 2 | 1936n, 1937n | 2 | |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 0 | 2 | 1940w, 1941w | 2 | |
Montréal Castors | 0 | 2 | 1977, 1978 | 2 | |
Toronto Greenbacks | 1 | 1947 | 0 | 1 | |
Toronto Hakoah | 1 | 1965 | 0 | 1 | |
Hamilton Croatia | 1 | 1970 | 0 | 1 | |
Toronto Hungaria | 1 | 1973 | 0 | 1 | |
National Breweries | 0 | 1 | 1928e | 1 | |
Montréal Aldred | 0 | 1 | 1935e | 1 | |
CNR Scottish | 0 | 1 | 1937e | 1 | |
Montréal Stelco | 0 | 1 | 1947 | 1 | |
Montréal Canadian Falcons | 0 | 1 | 1950e | 1 | |
Toronto St. Andrews | 0 | 1 | 1951 | 1 | |
Montréal Cantalia FC | 0 | 1 | 1959 | 1 | |
Toronto Roma FC | 0 | 1 | 1961 | 1 | |
Olympia-Harmonie | 0 | 1 | 1962 | 1 | |
Hamilton Primos | 0 | 1 | 1967 | 1 | |
Serbian White Eagles | 0 | 1 | 1974 | 1 | |
London Marconi | 0 | 1 | 1985 | 1 | |
Toronto Blizzard | 0 | 1 | 1986 | 1 | |
Windsor Wheels | 0 | 1 | 1987 | 1 | |
Toronto Rockets | 0 | 1 | 1993 | 1 | |
Toronto Jets | 0 | 1 | 1995 | 1 |
NSL/CNSL clubs
Clubs are listed by name and year that a club by that name participated. Whether clubs by the same name were indeed the same club or not has not been made clear by the source used for compiling this list. Note as well that the same source does not include information for the Eastern Division of the league from the 1930s through to the 1950s, nor any information at all for the following seasons: 1968, 1969, from 1983 through 1992, and 1994. Moreover, the source provides only an incomplete list of teams for 1947 through 1949, and, for a few other seasons, not all team names in full.
- Bradford Marshlanders (1977–1982 – ?)
- Brampton Kicks (? – 1993, ?1994)
- Brantford City (1931–1934)
- Brantford Cockshutts (1928–1930; 1948)
- Buffalo Blazers (1976–1978)
- Canadian National Railway (1929–1932)
- Corinthians (1928, 1929)
- Detroit Besa (1981)
- Dynamo Latino (?–1985)
- Fergus (1948)
- General Motors (1928)
- Guelph Taylor-Forbes (1928)
- Hamilton Apollos (?1968, ?1969, 1970–1972)
- Hamilton Austins (1951)
- Hamilton British Imperials (1948)
- Hamilton City (1927–1940; 1950; 1973–1975)
- Hamilton Cougars (1959)
- Hamilton Croatia (?1968, ?1969, 1970–1976)
- Hamilton Homer (?1968, ?1969, 1970; 1973–1975)
- Hamilton Hungaria (1958)
- Hamilton Italo-Canadians (1958–1960; 1972–1979)
- Hamilton Primos (1967, ?1968, ?1969)
- Hamilton Steelers (1981, 1982)
- Hamilton Stelcos (1939, 1940; 1947)
- Hamilton Thistles (1927–1938)
- Hamilton Westinghouse (1948–1955)
- Hamilton White Eagles (1993, 1995)
- Kenwoods (1941)
- Kitchener Concordia (?1968, ?1969, 1970, ?1971)
- Kitchener Kickers (1965, 1966, ?1967, ?1968, ?1969)
- Kitchener Maple Leafs (?1971, 1972)
- Kosova Albanians (1997)
- Liptons (1941)
- London City (1973–1997)
- London Marconi (1984–1989)
- London CNR (1928)
- London German Canadians (?1968, ?1969, 1970–1972)
- McKinnons (1929)
- Montreal Alouettes (1959)
- Montreal Cantalia (1958–1960; 1964)
- Montreal Carsteel (1927–1948 –?)
- Montreal Castors (1975–1978)
- Montreal CNR (1928–?)
- Montreal Concordia (1960, 1961)
- Montreal Hungaria (1959, 1960)
- Montreal Maroons (1927)
- Montreal Sparta (1958)
- Montreal Stars (1979)
- Montreal Ukrainians (1959, 1960; 1964)
- North York Rockets (1993)
- North York Talons (1996, 1997)
- Oakville CW (1996)
- Oshawa Italia (1962)
- Ottawa Sons of Italy (?1968, ?1969, 1970, ?1971)
- Ottawa Tigers (?1971, 1972–1978)
- Quebec Selects (1974)
- Queen City (1962)
- Richmond Hill Kick (?–1993, ?1994)
- Scarborough Astros (1994?, 1995, 1996)
- Serbian White Eagles (1970–1980)
- Soccer Portugais du Quebec (1970)
- St. Andrews/Earlscourt (1955)
- St. Catharines Heidelberg (1971–1978)
- St. Catharines (Roma) Wolves (1978–1997) – (St. Catharines Roma 1978–1994; St. Catharines Wolves 1995; St. Catharines Roma Wolves 1996, 1997)
- Sudbury (1971)
- Sudbury Cyclones (1976–1980)
- Sudbury Italia (1965–1967)
- Toronto Abruzzi (1964, 1965)
- Toronto Azurri (1965)
- Toronto Blizzard (1986)
- Toronto British Consols (1934–1939)
- Toronto Canadian Scots (1957, 1958)
- Toronto Canadians (1979)
- Toronto City (1948)
- Toronto CNR (1928)
- Toronto Congasco (1933)
- Toronto Croatia (1963–1982 –?–1993; 1997)
- Toronto Dimano (1982–?)
- Toronto East End Canadians (1949–1956)
- Toronto England United (1935–1941)
- Toronto Estonia (1962, 1963)
- Toronto Falcons (1976–1982 –?)
- Toronto First Portuguese (1965–1981)
- Toronto Greenbacks (1947)
- Toronto Hakoah (1954; 1964, 1965)
- Toronto Hellas (1965–1967, ?1968, ?1969, 1970)
- Toronto Hungaria (1952–1975)
- Toronto Inter-Roma (1967, ?1968, ?1969)
- Toronto Italia (1953–1960)
- Toronto Italian Virtus (1962, 1963)
- Toronto Jets (1995)
- Toronto Macedonia (1974–1977)
- Toronto Macedonians (1962)
- Toronto Malta United (1957, 1958)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (1928–1941)
- Toronto Maroons (1934)
- Toronto Melita (1973–1975)
- Toronto Mississauga Hungaria (1977, 1978)
- Toronto Oakwoods (1950)
- Toronto Olympia (1952–1965)
- Toronto Panhellenic (1976–1982 –?)
- Toronto Polish White Eagles (1952–1961)
- Toronto Polonia (1964; 1973)
- Toronto Scottish (1927–1941; 1950–1952)
- Toronto Serbians (1979)
- Toronto Sparta (1956–1960)
- Toronto Supra (1996, 1997)
- Toronto St. Andrews (1950)
- Toronto Transit Commission (1928–1934)
- Toronto Tridents (1954–1960)
- Toronto Ukrainia (1977–1981)
- Toronto Ukrainians (1950–1967, ?1968, ?1969)
- Toronto Ulster United (1927–1941; 1947–1961)
- Toronto White Eagles (1967, ?1968, ?1969)
- Le Tricolore de Montréal (1955?)
- Welland (1948)
- Willy Overland (1928)
- Windsor Rovers (1927)
- Windsor Stars (1975–1978)
- Windsor Teutonia (?1965, 1966, 1967–?1968, ?1969)
- Windsor Wheels (?–1993, ?1994)
- Winnipeg Fury (1993)
- Woodbridge (?–1993, ?1994)
See also
References
- Jose, Colin. "The National Soccer League". Canadian Soccer History. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
- Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side – 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. pp. 114, 115.
- "2018 Canada Soccer Records & Results". March 21, 2018.
- "Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved September 5, 2021.