1961 National Soccer League
President: Walter Freer
Vice-president: Aldo Cecchi, Montreal
Directors: Charlie Jamieson, Toronto and M. Michalofsky, Toronto
Secretary-manager: Frank Thirkettle
Review of the season
The annual general meeting was held in Toronto on Saturday January 14, 1961. Walter Freer was re-elected as president of the league. Montreal Ukraina and Toronto Tridents were voted out of the league. As the two clubs had finished bottom of the league they had to re-apply for admission to the league and this was unsuccesful for both clubs. In a step to get away from being labelled an Italian club the Hamilton Italo-Canadians informed the league that they would change their name to the Hamilton Steelers. Toronto Sparta were also granted the right to a name change as an Italian group had purchased the club from Czech interests the previous season. The new name was to be Toronto Roma. The Hamilton club also suggested that the Toronto clubs should share the gate receipts for the matches in Toronto. This matter was tabled until the annual meeting was to be convened in Montreal on January 28.
The season opened on Sunday April 23 with Toronto Hungaria defeating Toronto Olympia 6-2 in front of 4,000 fans at Stanley Park.
Montreal Concordia also played in the International Soccer League that was organised by Bill Cox. The club was coached by Skender Perolli. The club won the Canadian Challenge Trophy for the second time in their history when they defeated Vancouver Firefighters in the final.
Concordia’s roster for the Canadian Challenge final was goalkeeper Emilio Svich; fullbacks Hector Lopez and Gabrielle DeToni; half-backs Charlie Horvath, Hector Marinaro and captain Tommy Barrett; forwards Steve Stancik, Hector Dadderio, Joao Jorge, Olivio Lacerda, Tito Maule, Jose Sanchez, Humberto Gambaro and Arpad Kiraly.
Toronto Roma won the league championship on Tuesday September 26 when they beat Concordia 4-1 in the final league game of the season. Concordia declined to take part in the play-offs as its foreign players were about to leave.
Toronto Ukraina captured its fourth National Soccer League title by beating Toronto Hungaria in the Labatts Cup finals. Ukraina won the best-of-three final in two straight games.
After the season Toronto Roma joined the ECPSL. The Toronto White Eagles applied to join the ECPSL, the application was accepted on the condition that the White Eagles operated out of Buffalo. The Polish club officials reluctently accepted this.
Final standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
| Toronto Roma | 24 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 79 | 24 | 41 |
| Montreal Concordia | 24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 90 | 36 | 36 |
| White Eagles | 24 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 53 | 51 | 26 |
| Olympia-Harmonie | 24 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 57 | 64 | 22 |
| Toronto Ukraina | 24 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 45 | 67 | 19 |
| Toronto Hungaria | 24 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 37 | 63 | 17 |
| Ulster United | 24 | 2 | 19 | 3 | 28 | 84 | 7 |
| Leading goalscorers: | Goals |
| 1. Olivio Lacerda (Montreal Concordia) | 34 |
| 2. Olinto Rubini (Toronto Roma) | 20 |
National Soccer League Play-offs
Play-offs (Round-robin series)
October 4, 1961 Toronto
Toronto White Eagles 0
Toronto Ukraina 2
October 5, 1961 Toronto
Toronto Hungaria 3
Toronto Roma 0
October 8, 1961 Toronto
Toronto White Eagles 2
Toronto Ukraina 3
October 9, 1961 Toronto
Toronto Hungaria 4
Olympia Harmonie 2
Labatts Cup Finals
October ??, 1961 Toronto
Toronto Ukraina 1
Toronto Hungaria 0
October 22, 1961 Toronto
Attendance: 1,871
Toronto Ukraina 1
Toronto Hungaria 0
Exhibition game
July 13, 1961 Stanley Park, Toronto
Attendance:
National Soccer League All-Stars 3
Hapoel Petach-Tikva 1
Other Leagues and Cups
1961 Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League
President: Harold Ballard, Toronto
First vice-president: John Longworth, Hamilton
Second vice-president: John Parkinson, Toronto
Secretary: Bill Simpson, Toronto
Treasurer: Al Agnelli, Toronto
Directors: Duncan Beattie, Hamilton Steelers; Pete Bosa, Toronto Italia; Steve Stavro, Toronto City; Aldo Cecchi, Montreal Cantalia
1961 Results (incomplete)
May 14, 1961 Delorimier Stadium, Montreal
Attendance:
Montreal Cantalia 1
Hamilton Steelers 2
May 20, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 16,509
Toronto Italia 3
Toronto City 2
May 30, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance:
Toronto City 1
Toronto Italia 0
June 7, 1961 Lansdowne Park, Ottawa
Attendance:
Montreal Cantalia
Stade de Reims (France)
Sunday June 11, 1961 Delorimier Stadium, Montreal
Attendance:
Montreal Cantalia 2
Toronto City 2
Saturday June 24, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance:
Toronto City 2
Stade de Reims (France)
Standings as of June 24
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
| Toronto City | |||||||
| Hamilton Steelers | |||||||
| Montreal Cantalia | |||||||
| Toronto Italia |
Leading goalscorers as of June 24
| Goals | |
| Jackie Mudie (Toronto City) | |
| Peter Short | |
Sunday June 25, 1961 Civic Stadium, Hamilton
Attendance:
Hamilton Steelers
Toronto City
July 5, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 7,786
Toronto City 1
Toronto City 2
July 12, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 4,612
Toronto City 2
Montreal Cantalia 1
Final standings
Toronto City won the regular season league championship based on goal average over Montreal Cantalia.
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
| Toronto City | 24 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 45 | 41 | 25 |
| Montreal Cantalia | 24 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 47 | 44 | 25 |
| Hamilton Steelers | 24 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 45 | 50 | 24 |
| Toronto Italia | 24 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 43 | 45 | 22 |
| Leading goalscorers: | Goals |
| 1. Peter Smethurst (Hamilton Steelers) | 16 |
President’s Cup
September 30, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 5,000
Toronto Italia 1
Montreal Cantalia 1
October 8, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 5,435
Toronto Italia 1
Montreal Cantalia 2
October 9, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Montreal Cantalia 3
Toronto Italia 0
Montreal Cantalia won the President’s Cup
Exhibition games
June 7, 1961 Lansdowne Park, Ottawa
Attendance: 3,568
Montreal Cantalia 3
Stade de Reims (France) 5
* Taped coverage of the game was shown later that night on CJOH
June 11, 1961 Hamilton
Attendance: 4,000
Hamilton Steelers 1
Stade de Reims (France) 8
June 14, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 5,000
Birmingham City 2
Stade Reims 1
June 18, 1961 Ottawa
Attendance:
Referee:
Ottawa & District All-Stars 1
Montreal Cantalia 6
June 21, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance:
Toronto Italia 0
Stade de Reims (France) 9
June 22, 1961 Delorimier Stadium, Montreal
Attendance: 3,600
Montreal Cantalia 1
Stade de Reims (France) 4
June 24, 1961 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance:
Toronto City 2
Stade de Reims (France)
1961 International Soccer League
Montreal Concordia in the 1961 International Soccer League:
Montreal Concordia vs.
June 6, 1961: Montreal Concordia vs. Kilmarnock (Scotland)
June 15, 1961: Montreal Concordia vs. Bangu (Brazil)
Montreal Concordia vs.
1961 Ontario Cup
District qualifiers
Windsor District
Final
Windsor Caboto won the 1961 Ontario Cup
