1973 National Soccer League
League president: Joe Piccininni
League secretary: Ivan Habus
Referees
Referee-in-chief: Steve Sohuyko
Referees included Emerson Mathurin and Bill Divorski.
Review of the season
The National Soccer League operated with seventeen clubs. The NSL again became an inter-provincial league by adding a club from Montreal. The new Montreal Cantalia club joined the league, previous versions of the Cantalia club had been members of the NSL in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Other new clubs in the 1973 season were London City, Montreal Cantalia and K.S. Polonia Toronto. London City had bought the NSL franchise rights from the London German-Canadians.
In January 1973 Hamilton Apollo decided to change their name to Hamilton City.
Ottawa Tigers where suspended from the National Soccer League on August 21, 1973.
Toronto Croatia won the league championship.
Toronto Hungaria won the playoff championship by beating Toronto Croatia in the final on October 19, 1973. A crowd of 2,110 watched Allan Callender and Tibor Molnar score for Hungaria at Stanley Park. Aleja Solak replied for Croatia.
Final Standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
| Toronto Croatia | 30 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 71 | 23 | 48 |
| Serbian White Eagles | 30 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 66 | 21 | 45 |
| First Portuguese | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 52 | 33 | 42 |
| Toronto Hungaria | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 68 | 35 | 41 |
| Toronto Italia | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 55 | 37 | 37 |
| Homer | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 58 | 35 | 36 |
| London City | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 43 | 33 |
| St Catharines Heidelberg | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 37 | 39 | 31 |
| Hamilton Croatia | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 55 | 53 | 29 |
| Melita | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 37 | 45 | 26 |
| Toronto Ukraina | 30 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 45 | 48 | 23 |
| Hamilton City | 30 | 8 | 15 | 7 | 39 | 58 | 23 |
| Montreal Cantalia | 30 | 8 | 15 | 7 | 39 | 58 | 23 |
| Hamilton Italo-Canadians | 30 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 64 | 17 |
| Srbija Kitchener | 30 | 4 | 21 | 5 | 29 | 77 | 13 |
| Toronto Polonia | 30 | 5 | 22 | 3 | 30 | 83 | 13 |
| Leading goalscorers: | Goals |
| 1. John Fahy (Toronto Hungaria) | 24 |
| 1. Keith Summers (Toronto Ukraina) | 24 |
| Leading goalkeepers: | Shutouts |
| 1. Blagoje Tamindzic (Serbian White Eagles) |
National Soccer League Playoffs
October 13, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Referee: Bill Divorski
Attendance: 871
Toronto Croatia 2 (Mirko Basic 2)
Toronto Italia 1 (Carlos Jorge)
Toronto Croatia qualified for the semi-finals
October 14, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Attendance: 1112
Referee: John Highet
Serbian White Eagles 2 (Momcilo Stojanovic 2)
Toronto Homer 1 (Peter Testepasis)
Serbian White Eagles qualified for the semi-finals
October 14, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Referee:
Attendance:
First Portuguese 4
London City 1
First Portuguese qualified for the semi-finals
October 15, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Referee:
Attendance:
Toronto Hungaria 2 (Allan Callender, John Fahy)
St. Catharines Heidelberg 1 (Danny McIntosh)
Toronto Hungaria qualified for the semi-finals
Semi-finals
October 16, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Referee: Bob Hughes
Attendance: 1500
Toronto Croatia 2 (Branko Trtanj, Alija Solak)
First Portuguese 1 (Emilio Hernandez)
Toronto Croatia qualified for play-off final
October 17, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Serbian White Eagles 1 (Momcilo Stojanovic)
Toronto Hungaria 2 (John Fahy 2)
Toronto Hungaria qualified for play-off final
Play-off final
October 19, 1973 at Stanley Park, Toronto
Attendance: 2,313
Toronto Hungaria 2 (Allan Callender, Tibor Molnar)
Toronto Croatia 1 (Alija Solak)
Toronto Hungaria won the NSL Championship
National Soccer League Cup (Incomplete)
First round
Second round
September 3, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Attendance: 1,085
Serbian White Eagles 2 (Momcilo Stojanovic 2)
St. Catherines Heidelberg 1 (???)
Serbian White Eagles advanced to the next round.
Quarter-finals
August 20, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Attendance: 411
Toronto Croatia 3
Hamilton Croatia 0
Toronto Croatia advanced to the semi-finals
Toronto Hungaria advanced to the semi-finals
Serbian White Eagles advanced to the semi-finals
XXX advanced to the semi-finals
Semi-finals
Toronto Hungaria qualified for final
October 5, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Serbian White Eagles
Toronto Croatia
Toronto Croatia qualified for final
NSL Cup Final
October 21, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Toronto Hungaria 3
Toronto Croatia 1
* Game cancelled with 30 minutes remaining due to a riot by fans.
Toronto Hungaria won the NSL Cup
Canadian Open Championship
October 28, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Attendance: 1103
Toronto Croatia 3 (Goran Peric 3)
West Indies United 1 (Clarence Prendes)
Toronto Croatia won the Canadian Open Championship
Exhibition games
May 23, 1973 C.N.E. Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 13,281
Canada Selects 0
Arsenal 1
June 12, 1973 Lansdowne Park, Ottawa
Ottawa All-Stars 1
Belenenses 4
Match report
June 16, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
First Portuguese 0
Belenenses 2
Match report
July 18, 1973 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 13,334
A. S. Italia-Toronto Metros 2
Italian National Army 1
August 15, 1973 Toronto
Toronto Croatia 0
Vitória de Setúbal 1
Match report