1976 National Soccer League Media Guide
National Soccer League
President: Joe Piccininni
Preview
Joe Piccininni was re-elected as president of the National Soccer League.
The league operated two divisions, a First Division and a Second Division.
Referees
Referee-in-chief: Steve Sohuyko
Referees included: Munif Dakac, Ilija Matos, Bill Bouwmeester (Chatham, Ontario) and Phil Clarke (London, Ontario).
NSL Division 1
Review of the season
Toronto Italia won the league championship.
First Portuguese defeated Toronto Italia in the playoff championship.
Division 1 final standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
| Toronto Italia | 27 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 53 | 13 | 41 |
| Montreal Castors | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 47 | 18 | 37 |
| Panhellenic | 27 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 46 | 19 | 37 |
| First Portuguese | 27 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 51 | 27 | 33 |
| Windsor Stars | 27 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 47 | 31 | 28 |
| London City | 27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 40 | 28 |
| Serbian White Eagles | 27 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 38 | 48 | 26 |
| Macedonia | 27 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 33 | 49 | 21 |
| Hamilton Croatia | 27 | 4 | 20 | 3 | 26 | 68 | 11 |
| Welland Lions | 27 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 18 | 88 | 8 |
National Soccer League Playoffs
Playoff finals
October , 1976 Lamport Stadium, Toronto
First Portuguese 2
Toronto Italia 0
October 4, 1976 Lamport Stadium, Toronto
First Portuguese 2
Toronto Italia 1
First Portuguese won the 1976 NSL Playoff championship
NSL Division 2
Review of the season
Hamilton Italo-Canadians went through a 15 game winning streak to win the second division championship.
Division 2 Final Standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
| Hamilton Italo-Canadians | 21 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 11 | 39 |
| Toronto Croatia | 21 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 48 | 27 | 31 |
| Toronto Polonia | 21 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 38 | 21 | 24 |
| Buffalo Blazers | 21 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 37 | 50 | 20 |
| Ottawa Tigers | 21 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 36 | 40 | 19 |
| Sudbury Cyclones | 21 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 27 | 32 | 18 |
| Toronto Falcons | 21 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 18 | 47 | 10 |
| St. Catharines Heidelberg | 21 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 16 | 42 | 7 |
Leading goalscorer:
1. Emanuel Kulu (Buffalo Blazers) 21 goals
Promotion-relegation play-offs
October 6, 1976 at Hamilton
Hamilton Croatia 2
Toronto Croatia 2
October 10, 1976 at Toronto
Toronto Croatia 1
Hamilton Croatia 0
National Soccer League Cup
First round
June 13, 1976 Mooney’s Bay, Ottawa
Ottawa Tigers 0
Toronto Italia 0
July 3, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Italia 2 (Pat Ercoli 3:00; Victor Petrella 20:00)
Ottawa Tigers 1 (Ilyasa Sykes)
Toronto Italia won total-goals series 2-1 and qualified for second round
June ??, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Polonia 0
Hamilton Croatia 0
July 4, 1976 Hamilton
Hamilton Croatia 0
Toronto Polonia 1
Toronto Polonia won total-goals series 1-0 and qualified for second round
June ??, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Croatia 3
Sudbury Cyclones 0
July 4, 1976 Sudbury
Sudbury Cyclones 0
Toronto Croatia 1
Toronto Croatia won total-goals series 4-0 and qualified for second round
June ??, 1976 Windsor
Windsor Stars 0
St. Catharines Heidelberg Nationals 0
July 4, 1976 St. Catharines
St. Catharines Heidelberg Nationals 0
Windsor Stars 1
Windsor Stars won total-goals series 1-0 and qualified for second round
June 11, 1976 Lackawanna Stadium, Buffalo, New York
Buffalo Blazers 0
Welland Lions 2
July ??, 1976
Welland Lions 5
Buffalo Blazers 2
Welland Lions won total-goals series 7-2 and qualified for second round
June 12, 1976 Montreal
Montreal Castors 0
London City 3
July 3, 1976 London
London City 1
Montreal Castors 3
London City won total-goals series 4-3 and qualified for second round
Panhellenic qualified for second round
July 1, 1976 Toronto
First Portuguese 3 (Mike Boorman, Eraldo Barros, ???)
Toronto Falcons 0
First Portuguese qualified for second round
Second round
July 11, 1976 Lamport Stadium, Toronto
Toronto Polonia 1 (John Riddell)
Windsor Stars 1 (Manfred Michel)
July ??, 1976
Windsor Stars
Toronto Polonia
Windsor Stars qualified for semi-finals
July ??, 1976
Toronto Italia 4
Toronto Croatia 1
July ??, 1976
Toronto Italia
Toronto Croatia
Toronto Italia qualified for semi-finals
July ??, 1976
London City
First Portuguese
July ??, 1976
London City
First Portuguese
First Portuguese qualified for semi-finals
XX, 1976
Serbian White Eagles 0
Panhellenic 2
August 19, 1976 Lamport Stadium, Toronto
Serbian White Eagles 0
Panhellenic 3 (Rakitzoglouis 3)
Panhellenic qualified for semi-finals
Semi-finals
September ??, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Italia
First Portuguese
October 4, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Italia 1
First Portuguese 2
First Portuguese qualified for final
September 21, 1976 Windsor Stadium, Windsor
Windsor Stars 1
Panhellenic 1
September 29, 1976 Toronto
Panhellenic 5
Windsor Stars 1
Panhellenic won total-goals series 6-2 and qualified for the final
Final
October 7, 1976 Lamport Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 3,000
First Portuguese 1 (Eraldo Barros)
Panhellenic 0
October 10, 1976 Lamport Stadium, Toronto
Attendance:
First Portuguese 2
Panhellenic 3
Panhellenic won the NSL Cup
Exhibition games
April 10, 1976 Toronto
Canadian Olympic Team 0
Toronto Italia 1
June 5, 1976 Welland
Welland Lions 0
Canadian National Team 1 (Bob Bolitho)
June 6, 1976 Toronto
First Portuguese 0
Canadian National Team 1
September 2, 1976 Toronto
Panhellenic 3
Bermuda Bluebirds 2
September ??, 1976 London
London City 2
Bermuda Bluebirds 2
September 8, 1976 Windsor Stadium, Windsor, Ontario
Windsor Stars 3
Bermuda Bluebirds 1
Read about the match here
October XX, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Italia
Catanzaro (Italy)