President: Joe Piccininni
Preview
Joe Piccininni was re-elected as president of the National Soccer League.
The league also operated with a Second Division.
Referees
Referee-in-chief: Steve Sohuyko
Referees: Munif Dakac, Ilija Matos, Bill Bouwmeester (Chatham, Ontario) and Phil Clarke (London, Ontario).
NSL Division 1
Review of the season
The season kicked off on Wednesday April 29, 1976, in Hamilton. Hamilton Croatia scored two goals in the second half to tie First Portuguese 2-2. Goalscorers for Hamilton Croatia were Stejpan Loparic and Slobodan Hrstic. Goalscorers for First Portuguese were Armando Costa and Jim McLean.
Windsor Stars opened their season in Hamilton by beating Hamilton Croatia on Sunday May 2. The game was watched by 1,000 fans at Brian Timmis Stadium. Joe Vitale and Manfred Michel scored the goals for Windsor Stars.
Toronto Italia won the league championship.
First Portuguese defeated Toronto Italia in the playoff championship.
Standings
National Soccer League Playoffs
Playoff finals
October ??, 1976
First Portuguese 2
Toronto Italia 0
October 4, 1976 Lamport Stadium, Toronto
First Portuguese 2 (Armando Costa 2)
Toronto Italia 1 (John Fahy)
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.
Polonia imported a number of second division players from Poland. They also hired former Polish international player Pawel Kawolski as their head coach.
Division 2 Final Standings
Leading goalscorers (as of August 9, 1976)
1. Emanuel Kulu (Buffalo Blazers) 10 goals
Promotion-relegation play-offs
October 6, 1976 at Hamilton
Hamilton Croatia 2 (David Dodds 2)
Toronto Croatia 2 (Ivan Mrsic, Derek Stanton)
October 10, 1976 at Toronto
Toronto Croatia 1 (Alan Harvey)
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
Ottawa Tigers 1
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
July ??, 1976
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
First Portuguese qualified for second round
Second round
July 11, 1976 Lamport Stadium, Toronto
Toronto Polonia
Windsor Stars
July ??, 1976
Windsor Stars
Toronto Polonia
Windsor Stars qualified for semi-finals
July ??, 1976
Toronto Italia
Toronto Croatia
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
Panhellenic
August 19, 1976
Serbian White Eagles 0
Panhellenic 3
Panhellenic qualified for semi-finals
Semi-finals
September ??, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Italia
First Portuguese
September ??, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Italia
First Portuguese
XX 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
Panhellenic won the NSL Cup
Exhibition games
April 10, 1976 Toronto
Attendance: 400
Canadian Olympic Team 0
Toronto Italia 1 (Mario Narciso)
June 5, 1976 Welland
Attendance: 1,200
Welland Lions 0
Canadian National Team 1 (Bob Bolitho)
June 6, 1976 Toronto
Attendance:
First Portuguese 0
Canadian National Team 1 (John Connors)
September ??, 1976 Toronto
Attendance:
Panhellenic 3
Bermuda Bluebirds 2
September ??, 1976 London
Attendance:
London City 2
Bermuda Bluebirds 2
September 8, 1976 Toronto
Attendance:
Windsor Stars 3
Bermuda Bluebirds 1
October XX, 1976 Toronto
Attendance:
Toronto Italia
Catanzaro (Italy)
