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1976 Season

National Soccer League

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1975 National Soccer League1977 National Soccer League

President: Joe Piccininni

Referees

Steve Sohuyko

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

Joe Piccininni was re-elected as president of the National Soccer League.

The league operated two divisions, a First Division and a Second Division.

Each club was restricted to a maximum of five imports from other countries.

Before the season started the Hamilton City franchise was transferred to Welland for a nominal price. The new club was called Welland Lions Croatia.

Toronto Italia won the league championship.

First Portuguese defeated Toronto Italia in the playoff championship.

Division 1 final standings

GPWLTGFGAPts
Toronto Italia2717 3 7531341
Montreal Castors2716 6 5471837
Panhellenic2715 5 7461937
First Portuguese2714 8 5512733
Windsor Stars271110 6473128
London City2710 9 8444028
Serbian White Eagles271011 6384826
Macedonia27 814 5334921
Hamilton Croatia27 420 3266811
Welland Lions27 322 21888 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

GPWLTGFGAPts
Hamilton Italo-Canadians2119 1 1501139
Toronto Croatia2114 4 3482731
Toronto Polonia2111 8 2382124
Buffalo Blazers21 910 2375020
Ottawa Tigers21 911 1364019
Sudbury Cyclones21 710 4273218
Toronto Falcons21 415 2184710
St. Catharines Heidelberg21 216 31642 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 22, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Italia 0
First Portuguese 2 (Joao Moniz 2)

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
Match report

October XX, 1976 Toronto
Toronto Italia
Catanzaro (Italy)

NSL Results

DateHomeVisitors
25/04/1976Serbian White EaglesToronto Italia
27/04/1976Hamilton CroatiaFirst Portuguese
28/04/1976Toronto CroatiaHamilton Italo-Canadians
29/04/1976Toronto MacedoniaLondon City
30/04/1976Serbian White Eagles 1Toronto Italia 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Dom Schiraldi85:00 Cseare Leite
Assist:Denny DenkovskiJimmy Cannovan
Goalkeepers:
01/05/1976Toronto Polonia 3Toronto Falcons 0
Stadium:
Goalscorers:Mike Szulc
Steve Hudson
Dave Riddell
01/05/1976Hamilton Italo-Canadians 4Buffalo Blazers 1
Stadium:
Goalscorers:20:00 Mike Johnstone80:00 John Priest
35:00 Bob Kirk
40:00 Tom Malloy
75:00 Edwardo Constantino
Goalkeepers:Ardo Perri
Ciro Rispoli
Coaches:Jackie Thoms
01/05/1976Panhellenic 1Montreal Castors 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Fernando Barbosa
Goalkeepers:
Stadium:
Stadium:
05/05/1976St Catharines Heidelberg 3Toronto Falcons 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Charlie CareyKaz Golen
Charlie Carey
Ziggy Wiebe
Goalkeepers:
08/05/1976Toronto Polonia 1Toronto Croatia 2
Stadium:
Goalscorers:Steve HudsonNick Repic
Derek Stanton
Goalkeepers:
08/05/1976Buffalo Blazers 0Sudbury Cyclones 0
Stadium:
12/05/1976St Catharines Heidelberg 0Toronto Polonia 0
Stadium:Heidelberg Park
Goalkeepers:Henning Bruchmann SOWalt Zembrzuski SO
Coaches:Alec Crawley
12/05/1976
13/05/1976Toronto Falcons 0Toronto Croatia 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Nick Repic
Goalkeepers:
14/05/1976London City 0Panhellenic 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalkeepers:Dieter Wolter SOTony Dallas SO
17/05/1977Toronto Italia 3Welland Lions Croatia 1
Stadium:York Stadium
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Mario NarcisoMick Leonard
Mario Narciso
Cesar Leite
Goalkeepers:
19/05/1976Toronto Croatia 2Toronto Polonia 1
Stadium:Lamport Stadium
Goalscorers:Nick RepicDave Riddell
Robert Balen
Goalkeepers:
19/05/1976
Stadium:
Stadium:
Stadium:
Goalscorers:
Stadium:
Stadium:
22/05/1976Ottawa Tigers 0Toronto Falcons 1
Stadium:Ottawa
Attendance:
Goalscorers:44:00 Gabriel Cortellucci
Goalkeepers:Victor Petroni SO
29/05/1976Ottawa Tigers 3Sudbury Cyclones 1
Stadium:Mooney’s Bay
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Nino Flamini (2nd)Lawrie Inglis
Jean Robert Lacossade
Nino Flamini (3rd)
Goalkeepers:Paul JacquesVictor Pessot
Stadium:
Stadium:
04/06/1976Leading goalscorersGoals
Tom Molloy3
Kaz Golen3
Nick Repic3
Nino Flamini3
Stadium:
05/06/1976St Catharines Heidelberg 1Ottawa Tigers 2
Stadium:Heidelberg Park
Goalscorers:Paul DillonBarry Friend
Paul Walker
Goalkeepers:Henning BruchmannPaul Jacques
07/06/1976Toronto Italia 1Serbian White Eagles 0
Stadium:York Stadium
Attendance:6500
Goalscorer:78:00 Peter Roe
Assist:Jose Testas
Goalkeepers:Jack Brand SO
Coaches:Artur RodriguesDustkom Stepanovic
Notes:Altafini debut
08/06/1976
Stadium:
08/06/1976Hamilton Italo-Canadians 1Toronto Polonia 0
Stadium:Ivor Wynne Stadium
Attendance:
Goalscorers:70:00 Mike Johnstone
Goalkeepers:
Notes:2nd Div
17/06/1976PoloniaHamilton Italo-Canadians
18/06/1976London CityFirst Portuguese
19/06/1976Montreal Castors 3Welland Lions Croatia 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:
Goalkeepers:
19/06/1976Serbian White Eagles 1Toronto Macedonia 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:45:00 Mike Bakic??:00 Lambe Arnaudov
Goalkeepers:
W-L-T:
19/06/1976Ottawa Tigers 2Sudbury Cyclones 1
Stadium:Mooneys Bay
Attendance:
Goalscorers:03:00 Marino De Bellis??:00 Felix Bazzul
55:00 Nino Flamini
Goalkeepers:Paul Jacques SO (1st)
20/06/1976Panhellenic 0Windsor Stars 1
Stadium:Lamport Stadium
Attendance:2561
Goalscorers:60:00 Neil Stewart
Assist: Pedro DaSilva
W-L-T
20/06/1976Hamilton Croatia 0Toronto Italia 3
Stadium:Ivor Wynne Stadium
Attendance:2107
Goalscorers:Cesar Leite//Peter Roe
Jose Altafini
Tibor Gemeri
Goalkeepers:
20/06/1976Montreal CastorsWelland Lions Croatia
23/06/1976St Catharines Heidelberg 1Toronto Croatia 2
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Nat CalabraseNick Repic
David Martin
Goalkeepers:
Notes:2nd Div
23/06/1976Hamilton Italo-Canadians 2Toronto Falcons 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:
Goalkeepers
23/06/1976Toronto Macedonia 5Hamilton Croatia 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Lambe Arnaudov
Lambe Arnaudov
Dragi Najdenovski
Dragi Najdenovski
Skender Aidinov
Goalkeepers:
23/06/1976Toronto Italia 2London City 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Jose Testas
Peter Roe
Goalkeepers:
23/06/1976
25/06/1976
25/06/1976
26/06/1976Ottawa Tigers 2St Catharines Heidelberg 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Paul Walker
Marino DeBellis
Goalkeepers:Paul Jacques SO
Stadium:
28/06/1976
Stadium:
Stadium:
Stadium:
Goalkeepers:
07/07/1976Hamilton Italo-Canadians 3Toronto Croatia 1
Stadium:Brian Timmis Stadium
Attendance:
Goalscorers:
Goalkeepers:
08/07/1976Toronto Falcons 0Toronto Polonia 1
Stadium:
Goalscorers:83:00 Rick Lowther
Goalkeepers:
10/07/1976Montreal Castors 0London City 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Barry Brown
Goalkeepers:
10/07/1976Ottawa Tigers 3Toronto Falcons 2
Stadium:Mooneys Bay
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Jean-Robert LacossadeStan Machon
Jean-Robert LacossadeJosef Baduro
Barry Friend
Goalkeepers:Paul Jacques
10/07/1976Toronto Italia 4Windsor Stars 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Jose AltafiniPedro Da Silva
Jose Altafini
John Fahy
Victor Petrelli
Goalkeepers:
10/07/1976Panhellenic 2Toronto Macedonia 0
Stadium:
Attendance:5000
Goalscorers:Manolis Rakitioglzou
Totis Filakouris
Goalkeepers:
11/07/1976Sudbury Cyclones 0Hamilton Italo-Canadians 2
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Dan Laurie
Lou Caruso
Goalkeepers:Ardo Perri SO
11/07/1976
11/07/1976
13/07/1976Toronto Macedonia 2Serbian White Eagles 4
Stadium:Lamport Stadium
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Mirko Apostolovski20:00 Saban Romanovic
Skender AidinovSaban Romanovic
Mike Bakic
Mike Bakic
Goalkeepers:
W-L-T4-5-34-3-4
16/07/1976Toronto Falcons 1Hamilton Italo-Canadians 3
Stadium:
Goalscorers:Josef BoduroValdi Greco
Valdi Greco
Dan Laurie
Stadium:
Stadium:
Stadium:
17/07/1976Sudbury Cyclones 1Toronto Polonia 0
Stadium:
Goalscorers:George Krauss
Goalkeepers:
Coaches:
17/07/1976Buffalo Blazers 3Ottawa Tigers 0
Stadium:
Goalscorers:
Goalkeepers:
17/07/1976
Stadium:
18/07/1976
19/07/1976
23/07/1976London City
24/07/1976Windsor Stars 1Montreal Castors 3
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Victor BaptistaFranco Gallina
Franco Gallina
Depadua Lima
Goalkeepers:
24/07/1976
24/07/1976
24/07/1976
24/07/1976
24/07/1976Toronto Macedonia 2Serbian White Eagles 4
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Slave JankulovskiSaban Romanovic
Lambe AranauovSaban Romanovic
Louis Bolea
Louis Bolea
30/07/1976London CityToronto Italia
31/07/1976
31/07/1976
31/07/1976Toronto Falcons 0Sudbury Cyclones 2
Stadium:
Goalscorers:
Goalkeepers:
Notes:2nd Div
01/08/1976Toronto Italia 1Montreal Castors 0
Stadium:York Stadium
Attendance:2571
Goalscorer:Mario Achilleos
Assist:Bob Gemert
Goalkeepers:Tom Smith
01/08/1976Toronto PoloniaOttawa Tigers
01/08/1976
01/08/1976First Portuguese 0Toronto Macedonia 1
Stadium:Lamport Stadium
Attendance:1109
Goalscorers:
Goalkeepers:
03/08/1976Toronto Croatia 2Toronto Falcons 0
Stadium:
Goalscorers:Derek Stanton
David Martin
05/08/1976Panhellenic 2Serbian White Eagles 2
Stadium:Lamport Stadium
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Araquem DeMeloMike Bakic
Manolis RakitzoglouSaban Romanovic
06/08/1976London City 5Toronto Macedonia 3
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Bill BlairSkender Aidinov
Steve BreachSkender Aidinov
Paul JacksonNikola Hristovski
Graham Sawyer
Julio Rodriguez
Goalkeepers:
07/08/1976St Catharines Heidelberg 0Sudbury Cyclones 0
Stadium:Heidelberg Park
Goalkeepers:Ross Winfield SOVic Pessot
10/08/1976Toronto Falcons 1St Catharines Heidelberg 0
Stadium:Lamport Stadium
Goalscorers:22:00 Stan Machon
Goalkeepers:
11/08/1976
11/08/1976
14/08/1976Hamilton Croatia 2Toronto Macedonia 3
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Kolja PilicPance Topalovski
Gordon CuthbertPance Topalovski
Slave Jankulovski
Goalkeepers:
14/08/1976
14/08/1976Panhellenic 1Serbian White Eagles 0
Stadium:
Attendance:2500
Goalscorers:Angelo DosSantos
Goalkeepers:
15/08/1976Toronto Italia 8Welland Lions Croatia 0
Stadium:York Stadium
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Jose Testas
Jose Testas
Jose Testas
Jose Testas
Jose Testas
Pat Ercoli
Pat Ercoli
Tim Burns
Goalkeepers:
17/08/1976Serbian White Eagles 6First Portuguese 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Mario Narciso
Mario Narciso
Mario Narciso
Joao Moniz
Joao Moniz
Joao Moniz
Goalkeepers:
18/08/1976Toronto Macedonia 0Toronto Italia 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Pat Ercoli
Goalkeepers:
21/08/1976Sudbury Cyclones 2Ottawa Tigers 4
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Ferrucio DeniMick Jones
George KraussNino Flamini
Jean Robert Lacossade
Mike Allina
Goalkeepers:
24/08/1976Hamilton Italo-Canadians 2St Catharines Heidelberg 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:
Goalkeepers:
Notes:2nd Div
27/08/1976Serbian White Eagles 2London City 5
Stadium:Lamport Stadium
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Louis BoleaBarry Brown
Momcilo StojanovichBarry Brown
Bill Blair
John Hold
Julio Rodriguez
Goalkeepers:
Notes:Stojanovic loan
from Lancers
28/08/1976Toronto Croatia 1Ottawa Tigers 4
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Ivan MrsicNino Flamini
Nino Flamini
Nino Flamini (10th)
Ilyasa Sykes
Goalkeepers:
02/09/1976
Stadium:
Goalscorers:
Goalkeepers:
04/09/1976
04/09/1976
06/09/1976Toronto Italia 5Serbian White Eagles 0
Stadium:York Stadium
Attendance:1702
Goalscorers:Jose Testas
Jose Testas
Jose Testas
Pat Ercoli
Tim Burns
Goalkeepers:Jack Brand SO
W-L-T15-2-6
06/09/1976Panhellenic 3First Portuguese 1
Stadium:Lamport Stadium
Attendance:2310
Goalscorers:Araquem DemeloJoao Moniz
Araquem Demelo
Manolis Rakintzoglou
W-L-T12-4-6
09/09/1976First Portuguese 1Toronto Macedonia 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Armando CostaSlave Jankulovski
Gaolkeepers:
12/09/1976Toronto Falcons 0Ottawa Tigers 3
Stadium:
Goalscorers:18:00 Jean Robert Lacossade
??:00 Mike Allina
??:00 Nino Flamini (11th)
Goalkeepers:Paul Jacques SO
15/09/1976St Catharines Heidelberg 1Ottawa Tigers 1
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:10:00 Steve Jenkinson30:00 Nino Flamini (12th)
Goalkeepers:
16/09/1976Serbian White Eagles 4Hamilton Croatia 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Vlado Palijan
Vlado Palijan
Vlado Palijan
Chris Slataric
Goalkeepers:Igor Lisica
18/09/1976
18/09/1976Windsor Stars 2Toronto Macedonia 0
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Pedro Da Silva
Victor Batista
Goalkeepers:Stan Puskas SO
Shots:172
19/09/1976
22/09/1976St Catharines Heidelberg 1Toronto Croatia 3
Stadium:
Attendance:
Goalscorers:Nick Repic
Nick Repic
Goalkeepers:
Notes:2nd Division
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