Canadian National Soccer League

Canadian National Soccer League
Founded1926
Folded1997
CountryCanada
ConfederationCONCACAF
Promotion toNone
Relegation toNone
Most championshipsPlay-off: Toronto Italia & Toronto Ulster United FC (8 titles)
Regular Season: Montréal Carsteel FC (11 titles)

The National Soccer League was a soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997.[1][2] Teams were primarily based in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The league was renamed to Canadian National Soccer League in 1993 following the folding of the Canadian Soccer League, and the accepting of the Winnipeg Fury, making the league more national. In the 1960s, the Canadian National Soccer League was one of four major leagues in Canadian soccer alongside the Pacific Coast League, the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and the Western Canada Soccer League.[3]

It was replaced by the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1998, after an agreement between the CNSL and the Ontario Soccer Association.[4]

NSL/CNSL champions

[edit]
Season Playoff champions Score Playoff runners-up Regular season champions Runners-up Cup
1926 Toronto Ulster United FC 5–1 /1-0 Montréal Maroons Toronto Ulster United FC Montréal Maroons NSL Cup:
Toronto Ulster United FC
1927 Not completed
1928 Montréal CNR 1–2 / 4–0 Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: National Breweries
Western: Hamilton Thistles
Eastern: Montreal CNR
Western: Toronto Scottish FC
1929 Montréal CNR 1–0 / 3–2 Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal CNR
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Hamilton Thistles
1930 Toronto Scottish FC 1–1 / 4–3 Montréal CNR Eastern: Montréal CNR
Western: Toronto Scottish FC
Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto CNR
1931 Toronto Scottish FC 2–1 / 2–2 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto Scottish FC
Eastern: Montreal CPR
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
1932 Toronto Ulster United FC 4–3 / 3–1 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
Eastern: Montréal CNR
Western: Hamilton City
1933 Toronto Ulster United FC 5–0 / 3–2 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto Scottish FC
Eastern: Emard St. Paul
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
1934 Toronto Ulster United FC 2–0 / 3–2 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
Eastern: Hamilton United
Western: Toronto British Consols
1935 Frood Mines 3–1 Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Aldred
Northern:Frood Mines
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
Eastern: Emard St. Paul
Northern:
Western: Toronto Scottish FC
1936 Montréal Carsteel FC 5–3 / 1–0 Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Northern:Falconbridge Falcons
Western: Hamilton Thistles
Eastern: Notre Dame de Grace
Northern:Frood Mines
Western: Toronto British Consols
1937 Toronto British Consols 1–3 / 5–1 Falconbridge Falcons Eastern: CNR Scottish
Northern:Falconbridge Falcons
Western: Toronto British Consols
Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Northern:Frood Mines
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
1938 Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital w/o Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
Eastern: Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital
Western: Toronto Maple Leafs
1939 Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital w/o Toronto British Consols Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
Eastern: Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital
Western: Toronto British Consols
1940 Montréal Carsteel FC 3–2 / 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto Maple Leafs
Eastern: Maisonneuve Rovers
Western: England United
1941 Toronto Ulster United FC 0–1 / 2–0 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto Maple Leafs
Eastern: Montréal Wings
Western: Toronto Ulster United FC
1942–46 Not played during World War II.
1947 Toronto Greenbacks Montréal Stelco Toronto Ulster United FC
1948 Montréal Carsteel FC 3–1 / 3–3 Hamilton Westinghouse Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Hamilton Westinghouse
Eastern: Canadair Falcons
Western:
1949 Toronto East End Canadians 7–1 / 4–1 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC
Western: Toronto East End Canadians
Eastern: Montréal Stelco
Western: Hamilton Westinghouse
1950 Hamilton Westinghouse 3–2 / 1–1 Montréal Canadian Falcons Eastern: Montréal Canadian Falcons
Western: Hamilton Westinghouse
Eastern: Westmount
Western: Toronto St. Andrews
1951 Toronto Ukraina 1–0 Toronto East End Canadians Toronto St. Andrews Toronto Ulster United FC Dominion Cup:
Toronto Ulster United FC
1952 Toronto Ulster United FC Toronto St. Andrews Toronto East End Canadians Toronto Hungaria Arnold Cup:
Toronto Ukraina
1953 Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ulster United FC
1954 Toronto Ulster United FC 2–1 / 0–1 / 6–0 Polish White Eagles Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ulster United FC
1955 Toronto Ulster United FC Polish White Eagles Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ulster United FC
1956 Polish White Eagles 2–1 / 2–2 Toronto Italia FC Polish White Eagles Toronto Italia FC
1957 Toronto Italia FC 1–0 / 1–1 / 1–2 / 2–0 Toronto Hungaria Toronto Italia FC Polish White Eagles
1958 Montréal Hungaria 2–2 / 2–2 Toronto Italia FC Montréal Hungaria Toronto Italia FC
1959 Toronto Italia FC 1–0 / 1–1 Montréal Cantalia FC Montréal Cantalia FC Toronto Italia FC
1960 Toronto Italia FC 2–2 / 0–0 / 4–2 Montréal Cantalia FC Toronto Italia FC Toronto Sparta
1961 Toronto Ukraina 1–0 / 1–0 Toronto Hungaria Toronto Roma FC Montréal Concordia
1962 Italian Virtus 2–0 / 2–3 Toronto Ukraina Olympia-Harmonie Toronto Ukraina
1963 Toronto Ukraina 2–0 / 3–2 Toronto Hakoah Italian Virtus Toronto Hakoah
1964 Toronto Ukraina 1–0 / 4–1 Toronto Abruzzi Toronto Ukraina Montréal Cantalia FC
1965 Toronto Hakoah 2–3 / 3–1 Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ukraina Toronto Hakoah
1966 Windsor Teutonia 1–1 / 1–0 Toronto Croatia Sudbury Italia Toronto Hellas
1967 Windsor Teutonia 3–1 / 1–0 Hamilton Primos Hamilton Primos Toronto Roma FC
1968 Sudbury Italia Toronto Hellas Sudbury Italia Toronto Hellas
1969 no play-off Toronto First Portuguese Toronto Hellas NSL Cup:
Toronto Italia
1970 Hamilton Croatia 3–0 Toronto Croatia Toronto Croatia Hamilton Croatia NSL Cup:
Toronto First Portuguese
1971 Toronto Croatia 1–0 Toronto First Portuguese Toronto Croatia Toronto First Portuguese Canadian Open Cup:
Toronto Croatia
NSL Cup:
Toronto First Portuguese
1972 Toronto Italia Serbian White Eagles Toronto Croatia Serbian White Eagles Canadian Open Cup:
Toronto Croatia
NSL Cup:
Toronto Croatia
1973 Toronto Hungaria 2–1 Toronto Croatia Toronto Croatia Serbian White Eagles Canadian Open Cup:
Toronto Croatia
NSL Cup:
Toronto Hungaria
1974 Toronto Croatia 1–0 Toronto Homer Serbian White Eagles Toronto Homer Canadian Open Cup:
Serbian White Eagles
NSL Cup:
Toronto Italia
1975 no play-off Toronto Italia Toronto First Portuguese Canadian Open Cup:
Toronto Italia
NSL Cup:
Toronto Croatia
1976 Toronto First Portuguese 2–0 / 2–1 Toronto Italia Toronto Italia Montréal Castors NSL Cup:
Toronto Panhellenic
1977 no play-off Montréal Castors Toronto Italia NSL Cup:
Toronto Panhellenic
1978 Toronto Falcons Hamilton Italo-Canadians Montréal Castors Toronto First Portuguese NSL Cup:
Toronto Falcons
1979 no play-off Toronto First Portuguese Toronto Falcons NSL Cup:
Toronto First Portuguese
1980 Toronto Panhellenic 1–0 St. Catharines Roma Toronto Falcons Toronto First Portuguese NSL Cup:
Toronto Italia
1981 Hamilton Steelers Toronto Italia Hamilton Steelers Toronto Panhellenic NSL Cup:
Hamilton Steelers
1982 Hamilton Steelers 2–1 / 1–1 Toronto Italia Toronto Italia Hamilton Steelers NSL Cup:
Toronto Italia
1983 Toronto Italia 0–2 / 2–0 (4–3 p.) Dinamo Latino Toronto Panhellenic Toronto Italia NSL Cup:
Toronto Italia
1984 Toronto Italia London Marconi Toronto Italia NSL Cup:
Toronto Italia
1985 Toronto Italia 1–1 / 1–0 Windsor Roma London Marconi Dinamo Latino NSL Cup:
Dinamo Latino
1986 Toronto Italia 1–0 Toronto Blizzard Toronto Blizzard Toronto Italia NSL Cup:
Toronto Blizzard
NSL Canadian Championship:
Toronto Blizzard
NSL Canada Cup:
Toronto Blizzard
1987 Toronto Italia 2–0 London Marconi Windsor Wheels Toronto Croatia NSL Cup:
Toronto Italia
NSL Canadian Championship:
Windsor Wheels
NSL Canada Cup:
Toronto Italia
1988 Toronto Croatia Toronto Italia Toronto Italia Toronto Panhellenic NSL Cup:
Toronto Croatia
NSL Canadian Championship:
Toronto Italia
NSL Canada Cup:
Corfinium de St-Léonard
1989 no play-off Toronto Italia Toronto Croatia NSL Cup:
Toronto Croatia
NSL Canadian Championship:
Toronto Italia
NSL Canada Cup:
Toronto Croatia
1990 no play-off Toronto First Portuguese Toronto Italia NSL Cup:
St. Catharines Roma
NSL Canadian Championship:
Toronto First Portuguese
1991 no play-off Toronto Italia Scarbourough International NSL Cup:
Toronto Argentina
NSL Canada Cup:
Toronto Argentina
1992 no play-off Toronto Croatia St. Catharines Roma NSL Cup:
Toronto Croatia
1993 St. Catharines Roma 0–0 / 1–0 Toronto Rockets Toronto Rockets Croatia de Montréal CNSL Cup:
Toronto Croatia
1994 Toronto Italia 0–1 / 3–1 St. Catharines Roma Toronto Italia St. Catharines Roma CNSL Cup:
St. Catharines Roma
1995 St. Catharines Wolves 1–1 / 2–1 Toronto Jets Toronto Jets St. Catharines Wolves CNSL Cup:
St. Catharines Wolves
1996 Toronto Italia 5–0 / 6–0 St. Catharines Wolves Toronto Italia St. Catharines Wolves CNSL Cup:
St. Catharines Wolves
1997 St. Catharines Wolves 0–0 / 4–3 Toronto Supra St. Catharines Wolves Toronto Croatia CNSL Cup:
Toronto Supra

thecnsl.com – Canadian National Soccer League / Update: 6 June 2022
RSSSF – Canadian National Soccer League / Update: 6 June 2022

Titles

[edit]
Team Playoff championships Regular season championships Total championships
Titles Years Titles Years
Toronto Italia (1972–96) 8 1972, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1996 9 1975, 1976, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1996 17
Toronto Ulster United FC 8 1926, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1941, 1952, 1954, 1955 7 1926, 1929w, 1932w, 1934w, 1935w, 1938w, 1939w 15
Montréal Carsteel FC 3 1936, 1940, 1948 11 1931e, 1932e, 1933e, 1934e, 1936e, 1938e, 1939e, 1940e, 1941e, 1948e, 1949e 14
Toronto Ukrainia 5 1951, 1953, 1961, 1963, 1964 5 1953, 1954, 1955, 1964, 1965 10
Toronto Croatia 3 1971, 1974, 1988 5 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1992 8
Toronto Italia FC (1953–68) 3 1957, 1959, 1960 2 1957, 1960 5
Toronto Scottish FC 2 1930, 1931 3 1930w, 1931w, 1933w 5
St. Catharines Roma / St. Catharines Wolves 3 1993, 1995, 1997 1 1997 4
Montréal CNR 2 1928, 1929 2 1929e, 1930e 4
Toronto First Portuguese 1 1976 3 1969, 1979, 1990 4
Hamilton Steelers 2 1981, 1982 1 1981 3
Hamilton Westinghouse (1948–55) 1 1950 2 1948w, 1950w 3
Toronto East End Canadians 1 1949 2 1949w, 1952 3
Sudbury Italia 1 1968 2 1966, 1968 3
Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital 2 1938, 1939 0 2
Windsor Teutonia 2 1966, 1967 0 2
Frood Mines 1 1935 1 1935n 2
Toronto British Consols 1 1937 1 1937w 2
Polish White Eagles 1 1956 1 1956 2
Montréal Hungaria 1 1958 1 1958 2
Italian Virtus 1 1962 1 1963 2
Toronto Falcons 1 1978 1 1980 2
Toronto Panhellenic 1 1980 1 1983 2
Hamilton Thistles 0 2 1928w, 1936w 2
Falconbridge Falcons 0 2 1936n, 1937n 2
Toronto Maple Leafs 0 2 1940w, 1941w 2
Montréal Castors 0 2 1977, 1978 2
Toronto Greenbacks 1 1947 0 1
Toronto Hakoah 1 1965 0 1
Hamilton Croatia 1 1970 0 1
Toronto Hungaria 1 1973 0 1
National Breweries 0 1 1928e 1
Montréal Aldred 0 1 1935e 1
CNR Scottish 0 1 1937e 1
Montréal Stelco 0 1 1947 1
Montréal Canadian Falcons 0 1 1950e 1
Toronto St. Andrews 0 1 1951 1
Montréal Cantalia FC 0 1 1959 1
Toronto Roma FC 0 1 1961 1
Olympia-Harmonie 0 1 1962 1
Hamilton Primos 0 1 1967 1
Serbian White Eagles 0 1 1974 1
London Marconi 0 1 1985 1
Toronto Blizzard 0 1 1986 1
Windsor Wheels 0 1 1987 1
Toronto Rockets 0 1 1993 1
Toronto Jets 0 1 1995 1

NSL/CNSL clubs

[edit]

Clubs are listed by name and year that a club by that name participated. Whether clubs by the same name were indeed the same club or not has not been made clear by the source used for compiling this list. Note as well that the same source does not include information for the Eastern Division of the league from the 1930s through to the 1950s, nor any information at all for the following seasons: 1968, 1969, from 1983 through 1992, and 1994. Moreover, the source provides only an incomplete list of teams for 1947 through 1949, and, for a few other seasons, not all team names in full.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jose, Colin. "The National Soccer League". Canadian Soccer History. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  2. ^ Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side – 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. pp. 114, 115.
  3. ^ "2018 Canada Soccer Records & Results". March 21, 2018.
  4. ^ "Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
[edit]