The 1978 National Soccer League season was the fifty-fifth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May 1978 and concluded in late September 1978 with the Toronto Falcons defeating Hamilton Italo-Canadians for the NSL Cup. The regular-season title and NSL Championship were successfully defended by the Montreal Castors by finishing first in the First Division. The Second Division title was won by St. Catharines Roma by finishing first in the standings.
The NSL was operative in Northern Ontario and Quebec and had a franchise in Upstate New York in the United States. The season also marked the final time the league employed the promotion and relegation system, as the Second Division was dissolved the following year.
Overview The membership in the First Division increased to 11 teams with Buffalo Blazers, Ottawa Tigers, and Toronto Falcons receiving promotions. Ottawa was defeated in the previous season's promotion and relegation match series by Toronto Croatia, but was still granted promotion to the First Division. The departing clubs were Toronto Macedonia, and the Serbian White Eagles were inactive for the season. Toronto Macedonia attempted to sell their franchise rights to Montreal Stars, but the move was declined by the league ownership.
A league meeting occurred in early September where the league ownership decided to eliminate the playoff format and conclude the season early after the completion of the NSL Cup tournament. The league champions, Montreal Castors, decided to withdraw from the competition, while the Windsor Stars forfeited after protesting the league's decision to change their opponent. The Second Division consisted of 7 teams with the Toronto Ukrainians returning to the NSL after a two-year absence. The Montreal Stars were absent for the season but returned for the 1979 season. Further changes occurred at the administrative level with John Fischer succeeding Joe Piccininni as the league's president.
Teams TeamCityStadiumManagerBradford MarshlandersBradford, OntarioBradford High SchoolDave ReidBuffalo BlazersBuffalo, New York Niagara Falls, New YorkWar Memorial StadiumHyde Park StadiumRoberto LonardoHamilton Italo-CanadiansHamilton, OntarioIvor Wynne StadiumFrank DonlaveyLondon CityLondon, OntarioCove Road StadiumGraham SawyerMississauga Hungaria Mississauga, OntarioMontreal CastorsMontreal, QuebecComplexe sportif Claude-RobillardTony IammatteoOttawa TigersOttawa, OntarioLansdowne ParkTommy HendersonSudbury CyclonesSudbury, OntarioQueen's Athletic FieldJim ThomsonSt. Catharines HeidelbergSt. Catharines, OntarioSt. Catharines RomaSt. Catharines, OntarioClub Roma StadiumToronto CroatiaEtobicoke, OntarioCentennial Park StadiumBruno PilašToronto FalconsToronto, OntarioLamport StadiumWacław SąsiadekToronto First PortugueseToronto, OntarioLamport StadiumAssis ViolaToronto ItaliaYork, OntarioYork StadiumFiorigi PagliusoToronto PanhellenicToronto, OntarioLamport StadiumToronto PoloniaToronto, OntarioLamport StadiumToronto UkrainiansEtobicoke, OntarioCentennial Park StadiumWindsor StarsWindsor, OntarioWindsor StadiumPedro Da Silva
Coaching changes TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointment Buffalo BlazersSam Buscarinoresigned 11th in June Roberto LonardoJune, 1978
Standings
First Division
Second Division
References
External links RSSSF CNSL page thecnsl.com - 1978 season