The 1969 National Soccer League season was the forty-sixth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began on May 4, 1969, with Toronto Italia facing Toronto Hellas at Stanley Park Stadium where the match drew 6000 supporters.[1] The match signaled an increase in attendance as the previous time the NSL drew a similar amount was three seasons ago.[1] The championship was contested throughout the regular season as the league canceled the playoff format.[2] Toronto First Portuguese would claim the NSL Championship by finishing first in the standings in October.[3][4] The NSL Cup was won by Toronto Italia after defeating Toronto Hungaria.[5][6]
The league expanded into the London, and Oakville regions with the acceptance of Arsenal Portuguese Oakville, and London German Canadians.[10] London previously competed in the London and District Soccer League, and the sole departure from the league was Windsor Teutonia.[13] The season produced a surge in match attendance as the league began to recover from their initial decrease in the mid-1960s due to competition from the ECPSL, and the North American Soccer League.[11][10][14] Changes also occurred at the executive level with Joe Piccininni succeeding Bill Boytchuk as league president.[13][15]
The NSL was involved in a dispute with the Ontario Soccer Football Association (OSFA) over refusing to issue bond payments to the OSFA.[16] The governing body in response suspended the league, but the NSL continued operations and ultimately consented to paying the bond.[16][17][18] Though the OSFA received their payment the suspension remained in effect as another point of contention revolved around player registration and lack of disciplinary actions regarding players.[19] The NSL in response canceled their payments and continued operating as an outlaw league.[18] Shortly after both parties settled their dispute over a meeting.[20]
Updated to match(es) played on September 30, 1969. Source: [30][note 1] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all fourteen teams took part. The tournament would conclude in a final match for the Cup.
^ abWaring, Ed (May 5, 1969). "Italia Hellas play to goalless tie in NSL season opener: 6,000 swarm to Stanley Park, 200 storm gate, aet in free". The Globe and Mail. p. 23.
^ abcdefghijkDineen, Patrick (April 22, 1969). "Minor soccer booms in Toronto despite failure of 2 professional leagues". The Globe and Mail. p. 34.
^"CSL Past Champions"(PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^"Festive air in park as Ports win pennant". The Globe and Mail. October 10, 1969. p. 28.
^ abWaring, Ed (October 27, 1969). "Italia defeats Hungaria 2-1 to win National League Cup". The Globe and Mail. p. 22.
^Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 117.
^Campbell, Doug (10 May 1969). "Italia faces Inter". Montreal Star. p. 20.
^ abKernaghan, Jim (May 5, 1969). "Soccer off to a fine start". Toronto Daily Star. p. 19.
^Waring, Ed (October 11, 1968). "Peters to make decision Nov. 1 whether Falcons will quit NASL". The Globe and Mail. p. 28.
^ abcdefKernaghan, Jim (May 2, 1969). "Veteran soccer league gets big chance". Toronto Daily Star. p. 23.
^ abWaring, Ed (May 2, 1969). "Four more teams join soccer oop". The Globe and Mail. p. 29.
^Waring, Ed (May 1, 1964). "Soccer Coaching Post: Ex-Star in Erin, Feeney Is Signed By St. Andrew's - NSL Opens Sunday". The Globe and Mail. p. 39.
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