# 1972 National Soccer League season

The 1972 National Soccer League season was the forty-ninth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in late April and concluded in October with the Canadian Open Cup final. Toronto Croatia successfully defended its regular-season title for the third consecutive season with an undefeated regular season streak. Toronto would also defeat the Serbian White Eagles for the NSL Cup. The Croatians would secure a treble by winning the Open Canada Cup against Vancouver Columbus. In the playoffs, Toronto Italia defeated the Serbian White Eagles for the NSL Championship.

## Overview

The ownership of the National Soccer League (NSL) was in discussions with the British Columbia Premier League to form a western division, but the project failed to materialize. The membership in the NSL increased to 15 clubs with the return of Toronto Italia, and the acceptance of the Hamilton Italo-Canadians which competed in the Inter-City Soccer League. The return of Toronto Italia further intensified the rivalry between the NSL and the Toronto Metros of the North American Soccer League as the Italian diaspora played a decisive factor in the potential increase in match attendance. Another point of contention between the Metros and the NSL was a dispute stemming from a potential player raid on the NSL's youth division. The Hamilton club was granted an NSL franchise and had credentials in the Inter-City Soccer League. After a change in ownership the Kitchener-based club was renamed Maple Leafs.
The league became once more centered in Southern Ontario as it lost its presence in Northern Ontario with the departure of Sudbury City. The NSL began to experience an increase in match attendance since its initial decrease and stagnation in the mid-1960s.

## Teams

| Team | City | Stadium | Manager |
| Hamilton Apollos | Hamilton, Ontario | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Otto Negovetic |
| Hamilton Croatia | Hamilton, Ontario | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Joe Dundovic |
| Hamilton Italo-Canadians | Hamilton, Ontario | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Fiorigi Pagliuso |
| London German Canadians | London, Ontario | Cove Road Stadium | |
| Ottawa Tigers | Ottawa, Ontario | St. Joseph's High School | Manuel Ramalho |
| Serbian White Eagles | Toronto, Ontario | Stanley Park Stadium | Dragan Popović |
| Kitchener Maple Leafs | Kitchener, Ontario | Centennial Stadium | Nobert Englisch |
| St. Catharines Heidelberg | St. Catharines, Ontario | Club Heidelberg Field | Eddie Brown |
| Toronto Croatia | Toronto, Ontario | Stanley Park Stadium | Vladimir Šimunić |
| Toronto First Portuguese | Toronto, Ontario | CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium | Luis Vilas |
| Toronto Hellas | Toronto, Ontario | Stanley Park Stadium | |
| Toronto Hungaria | Toronto, Ontario | Stanley Park Stadium | |
| Toronto Italia | Toronto, Ontario | CNE Stadium Stanley Park Stadium | Luis Dabo |
| Toronto Olympia | Toronto, Ontario | Stanley Park Stadium | |
| Toronto Ukrainians | Toronto, Ontario | Stanley Park Stadium | |

### Coaching changes

| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
| Toronto Croatia | Alan Harvey | End of caretaker spell | May 1, 1972 | | Gordan Irović | May 4, 1972 |
| Hamilton Apollos | Andy Pollack | Resigned | May 17, 1972 | | Otto Negovetic | May 17, 1972 |
| Toronto Croatia | Gordan Irović | Replaced | May, 1972 | 1st in May | Vladimir Šimunić | May 29, 1972 |
| Kitchener Maple Leafs | Hans Koebli | Replaced | July 15, 1972 | | Nobert Englisch | July 15, 1972 |

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Toronto Croatia (C) | 28 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 83 | 10 | +73 | 49 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 2 | Serbian White Eagles | 28 | 20 | 3 | 5 | 69 | 20 | +49 | 43 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 3 | Toronto Italia (O) | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 76 | 14 | +62 | 42 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 4 | Hamilton Croatia | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 75 | 30 | +45 | 42 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 5 | Toronto First Portuguese | 28 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 72 | 32 | +40 | 38 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 6 | Toronto Ukrainians | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 56 | 42 | +14 | 32 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 7 | Hamilton Italo-Canadians | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 45 | 52 | −7 | 32 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 8 | St. Catharines Heidelberg | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 36 | 30 | +6 | 30 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 9 | London German Canadians | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 49 | 45 | +4 | 29 | |
| 10 | Hamilton Apollos | 28 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 23 | |
| 11 | Toronto Hungaria | 28 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 45 | 53 | −8 | 20 | |
| 12 | Ottawa Tigers | 28 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 36 | 56 | −20 | 18 | |
| 13 | Toronto Olympia | 28 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 30 | 98 | −68 | 9 | |
| 14 | Kitchener Maple Leafs | 28 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 26 | 102 | −76 | 9 | |
| 15 | Toronto Hellas | 28 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 25 | 122 | −97 | 6 | |

## Canadian Open Cup

The Canadian Open Cup was a tournament organized by the National Soccer League in 1971 where the NSL champion would face the Challenge Trophy winners to determine the best team throughout the country. Toronto Croatia was the NSL representative for the second consecutive year while their opponents were the British Columbia Premier League champions Vancouver Columbus. New Westminster Blues was the 1972 Challenge Trophy winner but declined the invitation which allowed Vancouver Columbus to compete for the title.