Drillers81 Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the ill-fated and short-lived Canadian Professional Soccer League. I have spent the better part of last winter's dark nights researching news articles on google to patch together the story of this league in hopes of developing a book to commemorate this league that seems to have faded into the mists of time. If any members have stories or recollection of this league that they are willing to permit me to include in this project, I would be eternally grateful, and appropriately acknowledge. Thank you in advance for any support you may be able to provide. Of particular interest would be individuals who were involved in the league, maybe even some players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDNFootballer Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 I remember as a kid hearing about the league, I'm looking forward to the book when its done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringBackTheBlizzard Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Can remember the CPSL being mentioned in World Soccer (I was living in the UK at the time), so that might be worth a look as a source of info. Will also purchase the book once it's available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.i.m. Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I actually have some programs from the CPSL, basically just line up sheets. Here are the squad lists from the May 27th, 1983 game at Varsity Stadium. Toronto Nationals; 1.Blaggy Tamindzic 2.Andre Oostrum 3. Dave MacQueen 4. Dan Lenarduzzi 5. H.Gunter Neues 6. Colin Franks 7.Frank Ciaccia 8.Slavko Petrina 9.C.Torres Garces 10.Tony Currie 11.Ed McNally 14.Elio Ciaccia 15.Kevin Grant 16.Sydney Marsh 20.Jens Kraemer 24. John Baretta James Kussy Edmonton Eagles:1.Dino Alberti 2.Joe Raduka 3.Randy Samuel 5.Dubravko Ledic 6.Hans Kraay Jr. 7.Hans Granander 8. Carlos Rivas 9.Carlos Marquez 10. Norm Odinga 12.Ross Ongaro 13.Mark Peckham 14.Tony Peszneker 15.Bob Rosenlund 20.Alan Spink 21 Wayne Gordey 22.Tedd Hamilton 25.Jim Barbieri If I remember correctly the Toronto team did not finish the season. Pretty sure that there was an interesting story in the Toronto Star about the fact that that team owners had no idea what the were investing into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 (edited) As one of the earlier attempts at a nationwide professional league in Canada, the CPSL is a little under-represented in our soccer history. It would be good to know some of the history behind this endeavor such as why the league decide to launch in 1983. In hindsight, the CPSL's timing was off with the NASL's Blizzard, Whitecaps and Manic still playing. Edited May 7, 2013 by ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drillers81 Posted May 24, 2013 Author Share Posted May 24, 2013 Thank you for the info. Yes, the Toronto Nationals (and Inter-Montreal) did not last to see the season through, in fact the league abandoned the schedule a third of the way through the season, once Toronto and Montreal packed it in. Probably the best run CPSL team was the Hamilton Steelers, owned by Mario DeBartolomeo, he would resurrect this team in the Canadian Soccer League in 1987. Including the 1983 CPSL final, the Steelers would play in five Canadian professional championships (1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 CSL Mita Cup finals), ironically they lost all five (1983 to Edmonton, 1987 to Calgary, and 1988 to 1990 to Vancouver). Of the six CPSL teams, only Hamilton and Mississauga avoided financial fiascos. Players on the league champion Edmonton Eagles reportedly went without pay for the months of June and July and were not paid for their 2-0 championship win over Hamilton on August 2nd, 1983. As you can see there were some interesting goings on in this league, very much out of proportion to the actual period in which it operated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandolin Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I too have been working on a book on this subject and it should be ready and available on Kindle in a few weeks. Keep an eye out for it, it's called 73 Days - The Story of the Canadian Professional Soccer League 1983. I've interviewed a few people involved in the league and I've tried to compile a complete list of fixtures, results and scorers. Basically I'm all ears if anyone out there has information or memorabilia scans (programs, press clippings) they may wish to share that I might have missed. All details no matter how trivial are welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDNFootballer Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 (edited) I too have been working on a book on this subject and it should be ready and available on Kindle in a few weeks. Keep an eye out for it, it's called 73 Days - The Story of the Canadian Professional Soccer League 1983. I've interviewed a few people involved in the league and I've tried to compile a complete list of fixtures, results and scorers. Basically I'm all ears if anyone out there has information or memorabilia scans (programs, press clippings) they may wish to share that I might have missed. All details no matter how trivial are welcome. Looking forward to it, let us know when its released. If they had only attempted this league in 1985 when the original NASL folded maybe things would have been different, maybe not though. This was considered a D1 league correct? And put together or backed by the CSA? Foolhardy to attempt it when the NASL was still operating. Edited February 6, 2015 by CDNFootballer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandolin Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 The book is finished but I'm just waiting on some emails from some of the former players before uploading to Kindle. I guess it was foolish to go up against the NASL although the Montreal franchise officially came into life the very day after it was announced Montreal Manic would become Team Canada. I think they thought Manic's fans would just switch their sizeable loyalties to them and everything would be all right. As far as I can make out the league was officially sanctioned by the CSA in December 1981 but for the life of me I can't any other tangible connection between the two organisations. I can only assume that the CPSL was left to sink or swim without the CSA's direct assistance. I wonder though whether there was a connection between the date of the vote of who would host the 1986 World Cup (20th May) and the league's rather rushed kick off date (21st May). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandolin Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 There are eight games where I cannot find out the scorer. My usual sources - Montreal Gazette, Calgary Herald, the Leader Post, Ottowa Citizen, Medicine Hat News and the Lethbridge Herald do not shed any light on these matches. Can anyone out there help? Does anyone have press clippings or old newspapers in their loft. I could really use a Columbo for details about these games. Wednesday 1st June Edmonton Eagles 4-1 Mississauga Croatia Hans Kraay scored one (other scorers not known) Friday 3rd June Hamilton Steelers 1-1 Inter-Montreal (Hamilton scorer not known) Tasso Koutsoukos Sunday 26th June Toronto 2-3 Hamilton Steelers (scorers not known) Friday 1st July Hamilton Steelers 4-1 Mississauga Croatia (scorers not known) Sunday 10th July Mississauga Croatia 3-2 Hamilton Steelers (scorers not known) Play-Offs Friday 15th July Hamilton Steelers 4-1 Mississauga Croatia (scorers not known) Sunday 17th Edmonton Eagles 2-1 Calgary Mustangs Ross Ongaro (other scorers not known) Sunday 24th July Hamilton Steelers 2-0 Mississauga Croatia (scorers not known) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie_the_parrot Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 (edited) Found a webpage about the 1983 CPSL that's worth a look: https://thecnsl.com/1983-cpsl/ "Owner: Dr Antun Pavelic" no doubt raised a few eyebrows at the time for people who know a bit about WWII in the Balkans. Had no idea that London and Kitchener teams had been in the works for that. Edited May 11, 2020 by Ozzie_the_parrot MtlMario and Dicdan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
to70 Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 On 5/11/2020 at 8:37 AM, Ozzie_the_parrot said: Found a webpage about the 1983 CPSL that's worth a look: https://thecnsl.com/1983-cpsl/ "Owner: Dr Antun Pavelic" no doubt raised a few eyebrows at the time for people who know a bit about WWII in the Balkans. Had no idea that London and Kitchener teams had been in the works for that. He was a dentist. Pretty sure he is still alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie_the_parrot Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Still seems to have an active dental practice: https://dentpedia.ca/dentist/dr-pavelic-antun-11947.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicdan Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 who was the top scorer of the league? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM3/MM2/MM Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 I might be one of the few here to see some games in that league, I went to the Inter-Montreal games, there weren't that many😎 I knew the owner, an interesting character. I think Gordon Hill was Montreal's leading scorer. Dicdan, MtlMario, ray and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicdan Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 (edited) Ok find out that Hans Kraay Jr was the overall topscorer and Dubravko Ledic the mvp, cool both played for edmonton eagles, same as rookie randy samuel 😀 Edited March 9, 2021 by Dicdan ray and MM3/MM2/MM 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatOlCeePee Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Eagles home game worn by Ted Hamilton Greatest Cockney Rip Off, ray and Dicdan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtlMario Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 On 3/7/2021 at 11:56 PM, MM3/MM2/MM said: I might be one of the few here to see some games in that league, I went to the Inter-Montreal games, there weren't that many😎 I knew the owner, an interesting character. I think Gordon Hill was Montreal's leading scorer. I also was there for the few games they played. Still have the first game brochure. Bob Laker was the owner (Inter-Montreal). Who knows we might of been sitting side by side.😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM3/MM2/MM Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 1 minute ago, MtlMario said: I also was there for the few games they played. Still have the first game brochure. Bob Laker was the owner (Inter-Montreal). Who knows we might of been sitting side by side.😀 I usually attended with a group from the NDG Soccer Association (I was President of the club at the time) Bob Laker was our Inter-City director for a few seasons, also spent some time at his soccer store downtown. He gave me a police whistle from Italy that I used for every game I refereed (2500+?) over the years, until it fell apart a few years ago. Unfortunately I purged a lot of my programs when I moved from Montreal. MtlMario 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtlMario Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 1 hour ago, MM3/MM2/MM said: I usually attended with a group from the NDG Soccer Association (I was President of the club at the time) Bob Laker was our Inter-City director for a few seasons, also spent some time at his soccer store downtown. He gave me a police whistle from Italy that I used for every game I refereed (2500+?) over the years, until it fell apart a few years ago. Unfortunately I purged a lot of my programs when I moved from Montreal. Hopefully one day we'll meet at MNT game and talk about the good old days (who would of thought that was a year ago).😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicdan Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Professional_Soccer_League_(1983) they added too many info to the page!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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