Canadian Soccer League 1987-1992

Canadian Soccer League (1987-1992)

Formed: 1986
Disbanded: 

First Game: June 7, 1987
Last Game: October 4, 1992

Seasons: 6
Provinces: 5
(Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec)

 

Background

The Canadian Soccer League played seven seasons of summertime outdoor soccer from 1987 to 1992.  Organizers formed the league in the wake of Canada’s first-ever qualification for the World Cup in 1986 and two years after the demise of the North American Socccer League (1968-1984), which featured once-popular teams in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and elsewhere.

The league drew a number of NASL refugees in its early years, including Drew Ferguson, Gerry Gray, Ray Hudson, Bob Lenarduzzi, Dale Mitchell, Mike Sweeney and Carl Valentine.  Many of the ex-NASL players in the CSL had starred for Canadian NASL clubs such as the Vancouver Whitecaps and Edmonton Drillers and established roots in those communities.  The league was also a popular destination for top indoor soccer players such as Ted Eck and Domenic Mobilio, looking for outdoor opportunities and a summertime paycheck.

League membership was wobbly at best, with teams coming and going every year.  The league finally gave up the ghost after the 1992 season.  Three former CSL clubs – the Montreal Supra (changed to Impact), Toronto Blizzard and Vancouver 86ers – linked up with the American Professional Soccer League (1990-1996) and soldiered on.

The dominant club in CSL history was the Vancouver 86ers franchise, which appeared in five of six CSL championship games, winning four times.

 

Canadian Soccer League Franchise List

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Canadian Soccer League Shop

 

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Comments

4 Responses

  1. I’m looking for colour pictures that show the home kits of these APL and CSL teams in specific years:

    LA Heat (1988)
    Edmonton Brickmen(1989)
    Hamilton Steelers (1990)

    Appreciate your help!

  2. Morning, updating / correcting my records is the name of the game for the coming weeks and a sticky one already… anyone on here any info for Canada, specifically as to the location, address of London Lasers FC in 1992, my visit 2 Aug 1992 (8 days later saw London City play at Cove Field), Google search hasn’t come up with anything, I need a clue, any ideas please?

  3. Geulph Oaks is the other one I’m struggling with on that 8-game tour, I know where they play now but not convinced that’s exactly where I saw them play 5 Aug 1992…

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