Early Canadian professional soccer Professional soccer existed in multiple form in Canada in the decades prior to the formation of the CSL. In 1926, the
National Soccer League was formed in Canada, which evolved into the modern edition of the
Canadian Soccer League, but was more of a semi-professional nature. From 1960 to 1961, the
Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League (ECPSL) operated in the country, at times attracting crowds of around 10,000 spectators. From 1968 to 1984, the US-based North American Soccer League (NASL), a top division professional league, contained two Canadian teams at its inception (the
Toronto Falcons and
Vancouver Royals), rising to five Canadian teams at the time of its folding - the
Calgary Boomers,
Edmonton Drillers,
Montréal Manic,
Vancouver Whitecaps and
Toronto Blizzard.
Formation of the CSL Following the folding of the NASL, the
Canadian Soccer Association created the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). It was the CSA's second attempt at a national professional league, following the failed
CPSL in 1983. The CSL was formed in the aftermath of
Canada's participation in the
1986 World Cup finals tournament held in Mexico, for which Canada was an oddity as a country whose association was able to qualify a team despite not having a domestic professional league, or even a domestically based professional team with the demise in 1984 of the U.S.-based
North American Soccer League. Founding league commissioner Dale Barnes voiced sentiment aptly when he said the league is to "bring our players home." and most of the players from Canada’s 1986 World Cup squad joined the league. Learning from the CPSL failure, the organizers attempted to lay the foundation more successfully, with several teams coming from existing franchises in the provincial leagues, including a team salary limit of $300,000 for players.
Inaugural season In the league's inaugural season, eight teams were divided into two divisions. The East Division consisted of
National Capital Pioneers,
Hamilton Steelers,
Toronto Blizzard, and the
North York Rockets. The West Division comprised the
Calgary Kickers,
Edmonton Brick Men,
Vancouver 86ers, and the
Winnipeg Fury. The league's inaugural match took place on June 7, 1987 in Aylmer, Quebec between the
National Capital Pioneers and the
Hamilton Steelers and finished in a 1–1 draw, in a steady drizzle, in front 2,500 spectators. That season, Hamilton won their division both in the regular season and in the playoffs, as did Calgary. The final saw the top point-getting team in the regular season, Calgary, defeat the second-best side, Hamilton, 2–1 at home in a winner take all one game final.
Continuation The league gained a leap in credibility when an agreement was reached with
TSN to broadcast a
CSL Game of the Week, allowing a nationwide audience to view a game on domestic cable TV each Sunday evening. Broadcasts featured play-by-play commentator
Vic Rauter and analyst
Graham Leggat. The league received sponsorship from companies such as
Gatorade,
Gillette,
Chrysler,
Molson, and
Umbro, among others. Also the league adopted the standard FIFA points system (2–1–0, then 3–1–0) as well as allowing for draws instead of 'Americanizing' the points system with bonus points and two different categories for both wins and losses unlike the
NASL or the
APSL which was to follow. The
Vancouver 86ers became the dominant team in the league, winning the four consecutive league titles from 1988 to 1991. In 1992, the
Winnipeg Fury ended Vancouver's run, winning the final MITA Cup, before the league folded.
Downfall and league folding The league and its franchises struggled with financial issues throughout its tenure. After the 1991 season, four franchises folded, which was the start of the end of the league. The financial picture did not improve during the season, and with dysfunction about the most sustainable path for professional soccer, concerns about club stability – declining attendance and red ink continuing to mount in most markets, the resignation of Canadian soccer advocates such as Mario DiBartolomeo, Frank Aliaga, and Karsten von Wersebe. Vancouver media reported that the Vancouver 86ers' owner was the only team to fully pay league dues during the final season and had injected $65,000 for the London Lasers to finish the season, and paid playoff travel and accommodation expenses for the Toronto Blizzard. On October 6, 1992, the day of the CSL final, it was announced that Vancouver joined the
APSL, a league trying to show the USSF it had the wherewithal, new higher standards for 1993 (financial capitalization, salary budget, $1 million operating budget, front office, coaching, market size etc.), to be chosen as the Division 1 league by the USSF. Vancouver cited financial stability and higher growth prospects with the league expected by some to become the USSF's Division 1 league as required by FIFA when awarded the United States the 1994 World Cup. Even with the Vancouver defection to the United States, the CSL planned to have seven clubs for the 1993 season as of mid-December 1992 including a
Burnaby, B.C.-based team; however, opposition from the Vancouver 86ers stymied this ownership's efforts. However, the Toronto Blizzard and Montreal Supra had also planned to join the APSL, although it was not able to meet the financial requirements for the league and instead a new club,
Montreal Impact formed and joined the APSL. Meanwhile, Winnipeg and North York joined the
Canadian National Soccer League. ==Teams==