Canadian Professional Soccer League (1983)
The first Canadian Professional Soccer League lasted for just one abridged summer season, 1983.
The league featured the Edmonton Eagles, Hamilton Steelers, Inter-Montreal FC, Mississauga Croatia SC, Calgary Mustangs (soccer) and Toronto Nationals.
The CPSL season kicked off on 21st May 1983 when Toronto Nationals entertained Inter-Montreal at Varsity Stadium. Competing as it was with the NASL, the CPSL failed to attract significant crowds or the attention of the media and by the end of June, just a few weeks into the season, both Toronto Nationals and Inter-Montreal folded. Reduced to four teams the league briefly soldiered on. On 10th July however the remaining four teams decided to suspend the league and initiate a best of three play off to decide who would contest a winner take all final on 1st August. Mississauga would face Hamilton and Edmonton would play Calgary. In the final played at Clarke Stadium in Edmonton, Edmonton Eagles defeated Hamilton Steelers 2-0 with goals from John Connor and Carlos Rivas.
Prominent players included Gordon Hill with Inter-Montreal, Tony Currie (footballer) with Toronto Nationals and Randy Samuel of Edmonton.
For further reading see 73 Days - The Story of the Canadian Professional Soccer League 1983 by EJ Huntley