Sudbury Cyclones

Sudbury Cyclones was a soccer club based in Sudbury, Ontario. The club was formed in 1976 and originally competed in the Second Division of the National Soccer League (NSL). Sudbury played in the National Soccer League for five seasons from 1976 until the 1980 season.[1] The club became the last representative from Northern Ontario to compete in the National Soccer League.[2]

Sudbury Cyclones
Founded1976
Dissolved1981
OwnerWolf Mildenberger
LeagueNational Soccer League

History

Professional soccer in Northern Ontario and in the city of Sudbury can be traced back to the mining bloom of the 1930s where a procession of workers settled in the area, which led to the creation of a Northern Division in the National Soccer League (NSL).[3] The Northern Division would ultimately cease operating, but Sudbury managed to enter another franchise in the NSL in 1965 known as Sudbury Italia, which played for four seasons.[2][4] After a five-year absence professional soccer returned to Northern Ontario with Sudbury Cyclones receiving a NSL franchise. In the initial years Sudbury competed in the Second Division of the National Soccer League.[5][6] In 1979, the club was promoted to the First Division, and finished in the sixth position.[7]

In the 1980 season, early reports of financial instability were becoming apparent with Sudbury, but the club managed to successfully compete the season.[8][9] In early 1981, the club announced its departure from the league which marked the final time Sudbury featured in the NSL.[10][11] A variety of factors such as travel expenses and failure to attract skilled players to the region contributed to the folding of Sudbury along with dwindling attendance numbers.[4][10]

Seasons
Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs Ref
1976 National Soccer League (Second Division) 8 7–4–10 6th – [12]
1977 10 6–4–8 6th – [12]
1978 7 6–2–4 3rd – [12]
1979 National Soccer League 15 10–3–10 6th – [12]
1980 12 3–6–13 10th – [12]

References
  1. Litterer, David A. (June 7, 2013). "Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation - Canadian National Soccer League". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  2. Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 163.
  3. Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. pp. 114, 115.
  4. Pascal, Randy (June 20, 2020). "The Sudbury Cyclones and their semi-pro soccer stint". Sudbury Star. p. B1.
  5. "Panhellenic beats Hamilton". Toronto Star. July 31, 1978. p. B3.
  6. "Croatia extends winning streak to 9 games by blanking Buffalo". The Globe and Mail. June 28, 1976. p. S8.
  7. "1979 NSL Season" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca.
  8. "In trouble". Nanaimo Daily News. March 25, 1980. p. 11.
  9. "Sudbury's NSL Cyclones in deep financial trouble". Toronto Star. March 25, 1980. p. D2.
  10. "ROUNDUP: Soccer". The Globe and Mail. February 26, 1981. p. 64.
  11. Labow, Jeffrey (May 6, 1981). "Canadian flavor for new look NSL". The Globe and Mail. p. S4.
  12. "Sudbury Cyclones | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
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