Toronto Blizzard
Squad
- Brian Budd1979current
Lyndon Hoopercurrent- Sven Habermanncurrent
- Bob DiLuca1971–1971
Brian Talbot1971–1971- Brian Talbot1971–1972
Dick Howard1971–1974
Graham Leggat1971–1971
José Henrique1971–1971- Phil Davis1971–1971
- Tony Lecce1971–1973
- Brian Talbot1972–1972
Paolo Barison1972–1972- Gene Strenicer1973–1974
- Peter Roe1973–1974
- Gordon Wallace1974–1974
Jack Brand1974–1974- Jimmy Douglas1974–1974
- Marino Perani1974–1975
- Peter Roe1974–1978
- Vojin Lazarević1974–1974
Eusébio1975–1976- Gene Strenicer1975–1977
Ivair Ferreira1975–1978- Jack Brand1975–1975
- John Coyne1975–1975
Roberto Vieri1975–1975- Brendan Bradley1976–1976
Carmine Marcantonio1976–1976- Chris Horrocks1976–1976
- Eurico Mendonça Caires1976–1976
- Filip Blašković1976–1978
- Ivica Grnja1976–1976
Pat Ercoli1976–1976
Robert Iarusci1976–1977- Drago Vabec1977–1977
- José Maria Júnior1977–1977
- Kenny Aird1977–1977
- Robin Megraw1977–1977
- Brian Budd1978–1978
- Ignacio Salcedo1978–1978
Luis Manuel Blanco1978–1979
Manuel Velázquez1978–1978- Ray Treacy1978–1978
- Sead Sušić1978–1978
- Warren Archibald1978–1978
- Alec Lindsay1979–1979
- George Gibbs1979–1980
- Ivair Ferreira1979–1979
- Peter Lorimer1979–1979
- Peter Roe1979–1980
- Robin Megraw1979–1979
- Sam Lenarduzzi1979–1982
Francesco Morini1980–1980- George Gibbs1980–1980
- Gordon Wallace1980–1981
- Jim McAlister1980–1980
- Jomo Sono1980–1982
José Velásquez1980–1981- Mike McLenaghen1980–1981
- Peter Lorimer1980–1980
- Randy Ragan1980–1984
- Tony Chursky1980–1982
- Alex Cropley1981–1981
- Bruce Wilson1981–1984
Clyde Best1981–1982- David Byrne1981–1982
- Jimmy Greenhoff1981–1981
- Luigi Martini1981–1981
- Mike McLenaghen1981–1981
- Tore Cervin1981–1981
- Alan Merrick1982–1982
Colin Miller1982–1984- David Byrne1982–1984
David Fairclough1982–1982- David Needham1982–1982
Jan Möller1982–1983
Jimmy Nicholl1982–1982- Victor Kodelja1982–1983
Arno Steffenhagen1983–1983
Conny Karlsson1983–1984
Geoff Wegerle1983–1984- Jimmy Nicholl1983–1984
- Paul James1983–1984
- Phil Parkes1983–1983
Roberto Bettega1983–1984
The Toronto Blizzard was a defunct Canadian soccer club that played from 1971 to 1984.
The team was a member of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
The club was based in Toronto, Ontario, and was known for its competitive spirit in the NASL.
Biography
Formation
The Toronto Blizzard was a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1971 to 1984. Originally formed as the Toronto Metros, the team joined the NASL in its inaugural season. In 1975, the club underwent a significant change when 50% of the team was purchased by the Toronto Croatia of the National Soccer League, leading to a rebranding as the Toronto Metros-Croatia. Despite winning the Soccer Bowl championship in 1976, the team faced financial difficulties, including substantial debts to local governments.
Ownership Changes and Rebranding
In February 1979, the Global Television Network acquired 85% of the struggling Metros-Croatia for $2.6 million, prompting a rebranding to the Toronto Blizzard. This new ownership revitalized the club, nearly doubling attendance figures. The Blizzard played their home games at Exhibition Stadium from 1979 to 1983 before returning to Varsity Stadium for the 1984 season.
Competitive Era
The Blizzard were competitive in the NASL, finishing as runners-up in the league championship in both 1983 and 1984. In 1983, they lost the Soccer Bowl to the Tulsa Roughnecks in front of nearly sixty thousand fans at Vancouver's BC Place Stadium. The following year, they faced the Chicago Sting in a best-of-three championship series but were unable to secure the title, marking the end of their competitive run as the NASL ceased operations in 1984. The Toronto Blizzard remains a notable part of Canadian soccer history, representing a significant era in the development of the sport in the country.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home ground was Varsity Stadium. In 1975, 50% of the team was purchased for $250,000 by the Toronto Croatia of the National Soccer League (NSL), and the team became the Toronto Metros-Croatia. Even though the club won the 1976 Soccer Bowl championship they continued to struggle at the gate. In mid September 1976, it was reported the team owed $100,000 to the Ontario government and $95,000 to the metropolitan Toronto government, that several star players were free agents and the team might fold. The Global Television Network purchased 85% of the struggling Toronto Metros-Croatia on February 1, 1979, for $2.6 million. Following the purchase, Toronto Croatia returned to the NSL as a separate club. With only 7 of the 26 players from the 1978 roster staying, the NASL team was renamed the Toronto Blizzard following the takeover. Under the new ownership, total attendance nearly doubled. From 1979 to 1983 the Blizzard played home games at Exhibition Stadium before returning to Varsity Stadium for the 1984 NASL season. The Blizzard were members of the NASL until 1984, the last year of league operations. The team were runners-up for the league championship in 1983, losing the Soccer Bowl to the Tulsa Roughnecks 2–0 in front of nearly sixty thousand people at Vancouver's BC Place Stadium. They were runners-up again in 1984 when they lost to the Chicago Sting two games to none in a best of three championship series. The club was coached…
- League
- North American Soccer League
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
The Toronto Blizzard was a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League (NASL).
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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