Toronto Ulster United FC
Toronto Ulster United FC was a Canadian soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. They were three-time Dominion of Canada Football Championships winners, lifting the Connaught Cup in 1925 and then the Challenge Trophy in 1946 and 1951. They were recognized by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as an Organisation of Distinction.[1]
Toronto Ulster United FC were established in November 1913.[2] In the 1920s, club President Bill Pentland invested $94,000 towards the building of Ulster Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium near Greenwood and Gerrard avenues.
Over the course of their history, they played in several leagues and competitions and were at times either a professional or amateur club. Their last major season was 1962 before they withdrew from the National League playoffs due to financial issues.[3]
Season-by-season record
[edit]Toronto Ulster United FC season-by-season record after they rejoined the National League Ontario (National League Ontario-Québec) in 1950. Note: MP = Matches played, W = Wins, D = Draws, L = Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | MP | W | D | L | Pts | Finish | NSL Playoffs | City (Consols Cup) | Canada |
| 1950 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 4th in NSL-ON | Missed playoffs | Lost City Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1950 Frame | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1st in Group | Won Frame Cup | - | - |
| 1950 Glebe | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | ? | - | - | - |
| 1951 | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 2nd in NSL-ON | Missed playoffs | Lost City Semifinals | Won Ontario section, won 1951 Challenge Trophy |
| 1952 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 6th in NSL-ON | No playoffs | Lost City Quarterfinals | Did not enter |
| 1952 Walker | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 1st in series | Lost Final | - | - |
| 1953 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 2nd in NSL-ON | No playoffs | Eliminated 3rd Round | Did not enter |
| 1953 Arnold Cup | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3rd in series | Missed playoffs | - | - |
| 1954 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 27 | 2nd in NSL-ON/QC | No playoffs | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1954 Arnold Cup | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1st in Group | Won Arnold Cup Final (best of three) | - | - |
| 1955 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 3rd in NSL-ON | Won Playoff Final (Carling Trophy) | Won Final (Consols Trophy) | Won Ontario section, lost Eastern Final |
| 1955 Arnold Cup | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5th in series | - | - | - |
| Season | MP | W | D | L | Pts | Finish | NSL Playoffs | Province (Ontario Cup) | Canada |
| 1956 | 24 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 33 | 3rd in NSL-ON | Lost semifinals | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1957 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 5th in NSL-ON | Missed playoffs | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1958 | 28 | 9 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 10th in NSL-ON/QC | Missed playoffs | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1959 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 19 | 12th in NSL-ON/QC | Missed playoffs | Did not enter | Lost in NSL section |
| 1960 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 12th in NSL-ON/QC | Missed playoffs | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1961 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 7 | 7th in NSL-ON/QC (last) | Missed playoffs | Did not enter | Lost in NSL section |
| 1962 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 4th in NSL-ON | Lost in semifinals group | Did not enter | No competition |
Honours
[edit]| National | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Dominion of Canada Football Championship | 3 | 1925, 1946, 1951 |
| National League Championship for the Atholstan Trophy | 5 | 1926('27), 1932, 1933('34), 1934('35), 1941 |
| International League for the Nathan Strauss Cup | 1 | 1926 |
| Ontario section winners for the Dominion Championship | 11 | 1922, 1923, 1925, 1928, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1955 |
| Ontario Cup (provincial championship) | 3 | 1927, 1929, 1937 |
| British Consols Trophy (city championship) | 10 | 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1955 |
| National City League | 1 | 1940 |
| Toronto & District Football League | 2 | 1942, 1943 |
| Ontario Major League | 2 | 1946, 1949 |
| Ontario Major League Playoffs | 2 | 1946, 1947 |
| NSL Frame Series | 1 | 1950 |
| NSL Arnold Cup | 1 | 1954 |
| NSL Playoffs for the Carling Trophy | 1 | 1955 |
Notable former players
[edit]Eight former Toronto Ulster United FC players have been inducted into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as honoured players.[4]
Joe Clulow- Fred Dierden
- George Graham
- Art Halliwell
- Bobby Lavery
- Jimmy Moir
- Andy Stevens
- Dave Turner
References
[edit]- ^ Canada Soccer. "Canada Soccer Organisations of Distinction". Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ Ontario Soccer (9 June 2015). "Ulster United and their stadium".
- ^ "Need Police Escort For Soccer Referee". Toronto Daily Star. October 15, 1962. p. 11.
- ^ Canada Soccer. "Canada Soccer Hall of Fame". Retrieved 18 May 2025.