Hamilton Croatia
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| Full name | Hamilton Croatia | ||
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| Founded | 1957 | ||
| League | HDSL Premier Division | ||
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Hamilton Croatia is a Croatian Canadian amateur soccer team founded in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1957. It is supported by the Croatian Sports and Community Centre of Hamilton Inc. (formerly the Croatian National Sports Club of Hamilton, Inc.).
The team plays in the Hamilton & District Premier Soccer League's Elite Division.
Hamilton Croatia also competes annually in such competitions as the Ontario Cup, various League Cups, the Hamilton Spectator Cup, and the Croatian National Soccer Federation's North American Tournament held every Labour Day weekend at sites across Canada and the United States.
In September of 2011, Hamilton Croatia hosted the 48th Annual Croatian National Soccer Federation of Canada & U.S.A’s Men’s Soccer Tournament. It was widely considered the most successful tournament in recent years.
History
In its opening match in 1957, Hamilton Croatia defeated Hamilton Sparta 2-1, with Pavle Usenica scoring the first-ever goal in club history.
Throughout its history Hamilton Croatia has hosted international friendly matches with Croatian club teams such as 1967 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners Dinamo Zagreb, NK Medjugorje, NK Croatia Brihovo, NK Vukovar '91, NK Karlovac, HSK Zrinjski Mostar, as well as Vasas Budapest SC, one of Hungary's major sports clubs.
Some notable Croatian players to have worn a Hamilton Croatia jersey were Zeljko Adzic, Slavko Cetina, Vlado Crnjak, Berislav Krilic, Stjepan Loparic, Vlado Palijan, Ivica Tankovic, and Nediljko Simic. Notable non-Croat players include 1976 Canadian Olympians Kevin Grant and Olympic team captain Jimmy Douglas, as well as former United Soccer Leagues First Division All-Star Jamie Dodds. Hamilton Croatia was a professional team from 1970-to-1976 when they played in the National Soccer League, the high point being in 1970 when the club was crowned champions of Canada.
Canadian Soccer League
On January 22, 2010, Hamilton Croatia was selected as one of the newly expansion franchise to compete in the Canadian Soccer League.[1][2][3]Becoming the second professional Hamilton club to compete in the CSL, with Hamilton Thunder preceding them. The club's home venue would be Brian Timmis Stadium. Ontario Soccer League Coach of the Year Ron Davidson would led the team. Davidson would sign several USL veterans like Jamie Dodds, Said Ali, and Alvin Hudson. He also brought in Ivan Razumović, Peter Tereanszki-Toth, Rhian Dodds, Preston Corporal, Antonijo Zupan, and Aidan O'Keeffe, players with international experience
Hamilton made their debut in the CSL on May 15, 2010 in a match against TFC Academy, where they won the match by a score of 2-1.[4][5] The Croatian side started off the season with a six game undefeated streak. Hamilton would finish third in the overall standings with the best offensive record within the league.[6]Croatia qualified for the postseason and faced TFC Academy in the quarterfinals where in the first match Hamilton won the match by a score of 2-1 with goals coming from Corporal, and Razumovic.[7][8] In the second leg Hamilton finished off the series with a 1-0 victory with the lone goal coming from Liberian international Preston Corporal.[9]
In the next round Hamilton faced rivals Toronto Croatia in a well attended match where Hamilton triumphed with a 2-0 victory advancing the club to the CSL Championship finals.[10][11] In the CSL Championship finals Hamilton faced Brantford Galaxy, but lost the match to a score of 3-0.[12][13]At the conclusion of the season Ron Davidson was awarded the CSL Coach of the Year award.[14] On February 11, 2011 after a successful debut season in the CSL the Hamilton Croatia executive board announced a parting of ways with the league, due to a result of philosophical differences with the CSL.[15]
Past Achievements
| 1958 | Tournament of Canadian-Croatian Soccer Clubs at London | Champions |
| 1958 | Southern Ontario Soccer Association | Champions |
| 1963 | Tournament of Southern Ontario Soccer Clubs | Champions |
| 1963 | Tournament of Canadian-Croatian Soccer Clubs | Champions |
| 1963 | Inter-City League | Champions |
| 1964 | Hamilton Spectator Cup | Champions |
| 1965 | 2nd CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Chicago Hrvat | Champions |
| 1965 | Ontario Cup | Semi-Finals |
| 1965 | Hamilton Spectator Cup | Champions |
| 1965 | Inter-City League | Champions |
| 1967 | 4th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Milwaukee Orlovi | Runners-up |
| 1969 | 6th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Toronto Croatia | Champions |
| 1970 | National Soccer League Playoffs | Champions |
| 1970 | National Soccer League | Runners-up |
| 1971 | 8th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Chicago CBP | Runners-up |
| 1971 | National Soccer League | Third Place |
| 1972 | National Soccer League | Third Place |
| 1975 | 12th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Cleveland Croatia | Runners-up |
| 1977 | 14th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Chicago Hrvat | Third Place |
| 1986 | 23rd CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Toronto Zagreb | Third Place |
| 1989 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Cup | Champions |
| 1990 | Hamilton Spectator Cup | Runners-up |
| 1991 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Cup | Champions |
| 1992 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Cup | Champions |
| 1993 | 30th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Hamilton Croatia | Runners-up |
| 1997 | Hamilton & District-Peninsula Challenge Cup | Champions |
| 1997 | South Region Cup | Champions |
| 1997 | Hamilton & District Soccer League First Division | Champions |
| 1997 | 34th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Oakville Velebit | Third Place |
| 2002 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Playoffs | Champions |
| 2002 | Hamilton & District Soccer League First Division | Champions |
| 2003 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Premier Division | Runners-up |
| 2004 | Hamilton Spectator Cup | Champions |
| 2004 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Premier Division | Runners-up |
| 2004 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Playoffs | Champions |
| 2005 | Ontario Soccer League South Region | Runners-up |
| 2005 | 42nd CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament, host Sudbury Adria | Third Place |
| 2005 | Hamilton Spectator Cup | Champions |
| 2006 | Ontario Soccer League South Region | Runners-up |
| 2007 | Hamilton Spectator Cup | Champions |
| 2007 | Ontario Soccer League South Region | Runners-up |
| 2007 | Ontario Cup | Semi-Finals |
| 2008 | Hamilton Spectator Cup | Runners-up |
| 2008 | Ontario Soccer League Frank Docherty Cup | Runners-up |
| 2008 | Ontario Soccer League South Region | Champions |
| 2009 | Ontario Cup | Semi-Finals |
| 2009 | Hamilton Spectator Cup | Champions |
| 2009 | Ontario Soccer League Alf Beese Cup | Champions |
| 2009 | Ontario Soccer League Provincial West Division | Champions |
| 2010 | Canadian Soccer League Regular Season | Third Place |
| 2010 | Canadian Soccer League Playoffs | Runners-up |
| 2011 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Premier Division | Runners-up |
| 2012 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Premier Division | Runners-up |
| 2013 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Premier Division | Champions |
| 2013 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Premier Division Playoffs | Champions |
| 2013 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Cup | Champions |
| 2014 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Premier Division | Champions |
| 2014 | Hamilton & District Soccer League Cup | Champions |
References
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External links
- Hamilton Croatia Official Site
- 48th CNSF Tournament
- Croatian National Soccer Federation of Canada and USA
