Hamilton Croatia is a Croatian Canadian amateur soccer team founded in Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 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

Ontario Cup

The Ontario Cup is a soccer tournament for clubs based in the province of Ontario in Canada. It began play in 1901 under the Canadian Football Association, now known as the Ontario Soccer Association.-History:...

, various League Cups, the Hamilton Spectator

The Hamilton Spectator

The Hamilton Spectator, founded in 1846, is a newspaper published every day but Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The paper has a daily circulation of 105,000 and a daily readership of nearly 260,000.-History:...

 Cup, and the Croatian National Soccer Federation's

Croatian National Soccer Federation

Croatian National Soccer Federation of is a soccer federation which helps coordinate Croatian Canadian and Croatian American clubs. It organizes the annual Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament...

 North American Tournament

Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament

The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities...

 held every Labour Day

Labour Day

Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...

 weekend at sites across Canada and the United States.

From September 2-4, 2011, Hamilton Croatia will host the 48th Annual Croatian National Soccer Federation of Canada & U.S.A’s Men’s Soccer Tournament.

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

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...

 winners Dinamo Zagreb

Dinamo Zagreb

GNK Dinamo Zagreb, commonly referred to as Dinamo Zagreb , or by their nickname Modri are a Croatian football club based in Zagreb. They play their home matches at Stadion Maksimir. They are the most successful club in Croatian football, having won thirteen Croatian championship titles, ten...

, NK Medjugorje, NK Croatia Brihovo, NK Vukovar '91

NK Vukovar '91

HNK Vukovar '91 is a Croatian football club based in the river port of Vukovar.-Recent seasons:-Key:Top scorer shown in bold when he was also top scorer for the division.*P = Played*W = Games won*D = Games drawn*L = Games lost...

, NK Karlovac

NK Karlovac

NK Karlovac is a Croatian football club based in the town of Karlovac. They play in the Prva HNL, the country's top division, having been promoted to top level at the end of the 2008–09 season...

, HSK Zrinjski Mostar

HŠK Zrinjski Mostar

HŠK Zrinjski Mostar is a football team from the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club plays in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has been one of the top teams in the country over the years....

, 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

Željko Adžic

Željko Adžić is a former Croatian footballer.He played one game internationally for Croatia against Ukraine on June 26, 1993 scoring at Maksimir Stadium. He won the Prva HNL with HAŠK Građanski in 1993. While playing with Melbourne Croatia he won the Johnny Warren Medal.-External links:*...

, 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

United Soccer Leagues

The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...

 First Division All-Star Jamie Dodds

Jamie Dodds

Jamie Dodds is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Hamilton Croatia in the Canadian Soccer League....

.

Hamilton Croatia was a professional team from 1970-to-1976 when they played in the National Soccer League

Canadian National Soccer League

The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...

, the high point being in 1970 when the club was crowned champions of Canada.

On January 22, 2010 it was announced that Hamilton Croatia would return to professional soccer by joining the Canadian Soccer League

Canadian Soccer League

The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...

 for the 2010 season

2010 Canadian Soccer League season

The 2010 Canadian Soccer League season began on Saturday May 8, 2010 and ended on October 31. Brantford Galaxy SC won their first championship in their inaugural season with a 3-0 win over Hamilton Croatia in the 2010 CSL Championship Final at the Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke on October...

.

In 2010 the team led the CSL in fan support, finished the regular season in third place, and made it to the CSL Playoff Final where they eventually lost to the Brantford Galaxy SC at Centennial Park Stadium

Centennial Park Stadium

The Centennial Park Stadium is a 2,200 seat capacity stadium in Etobicoke, Ontario, that is primarily used for soccer, track and field, football and occasionally for kabbadi. It is located within Centennial Park ....

 in Etobicoke on October 31, 2010.

After their one successful season it was announced on February 11, 2011 that the club's executive board decided to withdraw from the league.

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 Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , host Chicago Hrvat HNNK Hrvat Chicago HNNK Hrvat Chicago is a Croatian backed soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League of Chicago, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois....	Champions
1965	Ontario Cup Ontario Cup The Ontario Cup is a soccer tournament for clubs based in the province of Ontario in Canada. It began play in 1901 under the Canadian Football Association, now known as the Ontario Soccer Association.-History:...	Semi-Finals
1965	Hamilton Spectator Cup	Champions
1965	Inter-City League	Champions
1967	4th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , host Milwaukee Orlovi Croatian Eagles Croatian Eagles Soccer Club from Milwaukee is a Croatian American soccer team. The club was established in 1922, making it the oldest soccer club in the Croatian diaspora....	Runners-up
1969	6th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , host Toronto Croatia Toronto Croatia C.N.S.C. Toronto Croatia is a Canadian soccer team, founded in 1956. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the highest level soccer league in Canada, and play in the International Division....	Champions
1970	National Soccer League Canadian National Soccer League The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...  Playoffs	Champions
1970	National Soccer League Canadian National Soccer League The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...	Runners-up
1971	8th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , host Chicago CBP	Runners-up
1971	National Soccer League Canadian National Soccer League The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...	Third Place
1972	National Soccer League Canadian National Soccer League The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...	Third Place
1975	12th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , host Cleveland Croatia	Runners-up
1977	14th CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , host Chicago Hrvat HNNK Hrvat Chicago HNNK Hrvat Chicago is a Croatian backed soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League of Chicago, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois....	Third Place
1986	23rd CNSF of Canada & USA Tournament Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , 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 Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , 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 Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , 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 Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament The Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament is a soccer tournament established in 1964 featuring teams representing the Croatian Canadian and Croatian American communities... , 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 Ontario Cup The Ontario Cup is a soccer tournament for clubs based in the province of Ontario in Canada. It began play in 1901 under the Canadian Football Association, now known as the Ontario Soccer Association.-History:...	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 Ontario Cup The Ontario Cup is a soccer tournament for clubs based in the province of Ontario in Canada. It began play in 1901 under the Canadian Football Association, now known as the Ontario Soccer Association.-History:...	Semi-Finals
2009	Hamilton Spectator Cup	Champions
2009	Ontario Soccer League Alf Beese Cup	Champions
2009	Ontario Soccer League Provincial West Division	Champions
2010 2010 Canadian Soccer League season The 2010 Canadian Soccer League season began on Saturday May 8, 2010 and ended on October 31. Brantford Galaxy SC won their first championship in their inaugural season with a 3-0 win over Hamilton Croatia in the 2010 CSL Championship Final at the Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke on October...	Canadian Soccer League Canadian Soccer League The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...  Regular Season	Third Place
2010 2010 Canadian Soccer League season The 2010 Canadian Soccer League season began on Saturday May 8, 2010 and ended on October 31. Brantford Galaxy SC won their first championship in their inaugural season with a 3-0 win over Hamilton Croatia in the 2010 CSL Championship Final at the Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke on October...	Canadian Soccer League Canadian Soccer League The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006... Playoffs	Runners-up