The Norwegian First Division, also called 1. divisjon () and COOP-ligaen (due to sponsoring ties with COOP), is the second highest division in women's football in Norway. It was founded in 1984. Between 1984 and 1995 it served as the first tier. 1. divisjon was replaced as a first tier by the Eliteserien which in turn was replaced by the Toppserien in 2000. It continued as a second tier from 1996 and onwards.
First tier Between 1977 and 1983 women's league football in Norway was organized on a county and regional basis. In 1984, three of these leagues, those representing Østlandet, Vestlandet and Trøndelag, merged to form the first national league. However, during the earliest seasons teams continued to play in three regional groups, each with ten teams, and the national title was decided by a play-off between the three group winners. In 1986, a fourth group representing Nord-Norge was added, and the number of teams in the league increased to forty. The league system was subsequently reorganized for the 1987 season. At the end of the 1986 season, thirty of the teams were relegated and formed into a 2. divisjon. The remaining ten teams formed a single nationwide 1. divisjon. The new 1. divisjon remained the top tier of Norwegian women's football until 1995.
List of champions (1984–1995) Year Champions Runners-up Third place1984Sprint-JeløyTrondheims-ØrnNymark1985NymarkAskerTrondheims-Ørn1986Sprint-JeløyTrollKleppGrand1987KleppSprint-JeløyAsker1988AskerKleppTrondheims-Ørn1989AskerSprint-JeløyKlepp1990Sprint-JeløyAskerKlepp1991AskerSprint-JeløySandviken1992AskerSetskog/HølandSprint-Jeløy1993Sprint-JeløyTrondheims-ØrnAsker1994Trondheims-ØrnAskerSprint-Jeløy1995Trondheims-ØrnSetskog/HølandSandviken
Second tier With the establishment of the Eliteserien in 1996 the 1. divisjon became a second tier division. At the same time the original 2. divisjon formed in 1987 became the third tier. The 1. divisjon now featured 58 teams in six regional groups. For the 2001 season the 1. divisjon was greatly reduced in size and it once again became single nationwide division. It initially featured nine teams, gradually adding a tenth before expanding to twelve for the 2009 season.12 teams in the 1. divisjon All nineteen counties of Norway have been represented in the nationwide 1. divisjon since 2001; Østfold was the last county to be represented, when Sarpsborg 08 got promoted in 2010.
Regional format Season Promoted Qualification System 1996 BjørnarVerdal Donn, Fløya Raufoss/Vind, Bergen Nord 58 teams in 6 poolsPlay-off: 2 groups á 3 teams 1997 ByåsenFløya Haugar, JardarKaupanger, Larvik 55 teams in 6 poolsPlay-off: 2 groups á 3 teams 1998 Grand BodøKaupanger Liungen, Solid Larvik, Verdal 55 teams in 6 poolsPlay-off: 2 groups á 3 teams 1999 ByåsenLarvik Medkila, VossHaugar, Liungen 55 teams in 6 poolsPlay-off: 2 groups á 3 teams 2000 LiungenRøa Fløya, Fortuna ÅlesundFollese, Haugar 57 teams in 6 poolsPlay-off: 2 groups á 3 teams
Single Division Format Season Winner Notes 2001 Sandviken Larvik Grand Bodø withdrew, only 9 teams finished the season. 2002 Liungen Fløya Athene Moss withdrew, only 9 teams finished the season. 2003 Sandviken Medkila 2004 Kattem Liungen 2005 Arna-Bjørnar Amazon Grimstad 2006 Asker Kattem, Grand BodøGrand Bodø promoted after qualification. Toppserien expanded to 12 teams, 3rd and 4th place in the 1. divisjon played promotion matches against the bottom two teams in Toppserien. 2007 Fart Larvik 2008 Sandviken Fortuna Ålesund 1. divisjon expanded to 12 teams, the bottom two teams in the 1. divisjon played relegation matches against the winners of the 2. divisjon. 2009 Linderud-Grei Donn 2010 Sandviken Medkila 2011 Vålerenga Fart 2012 Avaldsnes Medkila Medkila lost the promotion-playoff against Kattem, but were still promoted when Kattem withdrew their team. 2013 Grand Bodø — 2014 Sandviken — 2015 Urædd — 2016 Grand Bodø — 2017 Lyn — 2018 Fart — 2019 Fløya — No teams promoted due to number of Toppserien teams reduced from 12 to 10. 2020 Stabæk — Medkila lost the promotion-playoff against Kolbotn. 2021 Røa —
References
External links 1. divisjon at Fotball.no