The 1977–78 1. Liga was the 46th season of this league since its creation in 1931. At this time, the 1. Liga was the third tier of the Swiss football league system and it was the highest level of amateur football.
Format There were 56 clubs in the 1. Liga. These were divided into four regional groups, each with 14 teams. Within each group, the teams would play a double round-robin to decide their league position. Two points were awarded for a win. The four group winners and the four runners-up contested a play-off round to decide the two promotion slots. The two last placed teams in each group were directly relegated to the 2. Liga (fourth tier).
Group 1 Teams ClubCantonStadiumCapacity FC Central Fribourg Fribourg Guintzet FC Concordia Lausanne Vaud Centre sportif de la Tuilière FC Fétigny Fribourg Stade Communal Fétigny FC Leytron Valais Stade Saint-Martin ES FC Malley Vaud Centre sportif de la Tuilière FC Martigny-Sports Valais Stade d'Octodure FC Meyrin Geneva Stade des Arbères FC Monthey Valais Stade Philippe Pottier FC Onex Geneva Stade municipal d'Onex FC Orbe Vaud Stade du Puisoir FC Raron Valais Sportplatz Rhoneglut FC Renens Waadt Zone sportive du Censuy FC Stade LausanneVaud Centre sportif de Vidy FC Stade Nyonnais Vaud Stade de Colovray
Final league table
Decider for twelfth place The decider was played on 4 June in Morges.
The game was drawn, however, at this time, extra-time in matches had not yet been introduced. FC Monthey were declared winners due to goal-average of the regular season. Therefore, they remained in the division and FC Onex were relegated to 2. Liga Interregional.
Group 2 Teams ClubCantonStadiumCapacityASI Audax-FriulNeuchâtelPierre-à-Bot FC Aurore Bienne Bern Tilleul-Linde FC Bern Bern Stadion Neufeld FC Bettlach Solothurn Neufeld US Boncourt Jura Stade Communal Léon Burrus FC Boudry Neuchâtel Stade des Buchilles SR Delémont Jura La Blancherie SC Derendingen Solothurn Heidenegg FC Dürrenast Bern Stadion Lachen FC Herzogenbuchsee Bern Waldäcker FC Köniz Bern Sportplatz Liebefeld-Hessgut FC Lerchenfeld canton of Bern Sportanlagen Waldeck FC Le Locle Neuchâtel Installation sportive - Jeanneret FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn
Final league table
Decider for twelfth place The decider was played on in .
FC Herzogenbuchsee won and remained in the division. ASI Audax-Friul were relegated to 2. Liga Interregional.
Group 3 Teams ClubCantonStadiumCapacity FC Baden Aargau Esp Stadium FC Birsfelden Basel-Country Sternenfeld FC Blue Stars Zürich ZürichHardhof SC Brühl St. Gallen Paul-Grüninger-Stadion FC Concordia Basel Basel-City Stadion Rankhof FC Frauenfeld Thurgau Kleine Allmend FC Glattbrugg Zürich Sportanlage Au FC Laufen Basel-Country Sportplatz Nau SV Muttenz Basel-Country Sportplatz Margelacker FC Red Star Zürich Zürich Allmend Brunau FC Schaffhausen Schaffhausen Stadion Breite FC Turgi Aargau Sportanlage Oberau FC Unterstrass Zürich Steinkluppe FC Uzwil St. Gallen Rüti
Final league table
Decider for second place The decider match for second place was played on 4 June in Olten.
FC Laufen win and advance to play-offs. FC Unterstrass remain in the division.
Decider for twelfth place The decider was played on 4 June in Amriswil.
FC Red Star Zürich win and remain in the division. FC Uzwil are relegated to 2. Liga Interregional.
Group 4 Teams ClubCantonStadiumCapacity FC Balzers Liechtenstein Sportplatz Rheinau FC Brunnen Schwyz Wintersried SC Buochs Nidwalden Stadion Seefeld FC Chur Grisons Ringstrasse SC Emmen Lucerne Sportanlage Feldbreite US Giubiasco Ticino Campo Semine FC Ibach Schwyz Gerbihof FC Locarno Locarno, Ticino Stadio comunale Lido Mendrisiostar Ticino Centro Sportivo Comunale FC Morbio Ticino Campo comunale Balerna FC Stäfa Zürich Sportanlage Frohberg FC Turicum Zürich Hardhof FC Zug Zug Herti Allmend Stadion SC Zug Zug Herti Allmend Stadion
Final league table
Promotion play-off Qualification round
FC Bern win on away goals and continue to the finals.
Mendrisiostar win 4–0 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
FC Laufen win 4–3 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
FC Frauenfeld win 3–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
Final round
FC Frauenfeld win 3–2 on aggregate and are promoted to 1978–79 Nationalliga B.
1–1 on aggregate. The replay was on 27 June in Grenchen.
FC Bern win and are promoted to 1978–79 Nationalliga B.
Decider for 1. Liga championship The final for the 1. Liga championship was played on 2 July in Frauenfeld.
FC Bern win and are 1. Liga champions.
Further in Swiss football 1977–78 Nationalliga A 1977–78 Nationalliga B 1977–78 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1977–78 at RSSSF