The 1976–77 1. Liga was the 45th 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 was a modification to the 1. Liga taking place at this time. The 1. Liga had been increased from 39 clubs, in three groups last season, to 48 clubs for the beginning of this season. These 48 teams were divided into four regional groups, each group with 12 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. At the end of the season the number of clubs was to be increased to 56 in four groups of 14 teams and, therefore, in this season only the last placed team from each group was to be relegated to the 2. Liga (fourth tier). From the following season onwards two teams from each group were to be relegated.
Group 1 Teams ClubCantonStadiumCapacity FC Boudry Neuchâtel Stade des Buchilles FC Bulle Fribourg Stade de Bouleyres FC Central Fribourg Fribourg Guintzet FC Fétigny Fribourg Stade Communal Fétigny FC Martigny-Sports Valais Stade d'Octodure FC Meyrin Geneva Stade des Arbères FC Monthey Valais Stade Philippe Pottier FC Orbe Vaud Stade du Puisoir FC Renens Waadt Zone sportive du Censuy FC Sierre Valais Complexe Ecossia FC Stade LausanneVaud Centre sportif de Vidy FC Stade Nyonnais Vaud Stade de Colovray
Final league table
Group 2 Teams ClubCantonStadiumCapacityASI Audax-FriulNeuchâtelPierre-à-Bot FC Aurore Bienne Bern Tilleul-Linde FC Bern Bern Stadion Neufeld US Boncourt Jura Stade Communal Léon Burrus SR Delémont Jura La Blancherie SC Derendingen Solothurn Heidenegg FC Dürrenast Bern Stadion Lachen FC Köniz Bern Sportplatz Liebefeld-Hessgut FC Le Locle Neuchâtel Installation sportive - Jeanneret FC Lerchenfeld Bern Sportanlagen Waldeck FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn FC Superga Neuchâtel Collège de la Charrière
Final league table
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 SC Kleinhüningen Basel-City Sportplatz Schorenmatte 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 Wettingen Aargau Stadion Altenburg
Final league table
Group 4 Teams ClubCantonStadiumCapacity FC Balzers Liechtenstein Sportplatz Rheinau FC Brunnen Schwyz Wintersried SC Buochs Nidwalden Stadion Seefeld FC Chur Grisons Ringstrasse FC Glattbrugg Zürich Sportanlage Au FC Ibach Schwyz Gerbihof FC Locarno Locarno, Ticino Stadio comunale Lido FC Morbio Ticino Campo comunale Balerna FC Rüti Zürich Schützenwiese FC Unterstrass Zürich Steinkluppe FC Zug Zug Herti Allmend Stadion SC Zug Zug Herti Allmend Stadion
Final league table
Decider for second place The decider match for second place was played on 24 May in Küsnacht.
FC Zug win and advance to play-offs. FC Chur remain in the division.
Decider for eleventh place The decider was played on 30 May in Brunnen.
The game was drawn, however, at this period in time, the extra-time as match extension had not yet been introduced. FC Morbio were declaired winners due to goal-average of the regular season and, therefore, they remained in the division and FC Rüti were relegated to 2. Liga Interregional.
Promotion play-off The games were played on 29 May and 5 June.
Qualification round
FC Laufen win 2–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
FC Bern win 3–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
FC Bulle win 5–2 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
FC Wettingen win 3–0 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
Final round The games were played on 12 and 19 June.
FC Bulle win 5–2 on aggregate and are promoted to 1977–78 Nationalliga B.
FC Wettingen win 5–1 on aggregate and are promoted to 1977–78 Nationalliga B.
Decider for 1. Liga championship The final for the league championship was played on 22 June in Wettingen.
FC Wettingen win and are 1. Liga champions.
Further in Swiss football 1976–77 Nationalliga A 1976–77 Nationalliga B 1976–77 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1976–77 at RSSSF