The 1962–63 1. Liga season was the 31st season of the 1. Liga 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 total amateur football. At this time the clubs in the two higher divisions in Switzerland were beginning to employ professional or moreover semi-professional players.
Format There were 39 teams competing in the 1. Liga 1962–63 season. They were divided into three regional groups, each group with 13 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 three group winners then contested a play-off round to decide the two promotion slots. The last two placed teams in each group were relegated to the 2. Liga (fourth tier).
Group West Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity Étoile Carouge FC Carouge Stade de la Fontenette FC Le Locle Le Locle Installation sportive - Jeanneret ES FC Malley Malley Centre sportif de la Tuilière FC Martigny-Sports Martigny Stade d'Octodure FC Monthey Monthey Stade Philippe Pottier FC Forward Morges Morges Parc des Sports FC Raron Raron Sportplatz Rhoneglut FC Renens Renens Zone sportive du Censuy FC Sierre Sierre Complexe Ecossia FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy, Lausanne Centre sportif de Vidy FC Versoix Versoix Centre sportif de la Bécassière Xamax Neuchâtel Stade de la Maladière Yverdon-Sport FC Yverdon-les-Bains Stade Municipal
Final league table
Decider for first place The decider match for the group winners was played on 22 June at Stade de Frontenex in Genève.
Etoile Carouge won and advanced to play-offs. Versoix remained in the division.
Group Central Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Alle Alle Centre Sportif Régional FC Breite Basel Basel Stadion Schützenmatte / Landhof / SC Burgdorf Burgdorf Stadion Neumatt FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof SR Delémont Delémont La Blancherie FC Emmenbrücke Emmen Stadion Gersag FC Gerlafingen Gerlafingen Kirchacker FC Langenthal Langenthal Rankmatte FC Lengnau Lengnau Moos Lengnau BE FC Nordstern Basel Basel Rankhof BSC Old Boys Basel Stadion Schützenmatte FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn FC Wohlen Wohlen Stadion Niedermatten
Final league table
Group South and East Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Baden Baden Esp Stadium FC Blue Stars Zürich Zürich Hardhof FC Bülach Bülach Stadion Erachfeld FC Dietikon Dietikon Fussballplatz Dornau FC Küsnacht Küsnacht Sportanlage Heslibach FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido FC Rapid Lugano Lugano Cornaredo Stadium FC Oerlikon/Polizei ZH Oerlikon (Zürich) Sportanlage Neudorf FC Red Star Zürich Zürich Allmend Brunau FC Solduno Locarno Campo Morettina / Stadio del Lido / FC St. Gallen St. Gallen Espenmoos FC Wettingen Wettingen Stadion Altenburg FC Vaduz Vaduz Liechtenstein Rheinpark Stadion
Final league table
Promotion play-off The three group winners played single a round-robin for the two promotion slots and for the championship. Round-robin
Replay A replay round-robin was required, due to the egality of the teams
FC Solothurn became 1. Liga champions. The champions and the runners-up Etoile Carouge were promoted to 1963–64 Nationalliga B.
Further in Swiss football 1962–63 Nationalliga A 1962–63 Nationalliga B 1962–63 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1962–63 at RSSSF