The 1961–62 1. Liga season was the 30th 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 36 teams competing in the 1. Liga 1961–62 season. They were divided into three 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 three group winners then contested a play-off round to decide the two promotion slots. The last placed team in each group were relegated to the 2. Liga (fourth tier). The groups were to be stocked up, each with one additional club for the next season, therefore these three relegated teams would be replaced by six promoted teams from the 2. Liga.
Group West Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Bözingen 34 Biel/Bienne Längfeld FC Cantonal Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Stade de la Maladière Étoile Carouge FC Carouge Stade de la Fontenette FC Le Locle Le Locle Installation sportive - Jeanneret FC Lengnau Lengnau Moos Lengnau BE ES FC Malley Malley Centre sportif de la Tuilière FC Monthey Monthey Stade Philippe Pottier FC Forward Morges Morges Parc des Sports FC Raron Raron Sportplatz Rhoneglut FC Sierre Sierre Complexe Ecossia FC Versoix Versoix Centre sportif de la Bécassière FC Xamax Neuchâtel Stade de la Maladière
Final league table
Xamax had 8 points deducted because they had been accused by former coach Vidjak of paying illegal bonuses to the players.
Group Central Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Alle Alle Centre Sportif Régional FC Breitenbach Breitenbach Grien SC Burgdorf Burgdorf Stadion Neumatt FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof SR Delémont Delémont La Blancherie FC Emmenbrücke Emmen Stadion Gersag FC Langenthal Langenthal Rankmatte FC Moutier Moutier Stade de Chalière 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 Dietikon Dietikon Fussballplatz Dornau SV Höngg Zürich Hönggerberg FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido FC Oerlikon/Polizei ZH Oerlikon (Zürich) Sportanlage Neudorf FC Rapid Lugano Lugano Cornaredo Stadium FC Red Star Zürich Zürich Allmend Brunau FC Solduno Locarno Campo Morettina / Stadio del Lido / FC St. Gallen St. Gallen Espenmoos FC Vaduz Vaduz Liechtenstein Rheinpark Stadion FC Wettingen Wettingen Stadion Altenburg
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
FC Moutier were declaired 1. Liga champions. The champions and the runners-up Cantonal Neuchâtel were promoted to 1962–63 Nationalliga B.
Further in Swiss football 1961–62 Nationalliga A 1961–62 Nationalliga B 1961–62 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1961–62 at RSSSF