The 1960–61 1. Liga season was the 29th 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 semi-professional or even professional players.
Format There were 36 teams competing in the 1. Liga 1960–61 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 directly relegated to the 2. Liga (fourth tier). The three second last placed teams were to contest a play-out to decide the fourth relegation slot.
Group West Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Bözingen 34 Biel/Bienne Längfeld SC Burgdorf Burgdorf Stadion Neumatt Étoile Carouge FC Carouge Stade de la Fontenette FC Langenthal Langenthal Rankmatte 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 Stade Payerne Payerne Stade Municipal FC Versoix Versoix Centre sportif de la Bécassière FC Xamax Neuchâtel Stade de la Maladière
Final league table
Group Central Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Alle Alle Centre Sportif Régional FC Baden Baden Esp Stadium FC Bassecourt Bassecourt Stade des Grands-Prés FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof SR Delémont Delémont La Blancherie FC Dietikon Dietikon Fussballplatz Dornau FC Lengnau Lengnau Moos Lengnau BE FC Moutier Moutier Stade de Chalière BSC Old Boys Basel Stadion Schützenmatte FC Porrentruy Porrentruy Stade du Tirage FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn FC Wettingen Wettingen Stadion Altenburg
Final league table
Group South and East Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Blue Stars Zürich Zürich Hardhof FC Bodio Bodio Campo comunale Pollegio FC Emmenbrücke Emmen Stadion Gersag SV Höngg Zürich Hönggerberg AS Lamone-Cadempino Lamone FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido 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 Wil Wil Sportpark Bergholz
Final league table
Promotion, relegation Promotion play-off The three group winners played single a round-robin for the two promotion slots and for the championship. The games were played on 18 and 25 June and 2 July 1961.
FC Porrentruy became 1. Liga champions. The champions and the runners-up FC Bodio were promoted to 1961–62 Nationalliga B. SC Burgdorf remained in the division.
Relegation play-out The three second last placed teams in each group, contested a play-out to decide the fourth and last relegation slot. The games were played on 18 and 25 June and 2 July 1961.
Delémont and Malley remained in the division. FC Wil were relegated to 2. Liga.
Further in Swiss football 1960–61 Nationalliga A 1960–61 Nationalliga B 1960–61 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1960–61 at RSSSF