The 1959–60 1. Liga season was the 28th 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, most the clubs in the highest division, and also in the second highest, in Switzerland were starting to employ semi-professional or even professional players.
Format There were 36 teams competing in the 1. Liga 1959–60 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 and one for a draw. 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 US Bienne-Boujean Biel/Bienne FC Bözingen 34 Biel/Bienne Längfeld SC Derendingen Derendingen Heidenegg Étoile Carouge FC Carouge Stade de la Fontenette 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 Sierre Sierre Complexe Ecossia FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn FC Stade Payerne Payerne Stade Municipal FC Versoix Versoix Centre sportif de la Bécassière
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 SC Burgdorf Burgdorf Stadion Neumatt FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof SR Delémont Delémont La Blancherie FC Moutier Moutier Stade de Chalière FC Nordstern Basel Basel Rankhof BSC Old Boys Basel Stadion Schützenmatte FC Olten Olten Sportanlagen Kleinholz FC Porrentruy Porrentruy Stade du Tirage 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 Dietikon Dietikon Fussballplatz Dornau FC Emmenbrücke Emmen Stadion Gersag SV Höngg Zürich Hönggerberg FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido FC Rapid Lugano Lugano Cornaredo Stadium Mendrisiostar Mendrisio Centro Sportivo Comunale FC Red Star Zürich Zürich Allmend Brunau FC Solduno Locarno Campo Morettina / Stadio del Lido / FC St. Gallen St. Gallen Espenmoos FC Wil Wil Sportpark Bergholz
Final league table
Decider for first place The decider match for first place and division championship was played on 12 June 1960 in Olten.
FC Bodio win group championship and advance to play-offs for promotion. Blue Stars remain in the division.
Decider for eleventh position The play-outs were played on 12, 15 and 19 June.
FC Dietikon and FC Wil remain in division. SV Höngg continue in play-outs against relegation.
Promotion, relegation Play-off for promotion The play-offs for the two promotion slots were played on 12, 15 and 19 June.
Martigny-Sports become 1. Liga champions and together with Nordstern are promoted to 1960–61 Nationalliga B.
Play-out against relegation The play-outs were played on 12 and 26 June.
The match Wettingen–Höngg was not played, both teams remain in division. As fourth and final team US Bienne-Boujean are relegated to 2. Liga.
Further in Swiss football 1959–60 Nationalliga A 1959–60 Nationalliga B 1959–60 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1959–60 at RSSSF