The 1956–57 1. Liga season was the 25th 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 starting to employ semi-professional or even professional players.
Format There were 36 teams competing in the 1. Liga 1956–57 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 point was awarded 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 SC Burgdorf Burgdorf Stadion Neumatt CS International Genève Geneva FC La Tour/Le Pâquier La Tour-de-Trême (Bulle) Stade de Bouleyres FC Martigny-Sports Martigny Stade d'Octodure FC Monthey Monthey Stade Philippe Pottier FC Montreux-Sports Montreux Stade de Chailly FC Forward Morges Morges Parc des Sports FC Sierre Sierre Complexe Ecossia FC Sion Sion Parc des sports (Tourbillon) FC Stade Payerne Payerne Stade Municipal Vevey Sports Vevey Stade de Copet
Final league table
Group Central Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Aarau Aarau Stadion Brügglifeld FC Baden Baden Esp Stadium FC Bassecourt Bassecourt Stade des Grands-Prés FC Birsfelden Birsfelden Sternenfeld FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof SR Delémont Delémont La Blancherie SC Derendingen Derendingen Heidenegg SC Kleinhüningen Basel Sportplatz Schorenmatte FC Moutier Moutier Stade de Chalière FC Olten Olten Sportanlagen Kleinholz FC Porrentruy Porrentruy Stade du Tirage Saint-Imier-Sports Saint-Imier Terrain de Fin-des-Fourches
Final league table
Group South and East Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Arbon Arbon Stacherholz FC Blue Stars Zürich Zürich Hardhof FC Bodio Bodio Campo comunale Pollegio FC Emmenbrücke Emmen Stadion Gersag FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido FC Mendrisio Mendrisio Centro Sportivo Comunale FC Oerlikon Oerlikon (Zürich) Sportanlage Neudorf US Pro Daro Bellinzona Campo Geretta / Stadio Comunale Bellinzona / FC Rapid Lugano Lugano Cornaredo Stadium FC Red Star Zürich Zürich Allmend Brunau FC Rorschach Rorschach Sportplatz Kellen FC Wil Wil Sportpark Bergholz
Final league table
Promotion, relegation Promotion play-off The three group winners played a single round-robin to decide the two promotion slots. The games were played on 16, 23 and 30 June 1958. Round robin
Replay Because of the egality of the teams, a return round was required. The games were played on 6, 13 and 20 July.
Final table Because of the egality on points, the goal-average of both rounds added together decided the championship.
Team Concordia were declaired 1. Liga champions and together with second placed Sion were promoted to the 1957–58 Nationalliga B.
Relegation play-out The three second last placed teams from each group contested a play-out to decide the fourth and final relegation slot. The games were played on 23, 30 June and 7 July 1957.
Team Oerlikon were relegated to 2. Liga.
Further in Swiss football 1956–57 Nationalliga A 1956–57 Nationalliga B 1956–57 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1956–57 at RSSSF