The 1953–54 1. Liga season was the 22nd 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 totally amateur football, because at this time, the clubs in the two higher divisions in Switzerland were starting to employ semi-professional and even professional players.
Format There were 36 teams competing in the 1. Liga this 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 FC Central Fribourg Fribourg Guintzet FC Étoile-Sporting La Chaux-de-Fonds Les Foulets / Terrain des Eplatures / CS La Tour-de-Peilz La Tour-de-Peilz Stade de Bel-Air US Lausanne Lausanne 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) Vevey Sports Vevey Stade de Copet
Final league table
Group Central Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity SC Burgdorf Burgdorf Stadion Neumatt FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof SR Delémont Delémont La Blancherie SC Derendingen Derendingen Heidenegg FC Helvetia Bern Bern Spitalacker, Bern SC Kleinhüningen Basel Sportplatz Schorenmatte FC Lengnau Lengnau Moos Lengnau BE FC Moutier Moutier Stade de Chalière FC Nordstern Basel Basel Rankhof 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 Baden Baden Esp Stadium FC Blue Stars Zürich Zürich Hardhof FC Bodio Bodio Campo comunale Pollegio SC Brühl St. Gallen Paul-Grüninger-Stadion FC Küsnacht Küsnacht Sportanlage Heslibach FC Mendrisio Mendrisio Centro Sportivo Comunale FC Oerlikon Oerlikon (Zürich) Sportanlage Neudorf US Pro Daro Bellinzona Campo Geretta / Stadio Comunale Bellinzona / FC Red Star Zürich Zürich Allmend Brunau SC Schöftland Schöftland Sportanlage Rütimatten SC Zug Zug Herti Allmend Stadion
Final league table
Promotion, relegation Promotion play-off The three group winners played a single round-robin to decide the two promotion slots. The promotion play-offs were held 6, 13 and 20 June 1954.
Blue Stars are 1. Liga Champions and together with runners-up Nordstern were promoted to 1954–55 Nationalliga B. US Bienne-Boujean remained in the division.
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 matches in the play-outs were held on 13, 20 and 27 June 1954.
Central Fribourg and Saint-Imier-Sports remained in the division, SC Schöftland were relegated to 2. Liga.
Further in Swiss football 1953–54 Nationalliga A 1953–54 Nationalliga B 1953–54 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1953–54 at RSSSF