The 1944–45 1. Liga season was the 13th season of the 1. Liga since its creation in 1931. This was the first season of a completely new format in Swiss football.

Overview Preamble In Switzerland during the second world war, sport became an integral part of the "spiritual national defense". This was a political and cultural movement that had already become increasingly important during the late 1930s. Politicians, intellectuals and media professionals had increasingly called for measures to strengthen Switzerland's basic cultural values. Since the Nationalliga games were also considered to be one of the activities that seemed important for maintaining the morale of the population, the military authorities put considerably fewer obstacles in the way of the top players as they had during the previous World War.

ASF/SFV Therefore, it came about that the Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) expanded themselves. The decision of the extraordinary assembly, held on 9 October 1943 in Lugano, was to double the number of members to 28 clubs for the 1944–45 season. The Nationalliga was divided into two strength classes each with 14 teams. The previous Nationalliga became the Nationalliga A (NLA), while the Nationalliga B (NLB) was newly formed with the 14 best teams of the previous 1. Liga season.

Format From this moment, the 1. Liga became the third-tier of the Swiss football league system. It was also increased in size, from 25 clubs in two groups, to new three groups with 10 teams each. The remaining 11 clubs from last season were joined by 19 teams brought up from the next lowest tier. This format would be expanded over the next two seasons by adding one team pro group in both seasons, so that there would be 36 clubs in the division within two seasons. The teams were divided into three regional groups, this season each group with 10 teams. Within each individual 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 to the second-tier (NLB). The last placed team in each group was directly relegated to the 2. Liga, which now became the new fourth-tier.

Group West Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity CA Genève Geneva FC Central Fribourg Fribourg Guintzet FC Helvetia Bern Bern Spitalacker, Bern FC Montreux-Sports Montreux Stade de Chailly Racing Club Lausanne Lausanne Centre sportif de la Tuilière FC Renens Renens Zone sportive du Censuy FC Sierre Sierre Complexe Ecossia FC Sion Sion Parc des sports (Tourbillon) FC Thun Thun Stadion Lachen Vevey Sports Vevey Stade de Copet

Final league table

Group Central Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity US Bienne-Boujean Biel/Bienne FC Birsfelden Birsfelden Sternenfeld FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof SC Kleinhüningen Basel Sportplatz Schorenmatte FC Le Locle Le Locle Installation sportive - Jeanneret FC Moutier Moutier Stade de Chalière FC Pratteln Pratteln In den Sandgruben SC Schöftland Schöftland Sportanlage Rütimatten FC Tavannes/Tramelan Tramelan Bâloise Stadium / (Allianz Suisse Stadium) / () SC Zofingen Zofingen Sportanlagen Trinermatten

Final league table

Decider for group winners The decider match for the group championship was played on 24 June 1945 in Basel

FC Pratteln win and advance to the promotion play-offs. Concordia remain in the division.

Group South and East Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Adliswil Adliswil Tüfi FC Altstetten (Zürich) Altstetten Buchlern FC Arbon Arbon Stacherholz FC Blue Stars Zürich Zürich Hardhof FC Chiasso Chiasso Stadio Comunale Riva IV FC Kickers Luzern Lucerne Stadion Auf Tribschen FC Red Star Zürich Zürich Allmend Brunau FC Schaffhausen Schaffhausen Stadion Breite FC Uster Uster Sportanlage Buchholz FC Winterthur Winterthur Schützenwiese

Final league table

Promotion The three group winners played a single round-robin to decide the overall championship and the two promotion slots. The promotion play-offs were held on 17 June, 1 and 8 July 1945. Promotion play-off

FC Schaffhausen became overall 1. Liga Champions and together with runners-up FC Helvetia Bern were promoted to 1945–46 Nationalliga B. FC Pratteln remained in the division for the next season.

Further in Swiss football 1944–45 Nationalliga A 1944–45 Nationalliga B 1944–45 Swiss Cup

References

Sources Switzerland 1944–45 at RSSSF