The 1952–53 1. Liga season was the 21st 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.
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 CS International Genève Geneva CS La Tour-de-Peilz La Tour-de-Peilz Stade de Bel-Air US Lausanne Lausanne FC Martigny-Sports Martigny Stade d'Octodure 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 Yverdon-Sport FC Yverdon-les-Bains Stade Municipal
Final league table
Decider for eleventh place The decider was played on 14 and 21 June 1953.
US Lausanne win and continue in the play-outs. CS International Genève are relegated directly to 2. Liga Interregional.
Group Central Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity SC Burgdorf Burgdorf Stadion Neumatt FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof 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 BSC Old Boys Basel Stadion Schützenmatte FC Porrentruy Porrentruy Stade du Tirage Saint-Imier-Sports Saint-Imier Terrain de Fin-des-Fourches FC Thun Thun Stadion Lachen
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 SC Brühl St. Gallen Paul-Grüninger-Stadion FC Küsnacht Küsnacht Sportanlage Heslibach FC Mendrisio Mendrisio Centro Sportivo Comunale FC Olten Olten Sportanlagen Kleinholz US Pro Daro Bellinzona Campo Geretta / Stadio Comunale Bellinzona / FC Red Star Zürich Zürich Allmend Brunau SV Ceresio Schaffhausen Schaffhausen Sportplatz Bühl SC Schöftland Schöftland Sportanlage Rütimatten FC Wetzikon Wetzikon Meierwiesen
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 14 and 21 and 28 June 1953.
Thun are 1. Liga Champions and together with runners-up Yverdon-Sport were promoted to 1953–54 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 matches in the play-outs were held on 21, 28 June and 5 July.
FC Moutier und US Lausanne remained in the division, FC Wetzikon were relegated to 2. Liga.
Further in Swiss football 1952–53 Nationalliga A 1952–53 Nationalliga B 1952–53 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1952–53 at RSSSF