The 1938–39 1. Liga season was the 7th season of the 1. Liga since its creation in 1931. At this time, the 1. Liga was the second-tier of the Swiss football league system.
Overview There were 24 clubs that competed in the 1. Liga this season. They were divided into two regional groups, each with 12 teams. The teams in each group played a double round-robin to decide their league position. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw. Both group winners then contested a play-off round to decide the championship and promotion to the top-tier Nationalliga. The last placed team in each group were directly relegated to the 2. Liga (third tier) and the two second last teams played a play-out against the third and last relegation slot.
Group West Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Aarau Aarau Stadion Brügglifeld FC Bern Bern Stadion Neufeld FC Cantonal Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Stade de la Maladière FC Concordia Yverdon Yverdon-les-Bains Stade Municipal Dopolavoro Genève Genève FC Fribourg Fribourg Stade Universitaire FC Monthey Monthey Stade Philippe Pottier FC Montreux-Sports Montreux Stade de Chailly FC Forward Morges Morges Parc des Sports FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn Urania Genève Sport Genève Stade de Frontenex Vevey Sports Vevey Stade de Copet
Final league table
Decider for tenth place Because Aarau and Vevey Sports finished level on points. A decider for tenth and eleventh place was required, because eleventh place was the relegation play-out slot. The decider was played on 4 June at Stade Universitaire in Fribourg.
Aarau won and remained in the division in for the next season. Vevey Sports had to contest the play-out against relegation with the eleventh placed team of the other group.
Group East Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity AC Bellinzona Bellinzona Stadio Comunale Bellinzona FC Birsfelden Birsfelden Sternenfeld FC Blue Stars Zürich Zürich Hardhof SC Brühl St. Gallen Paul-Grüninger-Stadion FC Chiasso Chiasso Stadio Comunale Riva IV FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof SC Juventus Zürich Zürich Utogrund FC Kreuzlingen Kreuzlingen Sportplatz Hafenareal FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido FC St. Gallen St. Gallen Espenmoos FC Zürich Zürich Letzigrund
Final league table
Promotion, relegation The two group winners played a two legged tie for the title of 1. Liga champions and for promotion to the 1939–40 Nationalliga. The games were played on 4 and 11 June 1939. Championship play-off
St. Gallen won the 1. Liga championship title and were promoted to 1939–40 Nationalliga. Cantonal Neuchâtel remained in the division for the next season.
Relegation play-out The two second last placed teams from each group played a single legged tie to decide the third and last relegation slot. The game was played on 18 June in Vevey.
Vevey Sports won and remained in the division. Kreuzlingen were relegated to the 2. Liga.
Further in Swiss football 1938–39 Nationalliga 1938–39 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1938–39 at RSSSF