# 1938–39 Swiss 1. Liga

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

| Club | Based in | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Aarau | Aarau | Aargau | Stadion Brügglifeld | 9,240 |
| FC Bern | Bern | Bern | Stadion Neufeld | 14,000 |
| FC Cantonal Neuchâtel | Neuchâtel | Neuchâtel | Stade de la Maladière | 25,500 |
| FC Concordia Yverdon | Yverdon-les-Bains | Vaud | Stade Municipal | 6,600 |
| Dopolavoro Genève | Genève | Geneva | | |
| FC Fribourg | Fribourg | Fribourg | Stade Universitaire | 9,000 |
| FC Monthey | Monthey | Valais | Stade Philippe Pottier | 1,800 |
| FC Montreux-Sports | Montreux | Vaud | Stade de Chailly | 1,000 |
| FC Forward Morges | Morges | Vaud | Parc des Sports | 600 |
| FC Solothurn | Solothurn | Solothurn | Stadion FC Solothurn | 6,750 |
| Urania Genève Sport | Genève | Geneva | Stade de Frontenex | 4,000 |
| Vevey Sports | Vevey | Vaud | Stade de Copet | 4,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Cantonal Neuchâtel | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 70 | 26 | +44 | 34 | To promotion play-off |
| 2 | Urania Genève Sport | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 46 | 36 | +10 | 29 | |
| 3 | FC Fribourg | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 43 | 34 | +9 | 24 | |
| 4 | FC Solothurn | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 45 | 36 | +9 | 24 | |
| 5 | Dopolavoro Genève | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 28 | 41 | −13 | 23 | |
| 6 | FC Forward Morges | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 22 | |
| 7 | FC Monthey | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 20 | |
| 8 | FC Bern | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 35 | 41 | −6 | 19 | |
| 9 | FC Montreux-Sports | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 49 | −18 | 19 | |
| 10 | FC Aarau | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 43 | −2 | 18 | Decider tenth/eleventh position |
| 11 | Vevey Sports | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 18 | Decider tenth/eleventh position |
| 12 | FC Concordia Yverdon | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 28 | 49 | −21 | 14 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

### 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.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Aarau | 2–1 | Vevey Sports |
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

| Club | Based in | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| AC Bellinzona | Bellinzona | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Bellinzona | 5,000 |
| FC Birsfelden | Birsfelden | Basel-Landschaft | Sternenfeld | 9,400 |
| FC Blue Stars Zürich | Zürich | Zürich | Hardhof | 1,000 |
| SC Brühl | St. Gallen | St. Gallen | Paul-Grüninger-Stadion | 4,200 |
| FC Chiasso | Chiasso | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Riva IV | 4,000 |
| FC Concordia Basel | Basel | Basel-Stadt | Stadion Rankhof | 7,000 |
| SC Juventus Zürich | Zürich | Zürich | Utogrund | 2,850 |
| FC Kreuzlingen | Kreuzlingen | Thurgau | Sportplatz Hafenareal | 1,200 |
| FC Locarno | Locarno | Ticino | Stadio comunale Lido | 5,000 |
| FC St. Gallen | St. Gallen | St. Gallen | Espenmoos | 11,000 |
| FC Zürich | Zürich | Zürich | Letzigrund | 25,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC St. Gallen | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 59 | 26 | +33 | 30 | To promotion play-off |
| 2 | FC Concordia Basel | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 27 | |
| 3 | AC Bellinzona | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 26 | |
| 4 | SC Brühl | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 24 | |
| 5 | FC Zürich | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 45 | 43 | +2 | 24 | |
| 6 | FC Locarno | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 36 | 27 | +9 | 23 | |
| 7 | FC Birsfelden | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 22 | |
| 8 | FC Blue Stars Zürich | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 26 | 29 | −3 | 20 | |
| 9 | FC Chiasso | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 38 | −11 | 20 | |
| 10 | SC Juventus Zürich | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 34 | 45 | −11 | 19 | |
| 11 | FC Kreuzlingen | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 30 | 44 | −14 | 16 | Play-out against relegation |
| 12 | FC Winterthur | 22 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 16 | 42 | −26 | 13 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

## 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

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| St. Gallen | 3–0 | Cantonal Neuchâtel |
| Cantonal Neuchâtel | 1–1 | St. Gallen |
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.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Vevey Sports | 6–1 | Kreuzlingen |
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