# 1996–97 Swiss 1. Liga

The 1996–97 Swiss 1. Liga was the 65th season of this league 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 amateur football.

## Format

There were 56 clubs in the 1. Liga, divided into four regional groups of 14 teams. Within each group, the teams would play a double round-robin to decide their league position. The four group winners and the four runners-up then contested a play-off for the two promotion slots. The two last placed teams in each group were directly relegated to the 2. Liga (fourth tier). The four third-last placed teams would compete a play-out against the ninth relegation place.

## Group 1
### Teams

| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Bex | Vaud | Relais | 2,000 |
| FC Bulle | Fribourg | Stade de Bouleyres | 7,000 |
| FC Central Fribourg | Fribourg | Guintzet | 2,000 |
| CS Chênois | Geneva | Stade des Trois-Chêne | 8,000 |
| FC Echallens | Vaud | Sportplatz 3 Sapins | 2,000 |
| FC Fribourg | Fribourg | Stade Universitaire | 9,000 |
| Grand-Lancy FC | Geneva | Stade de Marignac | 1,500 |
| FC Martigny-Sports | Valais | Stade d'Octodure | 2,500 |
| FC Monthey | Valais | Stade Philippe Pottier | 1,800 |
| FC Montreux-Sports | Vaud | Stade de Chailly | 1,000 |
| FC Renens | Waadt | Zone sportive du Censuy | 2,300 |
| FC Stade Lausanne | Vaud | Centre sportif de Vidy | 1,000 |
| FC Stade Nyonnais | Vaud | Stade de Colovray | 7,200 |
| Vevey Sports | Vaud | Stade de Copet | 4,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Renens | 26 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 52 | 14 | +38 | 60 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | FC Fribourg | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 46 | 33 | +13 | 46 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | FC Stade Nyonnais | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 42 | |
| 4 | FC Bulle | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 41 | |
| 5 | FC Martigny-Sports | 26 | 12 | 3 | 11 | 55 | 36 | +19 | 39 | |
| 6 | FC Monthey | 26 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 47 | −3 | 36 | |
| 7 | FC Stade Lausanne | 26 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 34 | 29 | +5 | 35 | |
| 8 | FC Echallens | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 32 | 34 | −2 | 33 | |
| 9 | Grand-Lancy FC | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 34 | 44 | −10 | 32 | |
| 10 | Vevey Sports | 26 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 31 | |
| 11 | CS Chênois | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 31 | |
| 12 | FC Bex | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 30 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Montreux-Sports | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 60 | −39 | 21 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | Central Fribourg | 26 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 38 | 60 | −22 | 18 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

## Group 2
### Teams

| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Biel-Bienne | Bern | Stadion Gurzelen | 15,000 |
| SC Bümpliz 78 | Bern | Bodenweid | 4,000 |
| FC Colombier | Neuchâtel | Stade des Chézards | 2,500 |
| FC Grenchen | Solothurn | Stadium Brühl | 15,100 |
| FC Klus-Balsthal | Solothurn | Sportplatz Moos | 4,000 |
| FC Köniz | Bern | Sportplatz Liebefeld-Hessgut | 2,600 |
| FC La Chaux-de-Fonds | Neuchâtel | Centre Sportif de la Charrière | 12,700 |
| SV Lyss | Bern | Sportzentrum Grien | 2,000 |
| FC Münsingen | Bern | Sportanlage Sandreutenen | 1,400 |
| FC Naters | Valais | Sportanlage Stapfen | 3,000 |
| FC Noiraigue | Neuchâtel | Centre Sportif Noiraigue | 1,300 |
| FC Serrières | Neuchâtel | Pierre-à-Bot | 1,700 |
| FC Thun | Bern | Stadion Lachen | 10,350 |
| FC Wangen bei Olten | Solothurn | Sportplatz Chrüzmatt | 3,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Serrières | 26 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 52 | 19 | +33 | 56 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | FC Thun | 26 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 48 | 26 | +22 | 55 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | FC Biel-Bienne | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 53 | 27 | +26 | 53 | |
| 4 | FC Naters | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 58 | 30 | +28 | 49 | |
| 5 | FC Münsingen | 26 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 41 | 25 | +16 | 45 | |
| 6 | FC Grenchen | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 39 | 29 | +10 | 38 | |
| 7 | FC Wangen bei Olten | 26 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 42 | 35 | +7 | 35 | |
| 8 | FC Colombier | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 31 | |
| 9 | FC La Chaux-de-Fonds | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 37 | 52 | −15 | 30 | |
| 10 | SV Lyss | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 41 | 45 | −4 | 29 | |
| 11 | FC Köniz | 26 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 30 | 54 | −24 | 21 | |
| 12 | SC Bümpliz 78 | 26 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 28 | 46 | −18 | 20 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Noiraigue | 26 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 24 | 62 | −38 | 16 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Klus-Balsthal | 26 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 66 | −43 | 15 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

## Group 3
### Teams

| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Ascona | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Ascona | 1,400 |
| AC Bellinzona | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Bellinzona | 5,000 |
| SC Buochs | Nidwalden | Stadion Seefeld | 5,000 |
| FC Chiasso | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Riva IV | 4,000 |
| FC Concordia Basel | Basel-City | Stadion Rankhof | 7,000 |
| FC Hochdorf | Lucerne | Arena | 3,150 |
| FC Mendrisio | Ticino | Centro Sportivo Comunale | 4,000 |
| FC Muri | Aargau | Stadion Brühl | 2,350 |
| SV Muttenz | Basel-Country | Sportplatz Margelacker | 3,200 |
| FC Riehen | Basel-City | Sportplatz Grendelmatte | 2,500 |
| FC Schötz | Lucerne | Sportplatz Wissenhusen | 1,750 |
| FC Suhr | Aargau | Hofstattmatten | 2,000 |
| FC Sursee | Lucerne | Stadion Schlottermilch | 3,500 |
| Zug 94 | Zug | Herti Allmend Stadion | 6,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Ascona | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 54 | 21 | +33 | 55 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | Zug 94 | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 39 | 20 | +19 | 46 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | AC Bellinzona | 26 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 39 | 25 | +14 | 45 | |
| 4 | FC Riehen | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 39 | 29 | +10 | 44 | |
| 5 | SC Buochs | 26 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 38 | 22 | +16 | 42 | |
| 6 | FC Chiasso | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 34 | 20 | +14 | 42 | |
| 7 | SV Muttenz | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 40 | 35 | +5 | 39 | |
| 8 | FC Schötz | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 36 | |
| 9 | FC Sursee | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 32 | |
| 10 | FC Muri | 26 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 30 | −8 | 29 | |
| 11 | FC Hochdorf | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 23 | 46 | −23 | 26 | |
| 12 | FC Concordia Basel | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 27 | 44 | −17 | 25 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Mendrisio | 26 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 48 | −32 | 18 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Suhr | 26 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 50 | −27 | 15 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

## Group 4
### Teams

| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Altstetten | Zürich | Buchlern | 1,000 |
| FC Balzers | Liechtenstein | Sportplatz Rheinau | 2,000 |
| FC Bülach | Zürich | Stadion Erachfeld | 3,500 |
| FC Dübendorf | Zürich | Zelgli | 1,500 |
| FC Frauenfeld | Thurgau | Kleine Allmend | 6,370 |
| FC Freienbach | Schwyz | Chrummen | 4,500 |
| FC Glarus | Glarus | Buchholz | 800 |
| FC Rapperswil-Jona | St. Gallen | Stadion Grünfeld | 2,500 |
| FC Red Star Zürich | Zürich | Allmend Brunau | 2,000 |
| FC Rorschach | Schwyz | Sportplatz Kellen | 1,000 |
| SV Schaffhausen | Schaffhausen | Sportplatz Bühl | 1,000 |
| FC Tuggen | Schwyz | Linthstrasse | 2,800 |
| FC Vaduz | Liechtenstein | Rheinpark Stadion | 7,584 |
| SC YF Juventus | Zürich | Utogrund | 2,850 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Tuggen | 26 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 51 | 27 | +24 | 52 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | SV Schaffhausen | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 47 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | FC Rapperswil-Jona | 26 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 58 | 30 | +28 | 46 | |
| 4 | FC Altstetten | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 44 | 29 | +15 | 46 | |
| 5 | FC Frauenfeld | 26 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 53 | 35 | +18 | 42 | |
| 6 | FC Vaduz | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 38 | 31 | +7 | 41 | |
| 7 | FC Rorschach | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 38 | |
| 8 | FC Freienbach | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 37 | |
| 9 | FC Red Star Zürich | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 48 | 52 | −4 | 33 | |
| 10 | FC Bülach | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 37 | 38 | −1 | 32 | |
| 11 | SC Young Fellows Juventus | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 30 | |
| 12 | FC Dübendorf | 26 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 26 | 52 | −26 | 22 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Balzers | 26 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 21 | 49 | −28 | 18 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Glarus | 26 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 19 | 67 | −48 | 18 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

## Promotion play-off
### Qualification round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Fribourg | 1–1 | Serrières |
| Serrières | 3–2 | Fribourg |
Serrières win 4–3 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Thun | 2–1 | FC Renens |
| FC Renens | 0–1 | Thun |
Thun win 3–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Zug 94 | 1–4 | Tuggen |
| Tuggen | 4–0 | Zug 94 |
Tuggen win 8–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| SV Schaffhausen | 1–0 | FC Ascona |
| FC Ascona | 1–2 | SV Schaffhausen |
SV Schaffhausen win 3–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.

### Final round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Tuggen | 1–0 | Thun |
| Thun | 2–0 | Tuggen |
Thun win 2–1 on aggregate and are promoted to Nationalliga B.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Serrières | 4–3 | SV Schaffhausen |
| SV Schaffhausen | 1–0 | Serrières |
4–4 on aggregate. SV Schaffhausen win on away goals and are promoted to Nationalliga B.

## Relegation play-out
### First round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Bümpliz | 2–1 | Bex |
Bex continue to the final.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Concordia | 2–0 | FC Dübendorf |
FC Dübendorf continue to the final.

### Final round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Bex | 4–2 | FC Dübendorf |
| FC Dübendorf | 3–4 | Bex |
Bex win 8–5 on aggregate. FC Dübendorf are relegated to 2. Liga.