# 1981 Norwegian First Division

The 1981 1. divisjon was the 37th completed season of top division football in Norway.

## Overview

22 games were played with 2 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Number eleven and twelve were relegated. The winners of the two groups of the Second Division were promoted, as well as the winner of a series of play-off matches between number ten in the 1. divisjon and the two second-placed teams in the two groups of the 2. divisjon.
Vålerengen won the championship, their second league title.

## Teams and locations

    Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
| Team | Ap. | Location | Stadium |
| Brann | 28 | Bergen | Brann Stadion |
| Bryne | 6 | Bryne | Bryne Stadion |
| Fredrikstad | 32 | Fredrikstad | Fredrikstad Stadion |
| Hamarkameratene | 10 | Hamar | Briskeby |
| Haugar | 1 | Haugesund | Sakkestadbanen |
| Lillestrøm | 18 | Lillestrøm | Åråsen Stadion |
| Lyn | 23 | Oslo | Ullevaal Stadion |
| Moss | 8 | Moss | Melløs Stadion |
| Rosenborg | 18 | Trondheim | Lerkendal Stadion |
| Start | 14 | Kristiansand | Kristiansand Stadion |
| Vålerengen | 26 | Oslo | Bislett Stadion |
| Viking | 34 | Stavanger | Stavanger Stadion |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Vålerengen (C) | 22 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 29 | Qualification for the European Cup preliminary round |
| 2 | Viking | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 28 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Rosenborg | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 24 | +11 | 26 | |
| 4 | Fredrikstad | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 45 | 26 | +19 | 25 | |
| 5 | Moss | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 24 | |
| 6 | Hamarkameratene | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 22 | |
| 7 | Lillestrøm | 22 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 26 | 25 | +1 | 22 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 8 | Start | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 36 | 38 | −2 | 21 | |
| 9 | Bryne | 22 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 29 | 34 | −5 | 21 | |
| 10 | Brann (R) | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 26 | 40 | −14 | 17 | Qualification for the relegation play-offs |
| 11 | Haugar (R) | 22 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 38 | −18 | 16 | Relegation to Second Division |
| 12 | Lyn (R) | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 22 | 37 | −15 | 13 | Relegation to Second Division |

## Results

| Home \ Away | BRA | BRY | FRE | HAM | HAU | LIL | LYN | MOS | ROS | IKS | VIK | VÅL |
| Brann | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 |
| Bryne | 1–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Fredrikstad | 6–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 |
| Hamarkameratene | 1–1 | 5–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| Haugar | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | — | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Lillestrøm | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 6–0 | 0–2 |
| Lyn | 3–2 | 1–2 | 0–5 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Moss | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Rosenborg | 5–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 |
| Start | 4–0 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | — | 4–0 | 0–4 |
| Viking | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 5–3 | — | 1–1 |
| Vålerengen | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 2–2 | — |

## Relegation play-offs

The qualification play-off matches were contested between Brann (10th in the 1. divisjon), Pors (2nd in the Second Division – Group A), and Molde (2nd in the 2. divisjon – Group B). Molde won on goal difference and were promoted to the 1. divisjon.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Molde (O, P) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 2 | Promotion to First Division |
| 2 | Brann (R) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Relegation to Second Division |
| 3 | Pors | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 2 | Remained in Second Division |

### Results

* Molde 3–1 Pors
* Pors 2–1 Brann
* Brann 1–0 Molde

## Season statistics
### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Pål Jacobsen | Vålerengen | 16 |
| 2 | Svein Mathisen | Start | 12 |
| 3 | Bernt Mæland | Bryne | 9 |
| 3 | Odd Iversen | Rosenborg | 9 |
| 3 | Vidar Hansen | Fredrikstad | 9 |
| 3 | Per Egil Ahlsen | Fredrikstad | 9 |
| 3 | Geir Henæs | Moss | 9 |
| 8 | Morten Haugen | Vålerengen | 7 |
| 8 | Ingvar Dalhaug | Brann | 7 |
| 8 | Peter Osborne | Haugar | 7 |
| 8 | Tor Arne Granerud | Ham-Kam | 7 |
| 8 | Kjell Ødegaard | Lyn | 7 |

### Attendances

| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
| 1 | Rosenborg | 143,752 | 21,377 | 8,000 | 13,068 | +36.9%$^†$ |
| 2 | Vålerengen | 112,739 | 16,589 | 4,958 | 10,249 | +56.7%$^†$ |
| 3 | Viking | 85,013 | 12,855 | 5,482 | 7,728 | −9.2%$^†$ |
| 4 | Brann | 84,528 | 11,734 | 4,990 | 7,684 | n/a$^2$ |
| 5 | Moss | 55,397 | 8,961 | 3,423 | 5,036 | −2.3%$^†$ |
| 6 | Fredrikstad | 52,460 | 7,093 | 3,041 | 4,769 | −5.6%$^†$ |
| 7 | Bryne | 46,860 | 9,601 | 1,943 | 4,260 | −18.1%$^†$ |
| 8 | Lillestrøm | 45,736 | 10,230 | 1,904 | 4,158 | −3.4%$^†$ |
| 9 | Start | 45,621 | 7,571 | 1,182 | 4,147 | −25.8%$^†$ |
| 10 | HamKam | 39,533 | 6,300 | 2,111 | 3,594 | n/a$^2$ |
| 11 | Haugar | 33,670 | 5,112 | 1,570 | 3,061 | n/a$^2$ |
| 12 | Lyn | 30,882 | 9,699 | 1,085 | 2,807 | +62.4%$^†$ |
| | League total | 776,191 | 21,377 | 1,085 | 5,880 | +15.6%$^†$ |
Source: nifs.no Notes: 2: Team played last season in 2. divisjon.