Norwegian First Division (women)

Norwegian First Division
Founded 1984
Country Norway
Confederation UEFA
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 2
Promotion to Toppserien
Relegation to 2. divisjon
Domestic cup(s) Norwegian Cup
Current champions Grand Bodø
(2016)
Most championships Sandviken (5)
Website fotball.no
2016 Norwegian First Division (women)

The Norwegian First Division (Norwegian: 1. divisjon) is the second highest division in women's football in Norway. It was founded in 1984. Between 1984 and 1995 it served as the first tier. It was then replaced by the Eliteserien which in turn was replaced by the Toppserien in 2000.

First Tier

Between 1977 and 1983 women's league football in Norway was organized on a county and regional basis. In 1984, three of these leagues, those representing Østlandet, Vestlandet and Trøndelag, merged to form the first national league. However, during the earliest seasons teams continued to play in three regional groups, each with ten teams, and the national title was decided by a play-off between the three group winners. In 1986, a fourth group representing Nord-Norge was added, and the number of teams in the league increased to forty. The league system was subsequently reorganized for the 1987 season. At the end of the 1986 season, thirty of the teams were relegated and formed into a Norwegian Second Division. The remaining ten teams formed a single nationwide First Division. The new First Division remained the top tier of Norwegian women's football until 1995.

List of champions (1984–1995)

Year Champions Runners-up Third place
1984 Sprint-Jeløy Trondheims-Ørn Nymark
1985 Nymark Asker Trondheims-Ørn
1986 Sprint-Jeløy Troll Klepp
Grand
1987 Klepp Sprint-Jeløy Asker
1988 Asker Klepp Trondheims-Ørn
1989 Asker Sprint-Jeløy Klepp
1990 Sprint-Jeløy Asker Klepp
1991 Asker Sprint-Jeløy Sandviken
1992 Asker Setskog/Høland Sprint-Jeløy
1993 Sprint-Jeløy Trondheims-Ørn Asker
1994 Trondheims-Ørn Asker Sprint-Jeløy
1995 Trondheims-Ørn Setskog/Høland Sandviken

Second Tier

With the establishment of the Eliteserien in 1996 the First Division became a second tier division. At the same time the original Norwegian Second Division formed in 1987 became the third tier. The First Division now featured 58 teams in six regional groups. For the 2001 season the First Division was greatly reduced in size and it once again became single nationwide division. It initially featured nine teams, gradually adding a tenth before expanding to twelve for the 2009 season.[1] All nineteen counties of Norway have been represented in the nationwide First Division since 2001; Østfold was the last county to be represented, when Sarpsborg 08 got promoted in 2010.

Single Division Format

Season WinnerPromotedNotes
2016Grand BodøGrand Bodø
2015UræddUrædd
2014SandvikenSandviken
2013Grand BodøGrand Bodø
2012AvaldsnesMedkila Medkila lost the promotion-playoff against Kattem, but were still promoted when Kattem withdrew their team.
2011VålerengaFart
2010SandvikenMedkila
2009Linderud-GreiDonn
2008SandvikenFortuna ÅlesundFirst Division expanded to 12 teams, the bottom two teams in the First Division played relegation matches against the winners of the Second Division.
2007FartLarvik
2006AskerKattem, Grand Bodø[2]Toppserien expanded to 12 teams, 3. and 4. place in the First Division played promotion matches against the bottom two teams in Toppserien.
2005Arna-BjørnarAmazon Grimstad
2004KattemLiungen
2003SandvikenMedkila
2002LiungenFløyaAthene Moss withdrew, only 9 teams finished the season.
2001SandvikenLarvikGrand Bodø withdrew, only 9 teams finished the season.

Regional Format

Season PromotedQualificationSystem
2000Liungen
Røa		Fløya, Fortuna Ålesund
Follese, Haugar		57 teams in 6 pools
Play-off: 2 groups á 3 teams
1999Byåsen
Larvik		Medkila, Voss
Haugar, Liungen		55 teams in 6 pools
Play-off: 2 groups á 3 teams
1998Grand Bodø
Kaupanger		Liungen, Solid
Larvik, Verdal		55 teams in 6 pools
Play-off: 2 groups á 3 teams
1997Byåsen
Fløya		Haugar, Jardar
Kaupanger, Larvik		55 teams in 6 pools
Play-off: 2 groups á 3 teams
1996Bjørnar
Verdal		Donn, Fløya
Raufoss/Vind, Bergen Nord		58 teams in 6 pools
Play-off: 2 groups á 3 teams

References

  1. ↑ 12 teams in the First Division
  2. ↑ Grand Bodø promoted after qualification.
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