Norwegian First Division
Founded1984
CountryNorway
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toToppserien
Relegation toNorwegian Second Division
Domestic cup(s)Norwegian Cup
Current championsRøa
(2021)
Most championshipsSandviken (5)
Websitefotball.no
Current: 2023 Norwegian First Division (women)

The Norwegian First Division, also called 1. divisjon (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. 1. divisjon was replaced as a first tier by the Eliteserien which in turn was replaced by the Toppserien in 2000. It continued as a second tier from 1996 and onwards.

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 2. divisjon. The remaining ten teams formed a single nationwide 1. divisjon. The new 1. divisjon 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 1. divisjon became a second tier division. At the same time the original 2. divisjon formed in 1987 became the third tier. The 1. divisjon now featured 58 teams in six regional groups. For the 2001 season the 1. divisjon 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 1. divisjon since 2001; Østfold was the last county to be represented, when Sarpsborg 08 got promoted in 2010.

Regional format

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

Single Division Format

Season WinnerPromotedNotes
2001SandvikenLarvikGrand Bodø withdrew, only 9 teams finished the season.
2002LiungenFløyaAthene Moss withdrew, only 9 teams finished the season.
2003SandvikenMedkila
2004KattemLiungen
2005Arna-BjørnarAmazon Grimstad
2006AskerKattem, Grand Bodø[2]Toppserien expanded to 12 teams, 3rd and 4th place in the 1. divisjon played promotion matches against the bottom two teams in Toppserien.
2007FartLarvik
2008SandvikenFortuna Ålesund1. divisjon expanded to 12 teams, the bottom two teams in the 1. divisjon played relegation matches against the winners of the 2. divisjon.
2009Linderud-GreiDonn
2010SandvikenMedkila
2011VålerengaFart
2012AvaldsnesMedkila Medkila lost the promotion-playoff against Kattem, but were still promoted when Kattem withdrew their team.
2013Grand Bodø
2014Sandviken
2015Urædd
2016Grand Bodø
2017Lyn
2018Fart
2019Fløya No teams promoted due to number of Toppserien teams reduced from 12 to 10.
2020Stabæk Medkila lost the promotion-playoff against Kolbotn.
2021Røa

References

  1. 12 teams in the 1. divisjon
  2. Grand Bodø promoted after qualification.
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