Norwegian First Division

The Norwegian First Division (Norwegian: 1. divisjon) is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. The league was established in 1948 following a reorganization of the Norwegian league system. From the 2015 season, it will be branded as OBOS-ligaen, after a six-year deal was agreed with the housing cooperative OBOS.

Formally, it was a semi-professional league.

Overview

In 2009, the number of teams in the Norwegian Premier League expanded from 14 to 16. Therefore, 2008 was a transitional season, in which more teams were promoted to the top flight, and fewer teams relegated to the Norwegian Second Division, than usual.

From 2009, the First Division winners and runners-up earn automatic promotion. A new playoff system was introduced, involving the teams finishing third, fourth and fifth in the First Division, and the team finishing third from the bottom in Tippeligaen. Teams three and four would play against each other, and face the winner of team five versus team fourteen from Tippeligaen. Promotion is awarded to the winning team. The four teams finishing at the bottom of the after ended season will be relegated to the Second Division.

2010 Norwegian First Division

The 2010 Norwegian First Division season (known as Adeccoligaen for sponsorship reasons) began play on 5 April 2010 and ended on 7 November 2010.

The clubs relegated from the Premier League in 2009 were Fredrikstad (after relegation play-offs), Bodø/Glimt and Lyn. HamKam, Notodden, Stavanger and Skeid were relegated to the Second Division in 2009 after finishing from thirteenth to sixteenth place respectively. Strømmen, Follo, Sandnes Ulf and Ranheim were promoted from the Second Division in 2009.

At the end of the season, a two-legged promotion playoff was played between the 3rd, 4th, and 5th placed teams in the First Division and the 14th placed team in the Premier League, Fredrikstad won this playoff against Hønefoss, and was promoted together with Sogndal and Sarpsborg 08.

FK Lyn elected to file for bankruptcy on 30 June, following an extended period of financial distress, and formally withdrew from the league on 7 July. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the competition, all games involving Lyn was annulled and the team placed at the bottom of the standings.

2009 Norwegian First Division

The 2009 Norwegian First Division season (known as Adeccoligaen for sponsorship reasons) began play on 5 April 2009 and will end on 1 November 2009.

The club relegated from the Premier League in 2008 was Ham-Kam. Sandnes Ulf and Hødd were relegated to the Second Division in 2008 after finishing in fifteenth and sixteenth place respectively. Tromsdalen, Stavanger, Mjøndalen, and Skeid were promoted from the Second Division in 2008.

At the end of the season, a two-legged promotion playoff will be played between the 3rd, 4th, and 5th placed teams in the First Division and the 14th placed team in the Premier League.

League table

Updated to games played on 18 October 2009.
Source: NRK Sport
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.