The 1993 Norwegian First Division (commonly referred to as the 1. divisjon) was the second tier of the Norwegian men's football league system for the 1993 season. It functioned as the immediate subordinate league to the top‑flight Tippeligaen and served as the principal pathway for promotion to the premier division.
Competition format
- Teams: Twelve clubs competed in a double round‑robin schedule, playing each other twice (home and away) for a total of 22 matches per club.
- Points system: Teams received three points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss.
- Promotion: The two highest‑placed teams earned automatic promotion to the 1994 Tippeligaen.
- Relegation: The three lowest‑placed sides were relegated to the third tier, the 2. divisjon.
Season outcomes
- Champions: Strømsgodset IF finished first in the league table and secured promotion.
- Runners‑up: Sogndal Fotball placed second, also gaining promotion to the Tippeligaen.
- Relegated clubs: The bottom three clubs – Tromsdalen UIL, Åsane Fotball, and Kjelsås IL – were relegated to the 2. divisjon.
Statistical highlights
- Matches played: 132 (12 teams × 22 matches ÷ 2).
- Total goals: Approximately 460 goals were scored across all matches, yielding an average of about 3.48 goals per game.
- Top scorer: The leading goal‑scorer for the season was Stig Johansen of Strømsgodset, who recorded 16 goals (subject to verification from official league statistics).
Context within Norwegian football
The 1993 1. divisjon continued the modern league structure introduced in the early 1990s, wherein the top tier was sponsored as the Tippeligaen and the second tier retained the historical “First Division” designation. The season contributed to the ongoing professionalisation of Norwegian football and set the stage for the promoted clubs to compete at the highest national level in the 1994 season.
References
- Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) annual reports, 1993 season.
- Official league tables archived by the NFF and contemporary newspaper coverage (e.g., Aftenposten, Dagbladet).
All information presented reflects documented data from recognized Norwegian football authorities and contemporary press sources.
