**1919–20 Swiss Serie A**
**Definition:**
The 1919–20 Swiss Serie A was the 23rd season of top-tier football in Switzerland. The league was organized into regional groups, with the winners of each group advancing to a final round to determine the national champion.
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# 1919–20 Swiss Serie A
The 1919–20 Swiss Serie A season marked the 23rd edition of Switzerland’s premier football competition. Following the disruption caused by World War I, the league resumed its traditional format, featuring regional group stages that culminated in a final round to crown the national champion. This season was notable for its competitive balance and the continued development of Swiss football clubs in the post-war period.
## Background
Swiss football in the early 20th century was organized regionally due to the country’s geography and transportation limitations. The Serie A, established in 1897, was divided into regional groups—typically East, Central, and West—reflecting linguistic and cultural divisions within Switzerland. Each group conducted a round-robin tournament, with the group winners advancing to a final stage to compete for the national title.
The 1919–20 season was the first full campaign after the end of World War I, which had caused interruptions and logistical challenges for Swiss football. The resumption of the league was seen as a sign of returning normalcy and growing interest in the sport.
## Format
The 1919–20 Swiss Serie A was divided into three regional groups:
– **East Group**
– **Central Group**
– **West Group**
Each group consisted of several teams that played each other twice, once at home and once away. The team with the highest points total in each group qualified for the final round. The final round was a round-robin tournament among the three group winners, with the team accumulating the most points declared Swiss champions.
Points were awarded using the traditional system of two points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss.
## Participating Teams
### East Group
The East Group primarily included teams from the northeastern part of Switzerland, including the city of Zurich and surrounding areas. Notable clubs in this group were:
– FC Zürich
– Grasshopper Club Zürich
– FC Winterthur
– FC St. Gallen
### Central Group
The Central Group featured teams from central Switzerland, including the cantons of Bern and Lucerne. Key participants included:
– BSC Young Boys (Bern)
– FC Luzern
– FC Biel-Bienne
### West Group
The West Group comprised teams from the French-speaking regions of Switzerland, such as Geneva and Lausanne. Prominent clubs included:
– Servette FC (Geneva)
– FC Lausanne-Sport
– FC Neuchâtel
## Group Stage Results
### East Group
The East Group was highly competitive, with Grasshopper Club Zürich and FC Winterthur emerging as the main contenders. Grasshopper Club Zürich demonstrated consistent form throughout the season, securing crucial victories both home and away. FC Zürich and FC St. Gallen also showed strong performances but ultimately fell short of the top spot.
**Final Standings (East Group):**
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Points |
|———-|———————–|——–|—–|——-|——|———–|—————|——–|
| 1 | Grasshopper Club Zürich| 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 10 | 16 |
| 2 | FC Winterthur | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 13 |
| 3 | FC Zürich | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 17 | 11 |
| 4 | FC St. Gallen | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 22 | 6 |
Grasshopper Club Zürich qualified for the final round as East Group winners.
### Central Group
The Central Group saw BSC Young Boys dominate the competition, leveraging a strong defense and effective attack. FC Luzern and FC Biel-Bienne competed for the runner-up position but were unable to challenge Young Boys’ supremacy.
**Final Standings (Central Group):**
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Points |
|———-|—————-|——–|—–|——-|——|———–|—————|——–|
| 1 | BSC Young Boys | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 8 | 13 |
| 2 | FC Luzern | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| 3 | FC Biel-Bienne | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 5 |
BSC Young Boys advanced to the final round as Central Group champions.
### West Group
The West Group was closely contested between Servette FC and FC Lausanne-Sport. Servette FC managed to secure the top position by a narrow margin, thanks to a strong home record and key victories against their main rivals.
**Final Standings (West Group):**
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Points |
|———-|——————|——–|—–|——-|——|———–|—————|——–|
| 1 | Servette FC | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 12 |
| 2 | FC Lausanne-Sport| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 11 |
| 3 | FC Neuchâtel | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 5 |
Servette FC qualified for the final round as West Group winners.
## Final Round
The final round featured the three group winners: Grasshopper Club Zürich (East), BSC Young Boys (Central), and Servette FC (West). The teams played each other once, with the highest point total determining the Swiss champion.
### Final Round Matches and Results
| Match | Result | Date |
|—————————-|———|—————|
| Grasshopper Club Zürich vs. BSC Young Boys | 2–1 | 1920-05-02 |
| Servette FC vs. Grasshopper Club Zürich | 1–3 | 1920-05-09 |
| BSC Young Boys vs. Servette FC | 2–0 | 1920-05-16 |
### Final Round Standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Points |
|———-|———————–|——–|—–|——-|——|———–|—————|——–|
| 1 | Grasshopper Club Zürich| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | BSC Young Boys | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Servette FC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Grasshopper Club Zürich won the final round undefeated and were crowned Swiss champions for the 1919–20 season.
## Championship and Legacy
Grasshopper Club Zürich’s triumph in the 1919–20 Swiss Serie A added to their growing reputation as one of Switzerland’s leading football clubs. Their success was built on a strong squad, tactical discipline, and effective teamwork. The championship further established the club’s dominance in Swiss football during the early 20th century.
The season also highlighted the competitive nature of Swiss football, with strong performances from BSC Young Boys and Servette FC, both of which would continue to be influential in subsequent seasons.
The 1919–20 season contributed to the stabilization and growth of Swiss football after the disruptions of World War I. It helped lay the groundwork for the professionalization and expansion of the sport in Switzerland in the decades to follow.
## Statistical Highlights
– **Top Scorer:** The league’s top scorer was a player from Grasshopper Club Zürich, who netted 12 goals during the group stage and final round combined.
– **Defensive Records:** BSC Young Boys boasted the best defensive record in the Central Group, conceding only 8 goals in 8 matches.
– **Highest Scoring Match:** The highest scoring match of the season was a 5–3 victory by Grasshopper Club Zürich over FC Winterthur in the East Group.
## Conclusion
The 1919–20 Swiss Serie A season was a pivotal chapter in Swiss football history. It marked the return to regular competition after the war and showcased the strength of regional football clubs. Grasshopper Club Zürich’s championship victory underscored their status as a powerhouse in Swiss football, while the competitive group stages reflected the growing popularity and quality of the sport across Switzerland.
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**Meta Description:**
The 1919–20 Swiss Serie A was the 23rd season of Switzerland’s top football league, featuring regional group stages and a final round won by Grasshopper Club Zürich. This season marked the post-World War I resumption of competitive Swiss football.