Danish 1st Division

1. division

Countries	Denmark
Confederation	UEFA
Founded	1945
Number of teams	14
Levels on pyramid	2
Promotion to	Superliga
Relegation to	2nd Divisions
Domestic cup(s)	Danish Cup
Current champions	AGF (2010–11)
TV partners	TV 2 Sport
Website	1division.dk
2011–12 Danish 1st Division

The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark. With the formation of the Danish Superliga, the second tier of Danish football became the 1st Division.

The top ranking teams each year win promotion to the Superliga, while the bottom finishers get relegated to the Danish 2nd Divisions.

TV 2 Sport broadcasts one match per week from the league.

History

Main article: Danish football champions

After World War II the format of the top-flight football division in Denmark, the "Championship League", where reverted with the tournament now named the "1st Division".^[1] There were 10 teams in the top division once again, playing each other twice, with the lowest team being relegated.^[2] The 1953–54 season saw the first non-Copenhagen team win the Danish championship, when Køge Boldklub won the title.^[3] The championship title was not reclaimed by a Copenhagen team in more than ten years, until Akademisk Boldklub (AB) won the 1967 season.

From 1958, the Danish championship was arranged through one calendar year,^[1] and the 1956–57 season lasted 18 months with the teams playing each other thrice for a 27 games total.^[4] From 1958 to 1974, the tournament was expanded to 12 teams,^[1] playing each other twice for 22 games per season each, but now the bottom two teams faced relegation.^[5] The number of teams was increased to 16 for the 1975 season,^[1] which resulted in 30 games per season.^[6] In 1986, the number of participants was altered once more, this time decreasing the number of teams to 14,^[1] and the number of games to 26.^[7]

Former 1st Division sponsors and logos

Faxe Kondi Divisionen (1996–2001)   Viasat Sport Divisionen (2004–2007)   Viasat Divisionen logo (2007–2010)

In 1991, the Danish Superliga was created.^[1] This meant the 1st Division became the second highest league. Together with the Superliga introduction the best Danish leagues changed back to autumn-spring seasons.

In 1996, the 1st Division had its first name sponsor, as the league received the official name "Faxe Kondi Divisionen" after main sponsor Faxe Brewery. The sponsor deal ended in 2001, but from 2004 to mid-2007 it was named "Viasat Sport Divisionen". The "Sport" was omitted upon the closing of the Viasat Sport-channels in Denmark, and the opening of TV 2 Sport. The sponsorship finally ended prior to the start of the 2010–11 season.

Current Teams (2011–12)

• AB
• Blokhus
• Brønshøj
• Esbjerg
• Fredericia
• Hjørring
• Hobro
• Næstved
• Randers
• Roskilde
• Skive
• Vejle Kolding
• Vestsjælland
• Viborg

Winners

Season	Winner
1945–46	B.93
1946–47	AB
1947–48	KB
1948–49	KB
1949–50	KB
1950–51	AB
1951–52	AB
1952–53	KB
1953–54	Køge BK
1954–55	AGF
1955–56	AGF
1956–57	AGF
1958	Vejle Boldklub
1959	B 1909
1960	AGF
1961	Esbjerg fB
1962	Esbjerg fB
1963	Esbjerg fB
1964	B 1909
1965	Esbjerg fB
1966	Hvidovre IF
1967	AB
1968	KB
1969	B 1903
1970	B 1903
1971	Vejle Boldklub
1972	Vejle Boldklub
1973	Hvidovre IF
1974	KB
1975	Køge BK
1976	B 1903
1977	OB
1978	Vejle Boldklub
1979	Esbjerg fB
1980	KB
1981	Hvidovre IF
1982	OB
1983	Lyngby BK
1984	Vejle Boldklub
1985	Brøndby IF
1986	AGF
1987	Brøndby IF
1988	Brøndby IF
1989	OB
1990	Brøndby IF
1991	Næstved IF
Autumn 1991	Viborg FF
Spring 1992	Brønshøj BK
Autumn 1992	Esbjerg fB
Spring 1993	Horsens fS
Autumn 1993	Vejle Boldklub
Spring 1994	B.93
Autumn 1994	Viborg FF
Spring 1995	Esbjerg fB
1995–96	Hvidovre IF
1996–97	Ikast FS
1997–98	Viborg FF
1998–99	OB
1999-00	FC Midtjylland
2000–01	Esbjerg fB
2001–02	Køge BK
2002–03	Herfølge BK
2003–04	Silkeborg IF
2004–05	SønderjyskE
2005–06	Vejle Boldklub
2006–07	Lyngby BK
2007–08	Vejle Boldklub
2008–09	Herfølge BK
2009–10	AC Horsens
2010-11	AGF

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} (Danish) "Historien om Danmarksmesterskabet i fodbold". Danish Football Association. http://www.dbu.dk/page.aspx?id=690. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 
2. ^ "Danmarksturneringen 1945 – 46". Peders fodboldstatistik. http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1945-46.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 
3. ^ (Danish) "Køges første DM-titel blev til på "Ungarsk Rapsodi"". Køge Boldklub. http://www.koge-boldklub.dk/dmtriumfer/dm54.html. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 
4. ^ "Danmarksturneringen 1956 – 57". Peders fodboldstatistik. http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1956-57.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 
5. ^ "Danmarksturneringen 1958". Peders fodboldstatistik. http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1958.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 
6. ^ "Danmarksturneringen 1975". Peders fodboldstatistik. http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1975.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 
7. ^ "Danmarksturneringen 1986". Peders fodboldstatistik. http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1986.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-22.