2003–04 Swiss 1. Liga

The '''2003–04 Swiss 1. Liga''' was the 72nd season of this league since its creation in 1931 and, at this time, it was the third tier of the Swiss football league system. The 1. Liga was also the highest level of amateur football, even though there was an ever-increasing number of clubs in this league that played with professional or semi-professional players in their ranks, not just the U-21 teams of the professional clubs.

Format
There were 48 teams in this division this season, including seven U-21 teams, which were the eldest youth teams of the professional clubs in the Super League and the Challenge League. The 1. Liga was divided into three regional groups, each with 16 teams. Within each group, the teams would play a double round-robin to decide their positions in the league. The three group winners and the three runners-up, together with the two best third placed teams, then contested a play-off for the two promotion slots. The U-21 teams were not eligible for promotion and could not compete the play-offs. The two last placed teams in each group were to be relegated to the 2. Liga Interregional.

In advance of this season, FC Sion had been denied a licence by the Swiss Football Association (ASF-SFV) for the 2003–04 Challenge League and were, therefore, demoted to the amateur level. The club contested this in the courts and on 29 October 2003 the court decided how to settle this matter. Due to the settlement decision, the ASF-SFV were forced to withdraw the club from this division and to admit them to the Challenge League, the next highest tier. From this moment, group 1 continued with just 15 teams and all results of the matches with Sion were voided. Due to this decision only five teams from this level were then to be relegated, to re-increase the competition back to the original 48 teams.

Promotion play-off
Qualified for the play-offs were the first two teams from group 1; Étoile Carouge and Baulmes, from group 2; Young Fellows Juventus and because Basel U-21 were not eligible to the play-offs, this right was passed down to Wangen b.O.. Then from group 3 the first two teams were Locarno and Kreuzlingen. Because in group 2 the third placed team was already qualified in this situation, the two best third best teams were Malley from group 1 and Tuggen from group 3 and they also advanced to the play-off stage.

Qualification round
 Tuggen win 5–4 on aggregate and continue to the finals.

 Young Fellows Juventus win 3–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.

 1–1 on aggregate, Locarno win on away goals and continue to the finals.

 Baulmes win 5–3 on aggregate and continue to the finals.

Final round
 Young Fellows Juventus win 5–3 on aggregate and are promoted to 2004–05 Challenge League.

 Baulmes win 3–2 on aggregate and are promoted to 2004–05 Challenge League.

Relegation play-out
'' Altstetten win 3–2 on aggregate and remain in the division. Vevey Sports is relegated to 2. Liga Interregional.''

Summary
Group 1 champions were Étoile Carouge and runners-up were Baulmes. Carouge failed for promotion during the play-offs, in contrast to Baulmes, who won their finals. Baulmes were declaired as 1. Liga champions. Group 2 champions were Young Fellows Juventus, runners-up were Basel U-21 but they were not eligible to the play-offs, this right was passed down to third placed Wangen b.O.. YFJ achieved promotion during the play-offs, but Wangen b.O. failed. Group 3 champions were Locarno and Kreuzlingen were runners-up. Both teams failed in their promotion attempts in the play-off stage.

The remaining teams in the division were to be joined in next season by Lausanne-Sport, FC Alle, FC Langenthal, FC Brugg and FC Herisau as the five 2. Liga Interregional group winners and by Urania Genève Sport, who were the best placed runners-up. They were also joined by SR Delémont who had suffered relegation from the 2003–04 Challenge League.