1981 Norwegian First Division

22 games were played with 2 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Number eleven and twelve were relegated. The winners of the two groups of the Second Division were promoted, as well as the winner of a series of play-off matches between number ten in the 1. divisjon and the two second-placed teams in the two groups of the 2. divisjon.

Vålerengen won the championship, their second league title.

:Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
Team !{{Tooltip| Ap. | Appearances in top divisions of Norwegian football}} ! Location ! Stadium
Brann | align="center"| 28 | Bergen | Brann Stadion
Bryne | align="center"| 6 | Bryne | Bryne Stadion
Fredrikstad | align="center"| 32 | Fredrikstad | Fredrikstad Stadion
Hamarkameratene | align="center"| 10 | Hamar | Briskeby
Haugar | align="center"| 1 | Haugesund | Sakkestadbanen
Lillestrøm | align="center"| 18 | Lillestrøm | Åråsen Stadion
Lyn | align="center"| 23 | Oslo | Ullevaal Stadion
Moss | align="center"| 8 | Moss | Melløs Stadion
Rosenborg | align="center"| 18 | Trondheim | Lerkendal Stadion
Start | align="center"| 14 | Kristiansand | Kristiansand Stadion
Vålerengen | align="center"| 26 | Oslo | Bislett Stadion
Viking | align="center"| 34 | Stavanger | Stavanger Stadion

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=QR

|winpoints=2

|team1=VIF|name_VIF=Vålerengen

|team2=VIK|name_VIK=Viking

|team3=ROS|name_ROS=Rosenborg

|team4=FFK|name_FFK=Fredrikstad

|team5=MOS|name_MOS=Moss

|team6=HAM|name_HAM=Hamarkameratene

|team7=LIL|name_LIL=Lillestrøm

|team8=IKS|name_IKS=Start

|team9=BRY|name_BRY=Bryne

|team10=BRA|name_BRA=Brann

|team11=HAU|name_HAU=Haugar

|team12=LYN|name_LYN=Lyn

|win_VIF=9|draw_VIF=11|loss_VIF=2|gf_VIF=44|ga_VIF=27|status_VIF=C

|win_VIK=11|draw_VIK=6|loss_VIK=5|gf_VIK=32|ga_VIK=30

|win_ROS=9|draw_ROS=8|loss_ROS=5|gf_ROS=35|ga_ROS=24

|win_FFK=9|draw_FFK=7|loss_FFK=6|gf_FFK=45|ga_FFK=26

|win_MOS=8|draw_MOS=8|loss_MOS=6|gf_MOS=27|ga_MOS=27

|win_HAM=8|draw_HAM=6|loss_HAM=8|gf_HAM=25|ga_HAM=21

|win_LIL=6|draw_LIL=10|loss_LIL=6|gf_LIL=26|ga_LIL=25

|win_IKS=8|draw_IKS=5|loss_IKS=9|gf_IKS=36|ga_IKS=38

|win_BRY=6|draw_BRY=9|loss_BRY=7|gf_BRY=29|ga_BRY=34

|win_BRA=5|draw_BRA=7|loss_BRA=10|gf_BRA=26|ga_BRA=40|status_BRA=R

|win_HAU=2|draw_HAU=12|loss_HAU=8|gf_HAU=20|ga_HAU=38|status_HAU=R

|win_LYN=4|draw_LYN=5|loss_LYN=13|gf_LYN=22|ga_LYN=37|status_LYN=R

|col_ECPR=green1|text_ECPR=Qualification for the European Cup preliminary round

|result1=ECPR

|col_UC1=blue1|text_UC1=Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round

|result2=UC1

|col_ECWC1=#FFEBAD|text_ECWC1=Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round

|result7=ECWC1

|col_QRP=red2|text_QRP=Qualification for the relegation play-offs

|result10=QRP

|col_R=red1|text_R=Relegation to Second Division

|result11=R|result12=R

|update=complete

|class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

|source=[https://www.nifs.no/tabell.php?land=&t=&u= NIFS]

}}

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [https://www.nifs.no/kamper.php?land=1&t=5&u=29 nifs.no] {{in lang|no}}

| update = complete |start_date= 24 April 1981

| a_note =

| matches_style = FBR

| team1=BRA | team2=BRY | team3=FRE | team4=HAM | team5=HAU | team6=LIL | team7=LYN | team8=MOS | team9=ROS | team10=IKS | team11=VIK | team12=VÅL

| name_BRA = Brann

| name_BRY = Bryne

| name_FRE = Fredrikstad

| name_HAM = Hamarkameratene

| name_HAU = Haugar

| name_LIL = Lillestrøm

| name_LYN = Lyn

| name_MOS = Moss

| name_ROS = Rosenborg

| name_IKS = Start

| name_VIK = Viking

| name_VÅL = Vålerengen

| match_BRA_BRY = 2-2

| match_BRA_FRE = 1-1

| match_BRA_HAM = 2-0

| match_BRA_HAU = 6-0

| match_BRA_LIL = 3-0

| match_BRA_LYN = 1-0

| match_BRA_MOS = 0-2

| match_BRA_ROS = 0-3

| match_BRA_IKS = 2-2

| match_BRA_VIK = 1-2

| match_BRA_VÅL = 0-1

| match_BRY_BRA = 1-2

| match_BRY_FRE = 2-0

| match_BRY_HAM = 0-2

| match_BRY_HAU = 1-1

| match_BRY_LIL = 2-4

| match_BRY_LYN = 0-0

| match_BRY_MOS = 0-0

| match_BRY_ROS = 1-1

| match_BRY_IKS = 2-0

| match_BRY_VIK = 2-2

| match_BRY_VÅL = 0-2

| match_FRE_BRA = 6-0

| match_FRE_BRY = 1-1

| match_FRE_HAM = 0-1

| match_FRE_HAU = 1-1

| match_FRE_LIL = 2-2

| match_FRE_LYN = 3-2

| match_FRE_MOS = 4-1

| match_FRE_ROS = 0-0

| match_FRE_IKS = 2-2

| match_FRE_VIK = 3-0

| match_FRE_VÅL = 2-1

| match_HAM_BRA = 1-1

| match_HAM_BRY = 5-2

| match_HAM_FRE = 2-1

| match_HAM_HAU = 1-1

| match_HAM_LIL = 2-2

| match_HAM_LYN = 2-0

| match_HAM_MOS = 0-1

| match_HAM_ROS = 3-0

| match_HAM_IKS = 0-1

| match_HAM_VIK = 0-0

| match_HAM_VÅL = 1-2

| match_HAU_BRA = 0-0

| match_HAU_BRY = 1-1

| match_HAU_FRE = 0-6

| match_HAU_HAM = 0-2

| match_HAU_LIL = 2-3

| match_HAU_LYN = 2-2

| match_HAU_MOS = 0-0

| match_HAU_ROS = 1-1

| match_HAU_IKS = 0-1

| match_HAU_VIK = 1-3

| match_HAU_VÅL = 1-1

| match_LIL_BRA = 0-0

| match_LIL_BRY = 0-1

| match_LIL_FRE = 0-1

| match_LIL_HAM = 1-0

| match_LIL_HAU = 2-2

| match_LIL_LYN = 1-0

| match_LIL_MOS = 0-0

| match_LIL_ROS = 1-1

| match_LIL_IKS = 0-0

| match_LIL_VIK = 6-0

| match_LIL_VÅL = 0-2

| match_LYN_BRA = 3-2

| match_LYN_BRY = 1-2

| match_LYN_FRE = 0-5

| match_LYN_HAM = 0-0

| match_LYN_HAU = 1-0

| match_LYN_LIL = 1-2

| match_LYN_MOS = 5-0

| match_LYN_ROS = 1-1

| match_LYN_IKS = 2-3

| match_LYN_VIK = 2-0

| match_LYN_VÅL = 2-4

| match_MOS_BRA = 3-1

| match_MOS_BRY = 0-1

| match_MOS_FRE = 2-1

| match_MOS_HAM = 2-1

| match_MOS_HAU = 1-1

| match_MOS_LIL = 2-0

| match_MOS_LYN = 2-0

| match_MOS_ROS = 1-1

| match_MOS_IKS = 0-1

| match_MOS_VIK = 1-1

| match_MOS_VÅL = 2-2

| match_ROS_BRA = 5-0

| match_ROS_BRY = 3-1

| match_ROS_FRE = 4-2

| match_ROS_HAM = 2-0

| match_ROS_HAU = 0-2

| match_ROS_LIL = 1-1

| match_ROS_LYN = 1-0

| match_ROS_MOS = 3-1

| match_ROS_IKS = 4-2

| match_ROS_VIK = 0-1

| match_ROS_VÅL = 2-2

| match_IKS_BRA = 4-0

| match_IKS_BRY = 3-4

| match_IKS_FRE = 3-1

| match_IKS_HAM = 1-1

| match_IKS_HAU = 1-2

| match_IKS_LIL = 2-0

| match_IKS_LYN = 0-0

| match_IKS_MOS = 1-3

| match_IKS_ROS = 0-1

| match_IKS_VIK = 4-0

| match_IKS_VÅL = 0-4

| match_VIK_BRA = 2-0

| match_VIK_BRY = 2-1

| match_VIK_FRE = 0-2

| match_VIK_HAM = 2-0

| match_VIK_HAU = 2-0

| match_VIK_LIL = 0-0

| match_VIK_LYN = 3-0

| match_VIK_MOS = 2-1

| match_VIK_ROS = 2-0

| match_VIK_IKS = 5-3

| match_VIK_VÅL = 1-1

| match_VÅL_BRA = 2-2

| match_VÅL_BRY = 2-2

| match_VÅL_FRE = 1-1

| match_VÅL_HAM = 0-1

| match_VÅL_HAU = 2-2

| match_VÅL_LIL = 1-1

| match_VÅL_LYN = 3-0

| match_VÅL_MOS = 2-2

| match_VÅL_ROS = 2-1

| match_VÅL_IKS = 5-2

| match_VÅL_VIK = 2-2

}}

The qualification play-off matches were contested between Brann (10th in the 1. divisjon), Pors (2nd in the Second Division – Group A), and Molde (2nd in the 2. divisjon – Group B). Molde won on goal difference and were promoted to the 1. divisjon.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=PR

|winpoints=2

|team1=MOL|name_MOL=Molde

|team2=BRA|name_BRA=Brann

|team3=IFP|name_IFP=Pors

|win_MOL=1|draw_MOL=0|loss_MOL=1|gf_MOL=3|ga_MOL=2|status_MOL=OP

|win_BRA=1|draw_BRA=0|loss_BRA=1|gf_BRA=2|ga_BRA=2|status_BRA=R

|win_IFP=1|draw_IFP=0|loss_IFP=1|gf_IFP=3|ga_IFP=4

|col_P=green1|text_P=Promotion to First Division

|result1=P

|col_R=red1|text_R=Relegation to Second Division

|result2=R

|col_NR=inherit|text_NR=Remained in Second Division

|result3=NR

|update=complete|source=[http://www.rsssf.no/1981/First.html rsssf.no]

}}

;Results

• Molde 3–1 Pors
• Pors 2–1 Brann
• Brann 1–0 Molde

{{fb a header}}

{{fb a2 team|p=1 |t=Rosenborg|s=143752 |h=21377 |l=8000 |a=13068 |pr=9549}}

{{fb a2 team|p=2 |t=Vålerengen|s=112739|h=16589|l=4958 |a=10249|pr=6541}}

{{fb a2 team|p=3 |t=Viking|s=85013|h=12855 |l=5482 |a=7728 |pr=8511}}

{{fb a2 team|p=4 |t=Brann|s=84528|h=11734 |l=4990 |a=7684 |nt=2}}

{{fb a2 team|p=5 |t=Moss|s=55397|h=8961 |l=3423 |a=5036 |pr=5155}}

{{fb a2 team|p=6 |t=Fredrikstad|s=52460|h=7093 |l=3041|a=4769|pr=5052}}

{{fb a2 team|p=7 |t=Bryne|s=46860 |h=9601 |l=1943 |a=4260 |pr=5199}}

{{fb a2 team|p=8 |t=Lillestrøm|s=45736|h=10230|l=1904 |a=4158|pr=4305}}

{{fb a2 team|p=9 |t=Start|s=45621|h=7571 |l=1182 |a=4147 |pr=5591}}

{{fb a2 team|p=10|t=HamKam|s=39533|h=6300 |l=2111 |a=3594 |nt=2}}

{{fb a2 team|p=11|t=Haugar|s=33670|h=5112|l=1570 |a=3061 |nt=2}}

{{fb a2 team|p=12|t=Lyn|s=30882|h=9699|l=1085 |a=2807 |pr=1728}}

{{fb a footer |s=776191|h=21377|l=1085|a=5880|pr=5085|source=[https://www.nifs.no/tilskuertall.php?land=1&t=5&fra=1981&til=1981&kamper=&sortering=avgt nifs.no]|date=May 2019|notes=2: Team played last season in 2. divisjon.}}

• [http://www.rsssf.no/stats/LeagueChamps.html Norway – List of final tables (RSSSF)]
• [http://www.nifs.no Norsk internasjonal fotballstatistikk (NIFS)]

{{Eliteserien}}

{{1981 in Norwegian football}}

{{1980–81 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{1981–82 in European football (UEFA)}}

Category:Eliteserien seasons

Norway

Norway

1