Playing for money: James J. Lang and emergent soccer professionalism in Sheffield

This article examines emergent professionalism within association football in Sheffield during the late 1870s and early 1880s. It attempts to analyse these trends through the career of James J. Lang, a Scotsman seemingly invited to Sheffield with the sole intention of playing football. The city's footballers had already created a thriving sporting sub‐culture and there is some evidence to suggest that Lang may have been one of the first players to participate professionally. His role as an importation is also closely considered. The text touches briefly on other related events together with the careers of additional members of the Sheffield footballing community.