James Lang

James Joseph Lang (March 1851 – 14 July 1929 ) was a Scottish international footballer who represented Scotland twice from 1876 to 1878.

Early life Lang was born in March 1851 in Scotland. Before his football career, he worked at the John Brown & Company's shipyard on the River Clyde in Glasgow, where he lost sight in one eye due to an accident in 1869.

Football career Club career Lang's playing career started with Glasgow's Eastern, from where he moved to Clydesdale and then Third Lanark. He also became involved with the Glasgow vs. Sheffield association matches, and at the 1876 meeting (in which Glasgow won 2–0) he caught the attention of The Wednesday board. They subsequently invited him to play for their team. He was not paid by the club but instead gained employment with a company in Garden Street owned by one of the directors, Walter Fearnehough. Although the family business manufactured "Bayonet Spirals, Ledger Blades and Chaff Knives" Lang received no formal duties and he spent most of the day reading the paper. The first mention of Lang playing for Wednesday was a friendly against local rivals Hallam on 25 November 1876. Despite returning north of the border, Lang still featured for The Wednesday in 1878, playing in three Sheffield Challenge Cup matches, including the final in which Wednesday beat Attercliffe 2–0. lining up for them against Chesterfield on 24 November 1879 and Barnsley in January 1880 – he was also briefly secretary for the club.

Lang was also noted playing for Northwich Victoria against Bolton Wanderers in January 1884.

Career statistics International

International goals