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Stephen McLaughlin
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Stephen Antony McLaughlin (born 14 June 1990) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left-back and left midfielder for EFL League One club Mansfield Town.
Key Information
Beginning his senior career with Finn Harps, McLaughlin spent five years in Ireland before moving to England with Nottingham Forest. After a series of loan spells, he joined Southend United on a permanent transfer in 2015, spending five years at the club before joining Mansfield Town in 2020.
Career
[edit]Early years
[edit]McLaughlin began his career at his local club St. Mary's, and played all his under-age football for the club. In 2006, he signed for Clonmany Shamrocks senior side of the Inishowen Football League, and was successful during his first spell in junior football.
Finn Harps
[edit]After appearing in League and Cup finals for Clonmany, McLaughlin was signed by Finn Harps, and played for their Under 20 and A Championship sides upon arrival. He was then called into the first-team, and went on to play several games for the club in the 2008 season. He was then assigned the no. 7 jersey for the 2009 campaign, with manager James Gallagher using McLaughlin right across the midfield and front-line.
Derry City
[edit]He signed for Derry City after the 2010 season, after impressing in games against Derry at both Finn Park and the Brandywell. The move was touted at the end of the season, with McLaughlin signing terms with Stephen Kenny's side in January 2011.[3] He wore the no. 15 shirt for The Candystripes. McLaughlin secured promotion from the League of Ireland First Division with the club in his first season, and won the FAI Cup in his second, netting 17 goals along the way.
Nottingham Forest
[edit]McLaughlin signed with English Championship side Nottingham Forest on 3 January 2013,[4] believed to be for a fee of roughly £160,000.[citation needed] McLaughlin did not make an appearance during the remainder of the 2012–13 season. After a spell out on loan to Bristol City at the start of the 2013 season, McLaughlin made his full Forest debut against Leeds United on 21 April 2014 under caretaker manager Gary Brazil. At the beginning of the 2014–15 season under Stuart Pearce, McLaughlin became a more prominent member of the first team, with four appearances from the bench in Forest's first six games.[5]
As appearances for the first team at Forest became increasingly limited, McLaughlin joined their local rivals Notts County on a one-month emergency loan on 30 September 2014.[6]
Southend (loan)
[edit]After a spell back at Forest, McLaughlin signed with Southend United until the end of the 2014–15 season.[7] His debut for The Shrimpers was away at Bury, however this lasted just six minutes as the game was abandoned due to torrential rain,[8] and his next game was at home to Mansfield Town which Southend won 2–0, and McLaughlin played 87 minutes. He scored twice in his spell for Southend, the first was in a 2–0 win over Newport County[9] and the second helped Southend to Wembley Stadium as he scored in extra time of the League Two play-off semi-final against Stevenage.[10] He went on to play an hour in the final against Wycombe Wanderers, which Southend eventually won 7–6 on penalties meaning that they won promotion to League One. After that game McLaughlin's loan spell ended,[11] although having been released by Nottingham Forest, he has been linked with a permanent move back to Southend.
Southend United
[edit]On 27 August 2015, McLaughlin joined Southend United on a permanent deal, signing a two-year deal.[12] McLaughlin made his debut as a substitute against Coventry City on 31 August 2015. He left at the end of the 2019–20 season after Southend was relegated.
Mansfield Town
[edit]On 11 September 2020, McLaughlin signed with Mansfield Town on a short-term deal.
After missing out on promotion with defeat in the 2022 EFL League Two play-off final, McLaughlin signed a new two-year contract in July 2022.[13]
On 2 June 2025, the club announced he had signed a new one-year contract.[14] On 19 May 2026, the club announced the player had extended his contract.[15]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 7 November 2023
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Finn Harps | 2009[16][17] | League of Ireland First Division | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 1 | |
| 2010[18][19] | League of Ireland First Division | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| Total | 48 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 50 | 2 | |||
| Derry City | 2011[18][20] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | — | 38 | 6 | |
| 2012[21][22] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 24 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7[a] | 3 | 39 | 17 | |
| Total | 57 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 77 | 23 | ||
| Nottingham Forest | 2012–13[18] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[23] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[24] | Championship | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Bristol City (loan) | 2013–14[23] | League One | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Notts County (loan) | 2014–15[24] | League One | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| Southend United (loan) | 2014–15[24] | League Two | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[c] | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| Southend United | 2015–16[25] | League One | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| 2016–17[26] | League One | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[d] | 0 | 38 | 8 | |
| 2017–18[27] | League One | 45 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[d] | 1 | 51 | 7 | |
| 2018–19[18][28] | League One | 30 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[d] | 1 | 39 | 3 | |
| 2019–20[29] | League One | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 31 | 4 | |
| Total | 153 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 177 | 23 | ||
| Mansfield Town | 2020–21[30] | League Two | 36 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 40 | 5 |
| 2021–22[31] | League Two | 43 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 1 | 50 | 8 | |
| 2022–23[32] | League Two | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[d] | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2023–24[33] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 104 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 124 | 14 | ||
| Career total | 395 | 47 | 24 | 6 | 17 | 4 | 36 | 8 | 472 | 65 | ||
- ^ Appearances in the Setanta Sports Cup
- ^ a b Appearances in the Football League Trophy
- ^ a b Appearances in the League Two play-offs
- ^ a b c d e f g Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
[edit]Derry City
Southend United
Mansfield Town
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2023–24[35]
Individual
- PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year: 2012[36]
- Mansfield Town Player of the Season: 2021–22[37]
References
[edit]- ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Stephen McLaughlin". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- ^ "Derry City sign Stephen McLaughlin from Finn Harps". BBC Sport. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ^ Nicholson, Fraser (3 January 2013). "Reds Land Stephen". nottinghamforest.co.uk. Nottingham Forest F.C.
- ^ "Season Statistics". Nottingham Forest F.C. 27 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ "Nottingham Forest loan Stephen McLaughlin to Notts County". BBC Sport. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "McLaughlin signs for Southend". Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ "Bury A-A Southend United". BBC Sport. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ "Southend United 2-0 Newport County". BBC Sport. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ "Southend United 3-1 Stevenage (agg 4-2)". BBC Sport. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ "News: Loanees return to parent clubs – News – Southend United". Southend United F.C. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ "Stephen McLaughlin joins Southend from Nottingham Forest". Sky Sports. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "Stags defender signs new deal". mansfieldtown.net. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Mansfield Town: Stephen McLaughlin signs new one-year contract". BBC Sport. 31 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ^ "Lucas Akins: Mansfield Town striker among five players signing new deals". BBC Sport. 19 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "Stephen McLaughlin | Stats | 2009". extratime.com. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Finn Harps 0–2 Wexford Youths". extratime.com. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Republic of Ireland – S. McLaughlin – Profile". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Stephen McLaughlin | Stats | 2010". extratime.com. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Stephen McLaughlin | Stats | History | Career Details". extratime.com. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Stephen McLaughlin | Stats | 2012". extratime.com. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Derry City 4–0 Finn Harps". extratime.com. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Southend United 1–2 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Stephen McLaughlin in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Starting Lineups - Southend vs Wycombe". Sky Sports. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Boss: Character was central to promotion - News - Mansfield Town". Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Sligo & St Pat's dominate PFAI Team of the Year while Finn, McGuinness, O'Connor & Quigley nominated for individual award | Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ Lomas, John (11 May 2022). "PICTURE GALLERY – Stephen McLaughlin picks up four trophies at Mansfield Town awards ceremony". chad.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
External links
[edit]- Stephen McLaughlin at Soccerbase
- Stephen McLaughlin at Soccerway
- Stephen McLaughlin at WorldFootball.net
Stephen McLaughlin
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early career
Youth beginnings
Stephen Antony McLaughlin was born on 14 June 1990 in Donegal, Ireland, in the rural, football-rich region of County Donegal.[1] The Inishowen peninsula, where McLaughlin grew up, boasts a vibrant grassroots association football scene, with the sport serving as a central element of community life and social cohesion in this peripheral northwest Irish county. Local leagues like the Inishowen Football League have long fostered talent, reflecting football's cultural importance amid the area's rugged landscape and tight-knit communities. McLaughlin's early exposure to the game came through informal play and structured youth setups in Donegal, where he quickly showed promise as a left-sided player. In 2006, at age 16, he joined Clonmany Shamrocks FC, a prominent amateur club in the Inishowen League based near his hometown.[1] Over the next two years, from 2006 to 2008, McLaughlin developed as a versatile left-sided defender, featuring prominently in youth and reserve matches; for instance, as a teenager, he delivered key assists and tormented opponents in competitive fixtures, contributing to Clonmany's successes in local competitions.[6] Local coaches emphasized defensive discipline and attacking contributions from the flank, shaping his foundational skills in a supportive, community-driven environment.[2] By age 18, McLaughlin's performances caught the attention of scouts, paving the way for his move to Finn Harps and entry into professional football structures.[2]Finn Harps
Stephen McLaughlin signed his first professional contract with Finn Harps from Clonmany Shamrocks in mid-2009 at the age of 19.[2][1] This move followed his development with Clonmany Shamrocks in the Inishowen Football League, where he had gained early competitive experience.[2] McLaughlin made his senior debut for Finn Harps on 25 July 2009 against Wexford Youths in the League of Ireland First Division, marking the start of his first-team involvement midway through the 2009 season.[2] Over his two seasons with the club from 2009 to 2010, he accumulated 48 appearances and scored 4 goals, primarily featuring in the First Division.[2] In 2009, he appeared in 16 matches and netted twice, including memorable strikes against Sporting Fingal on 25 September 2009 at [Morton Stadium](/page/Morton Stadium) and Athlone Town on 9 October 2009, which highlighted his emerging attacking threat from the left flank.[2][7] The following year, 2010, saw him play 32 league games, scoring two goals and providing 5 assists, as he became a more established presence in the squad.[2][8] Positioned as a versatile left-back or winger, McLaughlin contributed to Finn Harps' defensive solidity while offering occasional forward surges in lower-tier fixtures, often delivering crosses and supporting attacks from wide areas.[1] His performances demonstrated reliability in containing opponents on the left side and adding dynamism to transitions, though the team struggled overall in the First Division.[2] McLaughlin departed Finn Harps in January 2011 after two seasons, signing with Derry City in pursuit of a higher level of competition in the Premier Division.[2]Irish professional career
Derry City
McLaughlin transferred to Derry City from Finn Harps in December 2010, signing a two-year contract as the club prepared for life in the League of Ireland Premier Division following promotion.[9] His prior experience at Finn Harps had solidified his defensive foundations, allowing him to quickly adapt to a more attacking role at the Brandywell.[2] In the 2011 season, McLaughlin featured in 33 league appearances and contributed 3 goals, helping Derry City finish 3rd in the Premier Division with 59 points.[2] His versatility as a left-back and winger provided crucial width and crossing ability.[2] The 2012 season marked McLaughlin's breakthrough in the Premier Division, where he adapted seamlessly, scoring 9 goals in 23 league appearances while operating primarily as a winger with occasional left-back duties.[2] His goal-scoring form underscored his emergence as a dynamic attacker from defensive origins.[10] McLaughlin's contributions extended to cup competitions, particularly the 2012 FAI Cup, where he scored a decisive brace—including a stunning long-range strike—in the semi-final replay against Shelbourne, securing a 3-0 win and advancing Derry to the final.[11] In the final at the Aviva Stadium, he earned a penalty in the opening minutes by drawing a foul from St Patrick's Athletic defender Brendan Clarke, which Rory Patterson converted to set Derry on course for a 3-0 victory and their first FAI Cup title since 2006.[12] His involvement across the knockout stages highlighted his defensive resilience and offensive threat, with key assists and stands in earlier rounds.[13] Over his two full seasons, McLaughlin amassed 56 league appearances and 12 goals, totaling around 57 appearances and 13 goals across all competitions, establishing him as a reliable and impactful player.[2] In January 2013, he departed for Nottingham Forest after a successful trial, seeking greater opportunities in English football, leaving Derry as League of Ireland champions in the cups but mid-table in the league.[14]English career
Nottingham Forest
McLaughlin transferred to Nottingham Forest from Derry City on 3 January 2013, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract for a reported fee of approximately £160,000 plus add-ons, following impressive performances in Irish football that included scoring nine league goals in 23 appearances during the 2012 season.[15][2] During his tenure at the Championship club from 2013 to 2015, McLaughlin struggled to establish himself in the first team, making just 11 appearances across all competitions without scoring any goals; this limited role stemmed from intense competition for the left-back position.[16][17] To build match experience, he was loaned to League One side Bristol City from September 2013 to January 2014, where he came off the bench 5 times without finding the net.[16] In September 2014, McLaughlin joined rivals Notts County on a short-term loan until January 2015, featuring in 13 league matches as he adapted to the physical demands of English lower-tier football, though he did not score in league play.[16] His final loan from Forest came in March 2015 to League Two's Southend United, during which he started 6 league games and scored 1 goal, showcasing versatile play on the left flank that highlighted his potential despite the challenges of transitioning from Irish to English leagues.[16] McLaughlin was released by Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2015 at the end of his contract, having made minimal overall impact during a period marked by developmental loans rather than sustained first-team integration.[18]Southend United
McLaughlin joined Southend United on loan from Nottingham Forest in March 2015, a move that paved the way for his permanent transfer later that year. Following the end of his loan spell, Southend signed him on a two-year contract as a free agent in August 2015, securing the Irish winger's services on a long-term basis. During the 2015–16 season, McLaughlin emerged as a key contributor in Southend's successful League Two play-off campaign, which culminated in promotion to League One. He scored a crucial extra-time header in the semi-final second leg against Stevenage on May 14, 2015, helping secure a 4–2 aggregate victory and a spot in the Wembley final. McLaughlin started in the play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers on May 23, 2015, where Southend won 2–1 to achieve promotion. Over his tenure from 2015 to 2020, he made 186 appearances across all competitions, scoring 25 goals while providing 29 assists, often deployed as a versatile left-back or winger.[19][20][21] McLaughlin's consistent performances were instrumental in Southend's efforts to stabilize in League One, where he contributed goals and assists while bolstering the defense during survival battles. In the 2017–18 season, for instance, he netted six goals in 45 league appearances, helping the team finish 14th and avoid relegation. His versatility allowed him to adapt between attacking and defensive roles, earning praise for his work rate and crossing ability. However, the 2019–20 season brought significant challenges, with Southend facing relegation threats amid a poor run of form that saw them drop to League Two after finishing 22nd. McLaughlin departed Southend in the summer of 2020 upon the expiry of his contract, a decision influenced by the club's severe financial difficulties, including unpaid wages for March 2020 and ongoing ownership issues under chairman Ron Martin. Despite the turbulent end, he left as a fan favorite, remembered for his five-season stint of reliability and key contributions to the 2015 promotion, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and committed player in English lower leagues.[22][23]Mansfield Town
McLaughlin joined Mansfield Town on 11 September 2020, signing a short-term deal as a free agent from Southend United to provide experienced depth in the lower leagues.[24] His prior experience at Southend enabled an immediate impact, transitioning smoothly into a versatile role as a left-back and winger.[25] Over the subsequent seasons from 2020 to 2024, McLaughlin made 149 appearances and scored 15 goals across all competitions, establishing himself as a reliable squad member.[26] He played a key part in Mansfield's 2023–24 League Two campaign, contributing to their third-place finish and automatic promotion to League One as one of the top three teams.[27] Notably, he scored the match-winning goal in a crucial April 2024 fixture that helped secure promotion.[28] Following Mansfield's 0–3 defeat to Port Vale in the 2022 League Two play-off final, McLaughlin signed a two-year contract extension in July 2022, rewarding his consistent performances that season.[29] In recognition of his reliability and mentorship of younger players during the 2021–22 campaign, he won four club Player of the Season awards, including the Supporters' Player of the Year.[30] McLaughlin extended his stay with a one-year deal on 31 May 2025, just before turning 35, committing to Mansfield through the 2025–26 season amid their League One adaptation.[31] In the 2024–25 League One season, he featured regularly, aiding the team's mid-table consolidation (finishing 8th) with defensive solidity and occasional attacking contributions.[26] Entering the 2025–26 campaign as a veteran leader, McLaughlin has continued to contribute, scoring once in his first seven matches while providing guidance to the squad.[32]Career statistics
Club statistics
Stephen McLaughlin has accumulated 548 appearances, 74 goals, and 79 assists across all domestic club competitions as of November 2025.[26] The table below provides a breakdown of his statistics by club, encompassing league matches in competitions such as the League of Ireland, EFL Championship, League One, and League Two; domestic cups including the FAI Cup, League of Ireland Cup, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and EFL Trophy; and play-offs where applicable. Assists are recorded where available, primarily from 2010 onward.| Club | Years | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Harps | 2009–2010 | 50 | 2 | 5 |
| Derry City | 2011–2012 | 70 | 20 | 9 |
| Nottingham Forest | 2013–2014 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Bristol City (loan) | 2013–2015 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Notts County (loan) | 2014–2015 | 16 | 1 | 8 |
| Southend United | 2014–2020 | 186 | 25 | 29 |
| Mansfield Town | 2020– | 214 | 19 | 24 |
| Total | 548 | 74 | 79 |
International statistics
Stephen McLaughlin, born on 14 June 1990 in Donegal, Republic of Ireland, was eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland national football team due to his citizenship.[1] Despite achieving notable success at club level, including consistent performances in the English Football League with teams like Nottingham Forest and Southend United, McLaughlin never received a call-up to the senior international squad.[33] In 2016, during a strong spell at Southend United where he contributed significantly to their promotion push, his form led to speculation about a potential Republic of Ireland debut, but no opportunity arose amid competition from established wing-backs such as Robbie Brady.[34][35] McLaughlin has no recorded appearances at any youth international level for the Republic of Ireland, including the U21 team.[33]| International Level | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Senior | 0 | 0 |
| U21 | 0 | 0 |
| Career Total | 0 | 0 |