Players - John McLaughlin

John McLaughlin
Birthdate: 25 February 1952
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Other clubs: Philadelphia Atoms (loan 1975), Portsmouth (loan 1975), Dallas Tornado (loan 1976), Barrow (1976-77), Wrexham (1977), South Liverpool (1977), Macclesfield Town (1977-78), South Liverpool (1978), Rhyl Athletic (1978)
Signed from: Local
Signed for LFC: Joined 1967 - Professional 25.02.1969
Liverpool debut: 18.04.1970
Last appearance: 10.09.1974
Debut goal: 22.08.1970
Last goal: 02.01.1971
Contract expiry: 1976
Win ratio: 45.45% W:25 D:19 L:11
Games/assists ratio: 18.33
League games / goals / assists: 40 / 2 / 2
Total games / goals / assists: 55 / 3 / 3

Player Profile

McLaughlin had been very promising in the reserves and the coaching staff at Liverpool believed he was a star in the making, a skilful midfield maestro. Shankly had great hopes for him: "His potential is unbelievable. He knows the game, and is very mature for his age," Shankly declared. "He is the best schoolboy prospect to be turned up for a very long time." Shankly eased him into the first division scene by picking him for the final game of the 1969/70 season, away to Chelsea. McLaughlin had a hand in Liverpool's only goal scored by Bobby Graham in a 2-1 defeat. Despite being only 18-years-old when the following season opened, Shankly had enough faith in the slightly-built teenager to make him an important part of the club's midfield at the time and his faith was rewarded when McLaughlin struck two first-half shots into the Kop goal when Huddersfield Town visited Anfield for the second home fixture of the season.

McLaughlin played in 30 consecutive first division games but then made way for Alun Evans and only figured in three of the remaining 12 matches. This season turned out to be his only one as a regular during Shankly's rebuilding of his aging side. Once Shankly had completed the transformation McLaughlin was cast aside. He made the line-up for the opening day of 1971/72 but was only picked on four further occasions, with two of those being as substitute. The emergence of Brian Hall and the arrival of Peter Cormack made it increasingly difficult for McLaughlin to break into the first team and he was allowed to leave Anfield to have a loan spell on the south coast with Ian St John's Portsmouth. He also featured in the summer of 1975 and 1976 in the North American Soccer League. A knee injury put McLaughlin out of League football for good when he was only 24 and he went into amateur football.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 40 4 3 8 0 55
1969-1970 1 0 0 0 0 1
1970-1971 33 4 1 7 0 45
1971-1972 5 0 1 0 0 6
1972-1973 0 0 0 0 0 0
1973-1974 1 0 0 1 0 2
1974-1975 0 0 1 0 0 1
1975-1976 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
3 270 Chelsea
3 270 Arsenal
3 251 Tottenham
3 181 Southampton
2 180 Manchester United
2 180 Leeds United
2 180 Stoke City
2 180 Blackpool
2 180 Manchester City
2 180 West Ham United
2 180 Nottingham Forest
2 180 Wolves
2 180 Burnley
2 180 Crystal Palace
2 180 Hibernian
2 180 Din. Bucharest
2 169 Huddersfield Town
2 163 Everton
2 145 Ferencvaros
2 114 Derby
1 120 Mansfield Town
1 90 Aldershot
1 90 Brentford
1 90 Bayern Munich
1 90 Swansea City
1 90 Ipswich Town
1 90 Coventry City
1 90 Newcastle United
1 90 WBA
1 71 Hull City
1 63 Red Star Belgrade
Total Started/substitutions
53 Started
13 On the bench
2 Substitute
6 Substituted
Total Venue
28 Away
27 Home
Total Competition
40 League
7 European Fairs Cup
4 FA Cup
3 League Cup
1 European Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
54 24 19 11 44.4% Bill Shankly
1 1 0 0 100% Bob Paisley
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 2 1 0 0 0 3
1969-1970 0 0 0 0 0 0
1970-1971 2 1 0 0 0 3
1971-1972 0 0 0 0 0 0
1972-1973 0 0 0 0 0 0
1973-1974 0 0 0 0 0 0
1974-1975 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975-1976 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Opponent
2 Huddersfield Town
1 Aldershot
Total Started/substitutions
3 Started
0 Substitute
Total Competition
2 League
1 FA Cup
Total Goal minute period
1 1-15 minutes
1 16-30 minutes
1 31-45 minutes
Total Goal origin
3 Open play
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 2 0 1 0 0 3
1969-1970 0 0 0 0 0 0
1970-1971 2 0 0 0 0 2
1971-1972 0 0 0 0 0 0
1972-1973 0 0 0 0 0 0
1973-1974 0 0 0 0 0 0
1974-1975 0 0 1 0 0 1
1975-1976 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Total Opponent
1 Blackpool
1 West Ham United
1 Brentford
Total Competition
2 League
1 League Cup
Total For player
1 Steve Heighway
1 Ray Kennedy
1 Jack Whitham
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 18.04.1970 Chelsea Stamford Bridge League
50 02.10.1971 Stoke City Victoria Ground League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 9 22.08.1970 Huddersfield Town Anfield League
Related Quotes

"His potential is unbelievable. He knows the game, and is very mature for his age. He is the best schoolboy prospect to be turned up for a very long time."

Shankly on John McLaughlin

Scrapbook
1971
1971
Emlyn's blockbuster gave Liverpool victory
Emlyn's blockbuster gave Liverpool victory
Emlyn's England call gave me big chance - Football Monthly February 1971
Emlyn's England call gave me big chance - Football Monthly February 1971
Mac the Knife! - 22 August 1970
Mac the Knife! - 22 August 1970
Make way for young idea! - 22 August 1970
Make way for young idea! - 22 August 1970
McLaughlin a star in the making
McLaughlin a star in the making
McLaughlin could be the natural successor to Ian St John, Shankly says
McLaughlin could be the natural successor to Ian St John, Shankly says
Super Mac! - 22 August 1970
Super Mac! - 22 August 1970
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Philadelphia Atoms 1975 NASL 22 7 22 7
Portsmouth 1975-1976 England Second Division 5 0 5 0
Dallas Tornado 1976 NASL 5 0 5 0
Barrow 1976-1977 England Northern Premier League 6 0 8 0
Wrexham 1977 England Third Division N/A N/A N/A N/A
South Liverpool 1977 England Northern Premier League 18 3 27 4
Macclesfield Town 1977-1978 England Northern Premier League 2 1 2 1
South Liverpool 1978-1979 England Northern Premier League 7 1 11 1
Rhyl Athletic 1978-1979 Wales N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 65 12 80 13