{{short description|Irish footballer}} {{Distinguish|Steve McLaughlin}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Stephen McLaughlin | image = Smlshamrocks.jpg | upright = | caption = McLaughlin with Clonmany Shamrocks | full_name = Stephen Antony McLaughlin<ref name="Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13">{{Cite news |title=Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13 |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf |publisher=The Football League |date=18 May 2013 |page=22 |access-date=23 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2014}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1990|6|14}}<ref name="11v11">{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/stephen-mclaughlin-240484/ |title=Stephen McLaughlin|website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=21 July 2018}}</ref> | birth_place = County Donegal, Ireland | height = 1.78 m<ref name="11v11"/> | position = Left-back, left midfielder | currentclub = Mansfield Town | clubnumber = 3 | youthyears1 = 2006–2008 | youthclubs1 = Clonmany Shamrocks FC | years1 = 2008–2010 | clubs1 = Finn Harps | caps1 = 48 | goals1 = 2 | years2 = 2011–2013 | clubs2 = Derry City | caps2 = 57 | goals2 = 13 | years3 = 2013–2015 | clubs3 = Nottingham Forest | caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2013 | clubs4 = → Bristol City (loan) | caps4 = 5 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2014 | clubs5 = → Notts County (loan) | caps5 = 13 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2014–2015 | clubs6 = → Southend United (loan) | caps6 = 6 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2015–2020 | clubs7 = Southend United | caps7 = 153 | goals7 = 19 | clubs8 = Mansfield Town | caps8 = 192 | goals8 = 17 | years8 = 2020– | club-update = 26 January 2026 (UTC) }} '''Stephen Antony McLaughlin''' (born 14 June 1990) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left-back and left midfielder for {{English football updater|MansfieT}} club Mansfield Town.
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==
===Early years=== 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=== 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=== 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.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/9313840.stm |title=Derry City sign Stephen McLaughlin from Finn Harps |date=22 December 2010 |access-date=2013-01-03 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> 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=== McLaughlin signed with English Championship side Nottingham Forest on 3 January 2013,<ref>{{cite news|title=Reds Land Stephen|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/reds-land-stephen-576973.aspx|work=nottinghamforest.co.uk|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|date=3 January 2013|first=Fraser|last=Nicholson}}</ref> believed to be for a fee of roughly £160,000.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Season Statistics |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/team/stats_1314.aspx |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |date=27 August 2014 |access-date=27 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924102900/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/team/stats_1314.aspx |archive-date=24 September 2014 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nottingham Forest loan Stephen McLaughlin to Notts County |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29414034 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 September 2014 |access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref>
====Southend (loan)==== After a spell back at Forest, McLaughlin signed with Southend United until the end of the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/mclaughlin-signs-for-southend-2361053.aspx|title=McLaughlin signs for Southend|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref> His debut for ''The Shrimpers'' was away at Bury, however this lasted just six minutes as the game was abandoned due to torrential rain,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31996809|title=Bury A-A Southend United|date=28 March 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref> 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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32199850|title=Southend United 2-0 Newport County|date=14 April 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref> and the second helped Southend to Wembley Stadium as he scored in extra time of the League Two play-off semi-final against Stevenage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32620041|title=Southend United 3-1 Stevenage (agg 4-2)|date=14 May 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/article/southend-united-joe-pigott-jake-cassidy-stephen-mclaughlin-2472517.aspx|title=News: Loanees return to parent clubs – News – Southend United|publisher=Southend United F.C.|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref> although having been released by Nottingham Forest, he has been linked with a permanent move back to Southend.
===Southend United=== On 27 August 2015, McLaughlin joined Southend United on a permanent deal, signing a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen McLaughlin joins Southend from Nottingham Forest |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11716/9967570/stephen-mclaughlin-joins-southend-from-nottingham-forest |publisher=Sky Sports |date=27 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref> 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=== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/july/stags-defender-signs-new-deal/|title=Stags defender signs new deal|website=mansfieldtown.net|date=21 July 2022|accessdate=22 July 2022}}</ref>
On 2 June 2025, the club announced he had signed a new one-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-31 |title=Mansfield Town: Stephen McLaughlin signs new one-year contract |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c8d10lq19vpo |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> On 19 May 2026, the club announced the player had extended his contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-19 |title=Lucas Akins: Mansfield Town striker among five players signing new deals |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ckgpmjr7e58o |access-date=2026-05-24 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 7 November 2023}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Finn Harps |2009<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen McLaughlin {{!}} Stats {{!}} 2009 |url=https://www.extratime.com/player/stats/1234968/stephen_mclaughlin/?results=2009#detailed |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=extratime.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2009 |title=Finn Harps 0–2 Wexford Youths |url=http://www.extratime.com/articles/2246/finn-harps-0---2-wexford-youths/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=extratime.com}}</ref> |League of Ireland First Division |16||1||0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||16||1 |- |2010<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Republic of Ireland – S. McLaughlin – Profile |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/steven-mclaughlin/100124/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=int.soccerway.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen McLaughlin {{!}} Stats {{!}} 2010 |url=https://www.extratime.com/player/stats/1234968/stephen_mclaughlin/?results=2010#detailed |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=extratime.com}}</ref> |League of Ireland First Division |32||1||1||0||1||0|| colspan="2" |—||34||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total ! 48 !! 2 !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 !! colspan="2" | — !! 50 !! 2 |- |rowspan="3"|Derry City |2011<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen McLaughlin {{!}} Stats {{!}} History {{!}} Career Details |url=https://www.extratime.com/player/career/1234968/stephen_mclaughlin/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=extratime.com}}</ref> |League of Ireland Premier Division |33||3||1||0||4||3|| colspan="2" |—||38||6 |- |2012<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen McLaughlin {{!}} Stats {{!}} 2012 |url=https://www.extratime.com/player/stats/1234968/stephen_mclaughlin/?results=2012#detailed |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=extratime.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2012 |title=Derry City 4–0 Finn Harps |url=http://www.extratime.com/articles/7801/derry-city-4---0-finn-harps/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=extratime.com}}</ref> |League of Ireland Premier Division |24||10||6||4||2||0||7{{efn|Appearances in the Setanta Sports Cup}}||3||39||17 |- !colspan="2"|Total ! 57 !! 13 !! 7 !! 4 !! 6 !! 3 !! 7 !! 3 !! 77 !! 23 |- |rowspan="4"|Nottingham Forest |2012–13<ref name=":0" /> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2013–14<ref name="SM13">{{soccerbase season|58545|2013|accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref> |Championship |3||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- |2014–15<ref name="SM14">{{soccerbase season|58545|2014|accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref> |Championship |6||0||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total ! 9 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 2 !! 0 !! colspan="2"|— !! 12 !! 0 |- |Bristol City (loan) |2013–14<ref name="SM13"/> |League One |5||0||0||0||1||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FLT"/>||0||7||0 |- |Notts County (loan) |2014–15<ref name="SM14"/> |League One |13||0||0||0||0||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="FLT">Appearances in the Football League Trophy</ref>||1||16||1 |- |Southend United (loan) |2014–15<ref name="SM14"/> |League Two |6||1||0||0||0||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="L2PO">Appearances in the League Two play-offs</ref>||1||9||2 |- |rowspan="6"|Southend United |2015–16<ref name="SM15">{{soccerbase season|58545|2015 |accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref> |League One |17||1||1||0||0||0||0||0||18||1 |- |2016–17<ref name="SM16">{{soccerbase season|58545|2016 |accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref> |League One |34||7||1||0||1||1||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT">Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy</ref>||0||38||8 |- |2017–18<ref name="SM17">{{soccerbase season|58545|2017 |accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref> |League One |45||6||1||0||1||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||1||51||7 |- |2018–19<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 November 2018 |title=Southend United 1–2 Blackpool|publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46160549 |access-date=2023-11-28}}</ref> |League One |30||1||3||1||1||0||5<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||1||39||3 |- |2019–20<ref name="SM19">{{soccerbase season|58545|2019 |accessdate=13 March 2021}}</ref> |League One |27||4||1||0||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||0||31||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !153!!19!!7!!1!!4!!1!!13!!2!!177!!23 |- | rowspan="5"|Mansfield Town |2020–21<ref name="SM20">{{soccerbase season|58545|2020 |accessdate=13 March 2021}}</ref> |League Two |36||4||3||1||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||0||40||5 |- |2021–22<ref name="SM21">{{soccerbase season|58545|2021 |accessdate=23 November 2023}}</ref> |League Two |43||7||3||0||1||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="L2PO">Appearances in the League Two play-offs</ref>||1||50||8 |- |2022–23<ref name="SM22">{{soccerbase season|58545|2022 |accessdate=23 November 2023}}</ref> |League Two |25||1||1||0||1||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||0||31||1 |- |2023–24<ref name="SM23">{{soccerbase season|58545|2023 |accessdate=23 November 2023}}</ref> |League Two |0||0||1||0||1||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||0||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !104!!12!!8!!1!!3!!0!!9!!1!!124!!14 |- !colspan="3"|Career total ! 395 !! 47 !! 24 !! 6 !! 17 !! 4 !! 36 !! 8 !! 472 !! 65 |}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== '''Derry City''' *League of Ireland Cup: 2011 *FAI Cup: 2012
'''Southend United''' *Football League Two play-offs: 2015<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/southend-united-vs-wycombe-wanderers/teams/338814 |title=Starting Lineups - Southend vs Wycombe |website=Sky Sports |date=23 May 2015 |access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref>
'''Mansfield Town''' *EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2023–24<ref>{{Cite web | title=Boss: Character was central to promotion - News - Mansfield Town | url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2024/april/boss-character-was-central-to-promotion/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428104800/https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2024/april/boss-character-was-central-to-promotion/ | access-date=2025-07-02 | archive-date=2024-04-28}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year: 2012<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sligo & St Pat's dominate PFAI Team of the Year while Finn, McGuinness, O'Connor & Quigley nominated for individual award {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/ireland/2012/10/25/3477303/sligo-st-pats-dominate-pfai-team-of-the-year-while-finn |access-date=2022-07-31 |publisher=Goal}}</ref> *Mansfield Town Player of the Season: 2021–22<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lomas |first=John |date=11 May 2022 |title=PICTURE GALLERY – Stephen McLaughlin picks up four trophies at Mansfield Town awards ceremony |url=https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/picture-gallery-stephen-mclaughlin-picks-up-four-trophies-at-mansfield-town-awards-ceremony-3689672 |access-date=31 July 2022 |website=chad.co.uk}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerbase}} * {{soccerway|steven-mclaughlin/100124|Stephen McLaughlin}} * {{Worldfootball.net|new_id=pe252260}}
{{Mansfield Town F.C. squad}} {{Navboxes |title=Awards |titlestyle=background: gold |list1= {{2012 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}} {{Mansfield Town F.C. player of the season}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLaughlin, Stephen}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Association footballers from County Donegal Category:Men's association football full-backs Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:League of Ireland XI players Category:League of Ireland players Category:English Football League players Category:Finn Harps F.C. players Category:Derry City F.C. players Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players Category:Bristol City F.C. players Category:Notts County F.C. players Category:Southend United F.C. players Category:Mansfield Town F.C. players