Stephen Antony McLaughlin (born 14 June 1990) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left-back and left midfielder for 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. 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, believed to be for a fee of roughly £160,000. 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.
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.
Southend (loan) After a spell back at Forest, McLaughlin signed with Southend United until the end of the 2014–15 season. His debut for The Shrimpers was away at Bury, however this lasted just six minutes as the game was abandoned due to torrential rain, 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 and the second helped Southend to Wembley Stadium as he scored in extra time of the League Two play-off semi-final against Stevenage. 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, 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. 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.
On 2 June 2025, the club announced he had signed a new one-year contract. On 19 May 2026, the club announced the player had extended his contract.
Career statistics
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFinn Harps2009League of Ireland First Division1610000—1612010League of Ireland First Division3211010—341Total 48 2 1 0 1 0 — 50 2Derry City2011League of Ireland Premier Division3331043—3862012League of Ireland Premier Division24106420733917Total 57 13 7 4 6 3 7 3 77 23Nottingham Forest2012–13Championship000000—002013–14Championship300000—302014–15Championship601020—90Total 9 0 1 0 2 0 — 12 0Bristol City (loan)2013–14League One5000101070Notts County (loan)2014–15League One13000003Appearances in the Football League Trophy1161Southend United (loan)2014–15League Two6100003Appearances in the League Two play-offs192Southend United2015–16League One1711000001812016–17League One34710112Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy03882017–18League One4561010415172018–19League One3013110513932019–20League One274101020314Total15319714113217723Mansfield Town2020–21League Two3643100104052021–22League Two43730103Appearances in the League Two play-offs15082022–23League Two2511010403112023–24League Two0010101030Total1041281309112414 Career total 395 47 24 6 17 4 36 8 472 65
Honours Derry City League of Ireland Cup: 2011 FAI Cup: 2012
Southend United Football League Two play-offs: 2015
Mansfield Town EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2023–24
Individual PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year: 2012 Mansfield Town Player of the Season: 2021–22
References
External links