James Christopher McLaughlin began his playing career with his home town club Derry City at the age of 16.

In 1958 he joined English first division side Birmingham City before moving to Shrewsbury Town where he scored twenty goals in his first season and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in October 1961 scoring against Scotland. In total, he would score six goals in 12 games for his country.

After spending three years at Shrewsbury he moved to Swansea and famously scored at Anfield’s Kop end in the FA Cup quarter-final in 1964 as they knocked out Liverpool.

He would later represent Peterborough and Shrewsbury again before returning to Ireland in a player-manager role at Dundalk.

As a manager, he had great success and during his nine-year stay at Oriel Park, he led them to three leagues titles and three FAI Cups including the double in the 1978/79 season.
On the 21st of June 1983, McLaughlin took over at Shamrock Rovers and led the Milltown club to three league titles and two FAI Cups in his three seasons there, including back to back doubles.

On the 13th of May 1986, he left Rovers to go home and manage Derry City where he led the team to a historic domestic treble in 1989 before he later went on to co-manage Shelbourne with Pat Byrne and won another league crown in 1992.

He would manager Drogheda United and Dundalk once more before calling time on his incredible career in 1999.