Stephen McLaughlin is an Irish footballer

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 who currently plays in left midfield with League of Ireland

League of Ireland

The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...

 club Derry City FC.

Career

McLaughlin began his career at his local club St. Mary's, and played all his underage football for the club. In 2006, he signed for Clonmany Shamrocks senior side of the Inishowen Football League

Inishowen Football League

The Inishowen Football League is an amateur league for football clubs. There are two divisions in the main league and the reserves league. 17 towns compete in the league, 9 in the Premier Division, and 8 in the First Division operating a promotion and relegation system. The season runs from...

, and was successful during his first spell in senior football.

After appearing in League and Cup finals for Clonmany, McLaughlin was snapped up 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 2008-09 season. He was then assigned the no. 7 jersey for the 2009-2010 campaign, with manager James Gallagher

James Gallagher

James Gallagher may refer to:* James Gallagher , Presbyterian Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives in 1852* James Gallagher , New Jersey Freeholder since 1997...

 using McLaughlin right across the midfield and front-line.

He signed for Derry City F.C.

Derry City F.C.

Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...

 after the 2009-2010 season, after impressing in games against Derry at both Finn Park

Finn Park

Finn Park is a football stadium in Ballybofey, Ireland, the home of League of Ireland Premier Division team Finn Harps F.C., and has a capacity of 7,500 with 400 seats...

 and the Brandywell. The move was touted at the end of the season, with McLaughlin signing terms with Stephen Kenny

Stephen Kenny

Stephen Kenny may refer to:*Stephen Kenny , Guantanamo detainee David Hicks' original lawyer*Stephen Kenny , Irish football manager...

's side in January 2010. He wears the no. 15 shirt for the Candystripes.