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Note: There has been more than one player with the same name to have played for Celtic. So please check the other namesakes if need be.
Personal
Fullname: Brian McLaughlin
Born: 7 October 1954
Died: 13 August 2009
Birthplace: Falkirk
Signed: 4 Aug 1971; (27 Sep 1968 with Celtic S form)
Left: 4 Nov 1977 (to Ayr)
Position: Winger, Midfielder
First game : Clydebank home 6-2 22 September 1971 League cup
Last game : Partick Thistle away 0-1 8 October 1977 League
First goal : Dunfermline Athletic home 6-1 28 July 1973 Drybrough cup
Last goal : Jeunesse D’Esch home 5-0 28 September 1977 European cup
Internationals: Scotland youth
Biog
“Brian was the best boy footballer I have ever seen.”
Ex-Celtic team-mate Andy Ritchie (2023), link
The talented Brian McLaughlin was a gifted wide midfielder who was to never fulfill the potential he initially showed in the Hoops mainly due to a tragic injury.
As a Celtic ‘S’ form youth signing in 1968 he was viewed as one of the most promising and gifted youngsters in Scotland. Brian McLaughlin came from a very strong Celtic background and it was no surprise when the Falkirk born player signed senior terms with the Hoops in August 1971.
Highly regarded by Jock Stein, he was given his debut in the 6-2 League Cup thrashing of Clydebank on 22nd September 1971 as a 16 year old, and within a couple of years the teenager had forced his way into the first team picture on a regular basis.
By the summer of 1973 Brian McLaughlin had forced himself into first team contention, a major feat given the talent available to Jock Stein at that time. In July 1973 he scored a memorable goal against Dundee in the Drybrough Cup in a 4-0 win when he ran across the penalty and suddenly turned and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Thomson Allan in the Dundee goal. He played in the Drybrough Cup Final four days later at Hampden against Hibs and played well although Celtic lost 1-0. He was outside-right on the day that Celtic won 2-1 at Ibrox on August 18th and an illustrious career beckoned as Brian McLaughlin’s talents were regarded as comparable to Kenny Dalglish’s.
Tragedy struck on 8th September 1973 when Brian McLaughlin was badly injured by a bad cynical tackle from Clyde’s Willie McVie. Jock Stein was said to be visibly upset at seeing Brian’s mangled knee and although he returned from injury he was never quite the same. To this day Celtic players who played that day talk of the horror of seeing Brian McLaughlin’s terrible injuries. Danny McGrain said it was the worst injury he had ever seen and to this day he will never forgive McVie for what he did.
He returned late on in April 1974, and came on as a sub to grab Celtic a draw at home v Morton in the league. He scored a lovely goal when he ran through on goal and lobbed goalkeeper ex-Celt Roy Baines. It boded well.
Into the next season, he was though given little opportunity in a campaign that saw Celtic finally relinquish the league title. He played a minor role, making only a single appearance as a substitute in the league against Morton on 5th April 1975, but in the summer of 1975 Brian McLaughlin began to miss training sessions. With Jock Stein hospitalised after his horror car crash at Beattock and not around to lend a firm guiding hand, the player’s talent looked likely to go to waste as Brian McLaughlin went AWOL and fled to relatives in County Donegal, although Sean Fallon was able to persuade him to return.
Celtic arranged a season’s loan at Finn Harps for the player but when Brian McLaughlin returned from Ireland for the start of the 1976/77 season he buckled down and had a fine season in the reserves. Under normal circumstances he could have expected a first team call up but the Celtic side was settled and on a great run to the League and cup double. His last chance was in the early months of the 1977/78 season and although he scored against Jeunesse Esch in the European Cup he never played for Celtic again after the 1-0 defeat at Firhill on 8th October 1977.
After 20 appearances and one goal, Brian McLaughlin went to Ayr Utd in November 1977, a deal which saw full back Joe Filippi arrive at Celtic. On 31st December 1977, Brian McLaughlin inspired Ayr Utd to a memorable 2-1 win over Celtic with a brilliant individual goal in the last minute. It gave the Celtic fans a taste of the talent that fate had conspired to deprive them of.
After retiring from football, Brian McLaughlin ran a pub in Donegal.
Although he never was able to fulfill his true potential with Celtic due to the injury, Celtic was still his love and he remained as passionate a supporter as any other supporter until his untimely passing.
Tragically, Brian McLaughlin was found dead in Aug 2009 in a canal in Falkirk. There were no suspicious circumstances.
He is fondly remembered by those who knew him.
Quotes
“Brian was the best boy footballer I have ever seen… Centre midfield, had the lot, control, passing, shooting, making and scoring goals. Great pace and fantastic work ethic at both ends of the park. Intelligent guy who could lead on the pitch and a Celtic guy thro and thro. Loved the Guy. RIP Brian”
Ex-Celtic team-mate Andy Ritchie (2023), link
“…he did lose pace because of the injury ,but also he lost a large percentage of mobility in the leg.Brian achieved what he did at Ayr and Motherwell with limited movement. How he ever passed a medical for a 100,000 move i will never know.”
Ex-Celtic team-mate Andy Ritchie (2023)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1971-77 | 3 (4) | 0 | 9 (2) | 0 (2) | 12 (8) |
| Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
( ) = Substitute Appearances
Honours with Celtic
- 1977 (substitution appearance in early round)
Honours with Ayr Utd
- 1979
Pictures
Articles
Newsroom Staff (Celticfc.net)
14 Aug 2009
EVERYONE at Celtic Football Club is deeply saddened by the news of the sudden passing of former player, Brian McLaughlin.
The talented midfielder, who made a total of 20 appearances between 1971 and 1977, has passed away at the age of 54.
Regarded by his peers as one of the finest players to emerge from the youth system, Brian made his debut at just 16 years of age in September 1971 for a League Cup quarter-final against Clydebank. Celtic won the home match 6-2.
His enormous potential was further highlighted in a Drybrough Cup win over Dundee, when he scored a stunning goal in the 4-0 victory.
He continued to make progress under the manager until a horrendous knee injury, inflicted by a bad tackle in a game against Clyde on September 8, 1973 effectively finished his career at the highest level.
Brian did score in Celtic’s 5-0 win over Jeunesse D’Esch in the European Cup in September 1977, but after leaving the club that year he went on to enjoy a successful career with Ayr United, where he was named Division One Player of the Year in 1979.
He went on to play for Motherwell, Hamilton Academical and hometown club, Falkirk, before a brief spell in Australia and then returning to Scotland and St Mirren as a coach.
The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Brian’s family and friends at this extremely sad time.
Ex-Celt found dead in canal
Evening Times 14 Aug 2009
EX-CELTIC player Brian McLaughlin has been found dead in a canal. The 54-year-old former midfielder, who also played for Ayr United, Motherwell, Hamilton and Falkirk was discovered around 11.30am yesterday. Police divers recovered his body from the Union Canal in Falkirk. Although a post mortem was due to be held, there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances. McLaughlin’s body was found close to a canal tunnel near Falkirk High rail station.
His sudden death comes just weeks after former Motherwell player Paul McGrillen, 37, was found dead at his home in Hamilton. As a Celtic youth signing, McLaughlin was one of the most promising and gifted youngsters in Scotland and the Falkirk-born 16-year-old became professional for Celtic in 1971.
Highly regarded by Jock Stein, he was given his debut in September of that year in the 6-2 League Cup win against Clydebank and within two years took his place in the first team. In July 1973 against Dundee in the Drybrough Cup in a 4-0 win and went on to play in the final of that tournament. Later that season he starred in an Old Firm victory for Celtic at Ibrox. Weeks later McLaughlin was badly injured in clash with Clyde’s Willie McVie and although he returned from injury he failed to return to form. He was loaned to Finn Harps in Ireland for the start of the 1976-77 season but his days with Celtic were numbered.
After 20 appearances and one goal McLaughlin went to Ayr United in November 1977. That season he inspired Ayr to a memorable 2-1 win over Celtic with a brilliant individual goal.
He quit playing at senior level in 1987 but went on to coach St Mirren.
Pub
The pub he ran was “The Glen” – by Carrigart, Co Donegal
