McLaughlin, Joseph

Personal

Fullname: Joseph McLaughlin
aka: Joe McLaughlin
Born: 28th April, 1917
Died: 4 Aug 1971
Birthplace: Longriggend, Scotland
Signed: 8 Feb 1941
Left: 17 Nov 1945 (to Hamilton Accies)
Position: Right-half; utility player
Debut: Celtic 5-1 Partick Thistle, Regional League, 8 Feb 1941
Internationals: none

Biog

Utility man Joe McLaughlin was signed by the Bhoys from Blairhill Colliery in January 1938 in Celtic’s final league title winning season for nearly generation to come.

He was one of several Celts to move to Parkhead from the Fife side during that era and he would remain at the Bhoys until 1945 – although he would be farmed out to junior outfit St Anthony’s in 1940 as part of cost cutting measures due to wartime measures.

He returned in February 1941 and soon made his competitive debut for the Hoops in a 5-1 Regional League triumph at home to Partick Thistle on 8th February 1941. He had returned to a rudderless side, that in recent seasons had collapsed.

Joe McLaughlin had good body strength and a quick thinking football brain. He was comfortable on the ball and these attributes allowed Celtic to use him in virtually any outfield position, although his preferred place was at right-half. As capable of making a crunching tackle as he was of firing off an unstoppable shot.

Joe McLaughlin, despite not playing in any set position, was made captain of the team in 1944-45. In truth, it wasn’t as great an accolade as it should have been, as the team were poor and vastly underachieving. Results were often woeful and the club was in a poor state on the pitch and off it, although Joe McLaughlin was present and made the best of it. Must respect him for sticking by the club through such difficult days (both on and off the field), but his versatility meant it allowed the management to shunt him around the field in different positions rather than learn & develop in a role.

He burst the net in a 5-0 victory over Third Lanark on 21 April 1945 in the Glasgow Charity Cup, but Celtic went on to make the final and lose to Rangers:

“It was one of those shots I knew was a goal as soon as it left my foot.”

Joe McLaughlin departed Celtic in November 1945 for Hamilton after 150 appearances and 35 goals, apparently frustrated at being shunted position repeatedly. His tenure spanned the entire era over the war, so he is one of those identified with Celtic during that difficult era.

He would later win the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen in 1947 for which the Celtic support will have been proud for him, as now he had some well deserved treasured silverware worthy of his efforts to look back on. Celtic though remained well in the doldrums.

He retired from football playing in 1955, and later in life, emigrated to Canada in the 1960’s.

He passed away on 4th August 1971 in Niagara Falls Canada.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Pictures

• Player Pics

Links

• Celtic & World War Two

Notes

• Date of Birth confirmed by relative to this site.