Doug Laughton

Charles Douglas Laughton (13 May 1944 – 16 March 2025) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (captain), winning 15 caps in all, winning a further cap for England, and Lancashire, and at club level for St. Helens, Wigan, Widnes, and Canterbury-Bankstown, as a , or , and coached at club level for Widnes (three spells) and Leeds. He played for St. Paul's the Lowerhouse junior team. He then signed as a professional for St. Helens at the age of 18.

Laughton died on 16 March 2025, at the age of 80.

Playing career St Helens Laughton played in St Helens' 12–4 victory over Swinton in the 1964 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 24 October 1964.

He played loose forward in St Helens' 0-4 defeat by Castleford in the 1965 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 14 December 1965.

Laughton made 79 appearances for St Helens before his transfer to Wigan on 16 May 1967 for £4,000.

Wigan Laughton played in Wigan's 7-4 victory over St Helens in the 1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 17 December 1968, and played loose forward in the 6-11 defeat by Leigh in the 1969 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 16 December 1969.

He made his first appearance in a Challenge Cup Final in 1970 when Wigan played Castleford.

He played loose forward in Wigan's 15–8 victory over Widnes in the 1971 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 August 1971.

He signed for his home town team Widnes on 6 March 1973 for £6,000. His first acquisition when he became coach was Mick Burke. He had three coaching spells at Widnes between 1978 and 1996. He coached Widnes to consecutive league championship wins in 1987-88 and 1988–89 and to three successive Premiership Trophy wins in these years and 1989-90. During the 1989–90 Rugby Football League season, he coached defending champions Widnes to their 1989 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Canberra Raiders.

Laughton recruited the likes of Martin Offiah, Jonathan Davies, Alan Tait, and John Devereux as his Widnes side conquered England and the world in 1989. During his first season as coach, the club gained four major trophies. More recently, they have been the only team to win three successive Premiership titles, and have become World Club Champions.

Honours Open Rugby World XIII: February 1979 Man of Steel Award: 1979

Books Doug Laughton (2003).A Dream Come True: A Rugby League Life. Publisher:London League Publications Ltd; First edition (31 Oct 2003)