Charles Douglas Laughton(born 13 May 1944[7]) is an English former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, andcoachedin the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level forGreat Britain(captain), winning 15 caps in all,[5]winning a further cap forEngland,[4]andLancashire,and at club level forSt. Helens,Wigan,Widnes,andCanterbury-Bankstown,as asecond-row,orloose forward,[3]and coached at club level for Widnes (three spells) andLeeds.[6]
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| Full name | Charles Douglas Laughton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 May 1944[1] Widnes,England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row,Loose forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editLaughton was born inWidnes,Lancashire,England, and he played for St. Paul's the Lowerhouse junior team. He then signed as a professional forSt. Helensat the age of 18.
Playing career
editSt Helens
editLaughton playedloose forwardinSt Helens' 12–4 victory overSwintonin the1964 Lancashire CupFinal during the1964–65 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 24 October 1964.
He playedloose forwardin St Helens' 0-4 defeat byCastlefordin the1965 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1965–66 seasonatKnowsley Road,St. Helenson Tuesday 14 December 1965.
Laughton made 79 appearances for St Helens before his transfer to Wigan on 16 May 1967 for £4,000.[8][9]
Wigan
editLaughton playedloose forwardinWigan's 7-4 victory overSt Helensin the1968 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1968–69 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Tuesday 17 December 1968,[10]and playedloose forwardin the 6-11 defeat byLeighin the1969 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1969–70 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Tuesday 16 December 1969.
He made his first appearance in a Challenge Cup Final in 1970 when Wigan played Castleford.
He playedloose forwardinWigan's 15–8 victory overWidnesin the1971 Lancashire CupFinal during the1971–72 seasonatKnowsley Road,St. Helenson Saturday 28 August 1971.[11]
He signed for his home town team Widnes on 6 March 1973 for £6,000.[8]
Widnes
editLaughton playedloose forwardin Widnes' 14–7 victory overWarringtonin the1975 Challenge CupFinal during the1974–75 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 10 May 1975, in front of a crowd of 85,998, playedloose forwardin the 5–20 defeat bySt. Helensin the1976 Challenge CupFinal during the1975–76 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 8 May 1976, in front of a crowd of 89,982, playedloose forwardin the 7–16 defeat byLeedsin the1977 Challenge CupFinal during the1976–77 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 7 May 1977, in front of a crowd of 80,871, and playedloose forwardin the 12–3 victory overWakefield Trinityin the1979 Challenge CupFinal during the1978–79 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 5 May 1979, in front of a crowd of 94,218.
He playedloose forwardinWidnes' 6–2 victory overSalfordin the1974 Lancashire CupFinal during the1974–75 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 2 November 1974, playedloose forwardin the 16–11 victory overWorkington Townin the1976 Lancashire CupFinal during the1976–77 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 30 October 1976, and playedloose forwardand scored twotriesin the 15–13 victory overWorkington Townin the1978 Lancashire CupFinal during the1978–79 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 7 October 1978.
He playedloose forwardinWidnes' 7–15 defeat byBramleyin the1973 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1973–74 seasonatNaughton Park,Widneson Tuesday 18 December 1973, and playedloose forward,and was thecoachinWidnes' 13–7 victorySt. Helensin the1978 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1978–79 seasonatKnowsley Road,St. Helenson Tuesday 12 December 1978.
Laughton playedloose forwardinWidnes' 2–3 defeat byBradford Northernin the1974–75 Player's No.6 TrophyFinal during the1974–75 seasonatWilderspool Stadium,Warringtonon Saturday 25 January 1975, and playedloose forwardin the 4–9 defeat byWarringtonin the1977–78 Players No.6 TrophyFinal during the1977–78 seasonatKnowsley Road,St Helenson Saturday 28 January 1978.
He led Widnes to victory over the Australian tourists in 1978.
In 1979, while playing for Widnes, Laughton won theMan of Steel Award.
International career
editDuring his Wigan career he was chosen to tour Australia/New Zealand with the Great Britain team coached by Hull Legend Johnny Whiteley.
In 1979, he captainedGreat Britainteam on a tour of Australia.
Coaching career
editWidnes
editDoug Laughton took over the job of team coach atWidneswhen Frank Myler retired from the position in 1978. Immediately, he gained from the Widnes players the same respect for his coaching that he still enjoyed for his playing ability.[12]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 the1989–90 Rugby Football League season,he coached defending champions Widnes to their1989 World Club Challengevictory against the visitingCanberra Raiders.
Laughton recruited the likes ofMartin Offiah,Jonathan Davies,Alan Tait,and John Devereux as his Widnes side conquered England and the world in 1989.[13]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.[12]
Doug Laughton was thecoachinWidnes12-3 victory overWakefield Trinityin the1979 Challenge CupFinal during the1978–79 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 5 May 1979, in front of a crowd of 94,218, was thecoachin the 18-9 victory overHull Kingston Roversin the1981 Challenge CupFinal during the1980–81 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 2 May 1981, in front of a crowd of 92,496, was thecoachin the 14-14 draw withHull F.C.in the1982 Challenge CupFinal during the1981–82 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 1 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 92,147, and was thecoachin the 9-18 defeat byHull F.C.in the1982 Challenge CupFinalreplayduring the1981–82 seasonatElland Road,Leedson Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171.
Leeds
editHe arrived at Leeds in 1991, and took the club to two successiveChallenge CupFinals, but was beaten byWiganon both occasions. He surprisingly resigned at the end of the1994–95 season.[14]
Honours
edit- Open RugbyWorld XIII: February 1979[15]
- Man of Steel Award:1979
Books
edit- Doug Laughton (2003).A Dream Come True: A Rugby League Life.Publisher:London League Publications Ltd; First edition (31 Oct. 2003)
References
edit- ^"Doug Laughton".The National Archive of Rugby League. Archived fromthe originalon 2 June 2014.Retrieved1 June2014.
- ^Quirke, Andrew; Laughton, Doug (2003).A Dream Come True: A Rugby League Life.London: London League Publications.ISBN978-1903659120.
- ^ab"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^ab"England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk".englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2011.Retrieved1 January2012.
- ^ab"Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk".englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2011.Retrieved1 January2012.
- ^ab"Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^"Birth details at freebmd.org.uk".freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011.Retrieved1 January2012.
- ^ab"THE NATIONAL ARCHIVE OF RUGBY LEAGUE VIDEO INTERVIEWS Doug Laughton",Retrieved on 11 Jan 2018
- ^"Duggie Laughton".Saints Heritage Society. Archived fromthe originalon 1 June 2014.Retrieved31 May2014.
- ^"1968-1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final".wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2018.Retrieved1 January2012.
- ^"1971–1972 Lancashire Cup Final".wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 12 December 2013.Retrieved1 January2012.
- ^ab"Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame. Doug Laughton"Retrieved on 11 Jan 2018
- ^"Widnes legend Doug Laughton reveals the moment he turned to Rugby Union"Retrieved on 11 Jan 2018
- ^Hadfield, Dave."Leeds stunned as Laughton resigns".The Independent.Archived fromthe originalon 25 September 2015.Retrieved31 May2014.
- ^"A complete history of the World XIII".Total Rugby League.20 March 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2022.Retrieved25 March2024.
External links
edit- (archived by web.archive.org)Doug Laughton at rlhalloffame.org.uk
- Doug Laughton at rugby.widnes.tv
- Saints Heritage Society profile
- Statistics at rugby.widnes.tv
- "CHRISTMAS BOOKS: Laughton's colourful ramble gives taste of brutal" by Dave Hadfield,The Independent(London), 17 Dec 2003
- (archived by web.archive.org)Kangaroos beat Lions at Wilderspool