Career
He is currently playing for Clyde. McLaughlin began his career at Hamilton Academical. He made one substitute appearance and one start, against Cowdenbeath, for Accies before moving on in 2002.
McLaughlin played a reasonable number of games at where in the 2004 Scottish League Cup Final he came on in the 80th minute as a substitute at right back against Hibernian.
McLaughlin also scored what was voted the "goal of the month" the same season with a 30-yard volley against Dundee United. loaned him to Morton for half of the 2004-2005 season. After this spell he returned to and was getting a chance to play first team football under new manager Paul Lambert.
A few months into the 2005-2006 season, McLaughlin signed a permanent contract with Morton. One of the low points in his career so far was losing the play-off match against Peterhead in the 2005-2006 season and missing the vital penalty in a shoot-out defeat to local rivals Street Mirren in the Challenge Cup semi-final.
He joined in July 2008.
In his first game against Morton for Airdrie, Scott scored the first two goals in a 5–0 victory. He also received the Manitoba of. In the 2008 Scottish Challenge Cup Final, McLaughlin was successful with his kick in the penalty shoot as his side were victorious against Ross County.
In the 2008-2009 in Scottish football|2008-2009 season, Airdrie finished 9th in the First Division, however they lost in the final of the play-offs.
McLaughlin played in the 2010-2011 successful promotion campaign playing for in his single season with the Honest Men. Manager Gus MacPherson announced on 8 July 2011 that McLaughlin had agreed terms and was expected to sign that day for Dumfries club, Queen of the South.
His QoS debut was on 23 July 2011 the extra time 2–0 defeat away at in the 2011-2012 Scottish Challenge Cup. On 15 June 2012, it was announced that McLaughlin had signed a two-year contract with Third Division club Peterhead.
He signed for in March 2013.
