Doug Laughton

Charles Douglas Laughton

Born: 13 May 1944

Personal Records
Seasons Played: 9
Tries in a Game: 2
Goals in a Game: 0
Drops in a Game: 0
Points in a Game: 6

Player Bio
It seems incredible that Widnes born Douglas Laughton, who has been associated with the club during its most successful years, was nearly lost to Widnes Rugby League forever. Having played for St. Paul's and the newly formed Lowerhouse junior team, he wanted to sign for Widnes, but was not offered sufficiently attractive terms, and signed instead for St. Helens. From there he went to Wigan, and stardom as a player, and it was only because of a knee injury and the famous episode of "The Chairman's Turkey Dinner" that he came to Widnes at all. It is a story Doug himself enjoys telling.

On their way home from an away fixture in Yorkshire, the Wigan team always stopped at a certain hotel for a meal. The players were given a standard dish - mixed grill - but the Chairman of the club had to have something special, and on one occasion it was a turkey dinner. Doug, who had grown tired of mixed grills, deftly intercepted the Chairman's plate, and was well into the turkey before the great man discovered that it had gone missing. He roared out to demand who had got his Tukey Dinner, and when Doug owned up, he was so furious, he immediately shouted angrily across, "Right, Laughton! You're going on the transfer list tomorrow."

Doug, completely unperturbed, replied: "It's OK by me - but only if you don't ask for more than six thousand."

This is where the injured knee comes in. Despite his anger over the missing turkey, the Chairman would never have agreed to sell an established international player so cheaply, if he had not thought that the injury was one that was going to terminate his career. He was right in the end - but not until Widnes, who signed him, had gained the benefit of many more years of Doug Laughton's skill and experience on the field.

Doug was playing for Widnes at Wembley in the victory over Warrington in 1975. He was back there with them in 1979. In between he had had the distinction of being the only man to lead Widnes to a win over the Australian tourists (in 1978). The crowning of an illustrious playing career came when he was also made captain of the 1979 Great Britain team to tour Australia. Despite all these personal triumphs, he will tell you that his greatest moment in the game was much earlier - when the British team regained the Ashes in 1970.

Having already proved his leadership qualities on the field of play and also as assistant coach, it seemed natural that Doug Laughton should take over the job of team coach when 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. Immediately, too, he displayed that ability for which he is famous even outside Widnes - the important knack of recognising where an already successful team can be strengthened; and he was soon making shrewd signings from both inside and outside Rugby League to achieve just that.

Doug Laughton's first acquisition when he became coach was Mick Burke. The value of that can readily seen if you look elsewhere in this Hall of Fame. He has also signed a few young players from junior clubs, who have done no harm at all to his reputation as a judge of youthful potential - Joe Lydon and Andy Gregory, for a start! But his greatest coups have been to bring to Widnes outstanding talents from the English, Scottish and Welsh worlds of Rugby Union - Martin Offiah, Alan Tait, Jonathan Davies, John Devereux, Paul Moriarty and Emosi Koloto.

Doug Laughton has never been afraid to think big, and under him Widnes too have become big. In 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. How much bigger than that can you get?

This text was reproduced from the original Widnes RLFC Hall of Fame Brochure written by Sam Patmore, Ron Girvin, Steve Fox, John Potter & Chris Moore.

International Summary

Country

Apps.

Starts

Subs

Tries

Goals

Drops

Points

England 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Great Britain 15 15 0 7 0 0 21
International Total
16 16 0 7 0 0 21

Representative Summary

Team

Apps.

Starts

Subs

Tries

Goals

Drops

Points

Great Britain 13 13 0 5 0 0 15
Great Britain under-24s 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Lancashire 11 9 2 5 0 0 15
Representative Total
25 23 2 10 0 0 30
Grand Total 41 39 2 17 0 0 51

Seasonal Summary

Season

Match Type

Team

Apps.

Starts

Subs

Tries

Goals

Drops

Points

1979International Great Britain 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
1976-77International England 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
1973-74International Great Britain 3 3 0 2 0 0 6
1970-71International Great Britain 6 6 0 1 0 0 3
1970International Great Britain 5 5 0 4 0 0 12
1979Representative Great Britain 4 4 0 0 0 0 0
1973-74Representative Lancashire 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
1970-71Representative Lancashire 2 2 0 1 0 0 3
1970Representative Great Britain 9 9 0 5 0 0 15
1969-70Representative Lancashire 2 2 0 2 0 0 6
1967-68Representative Lancashire 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1965-66Representative Lancashire 2 1 1 1 0 0 3
1964-65Representative Great Britain under-24s 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
1964-65Representative Lancashire 2 2 0 1 0 0 3

Matches In 1969-70

Date

Home

Result

Away

Pos.

Tries

Goals

Drops

Points

03 Sep 1969 Lancashire14-12Yorkshire13 1 0 0 3
24 Sep 1969 Cumberland10-30Lancashire13 1 0 0 3

Competition Summary

Type

Match Type

Competition

Apps.

Tries

Goals

Drops

Points

Representative County Championship 11 5 0 0 15
International European Championship 1976-77 1 0 0 0 0
Representative Great Britain Tour 13 5 0 0 15
International International (Test) 11 6 0 0 18
Representative Under-24 international 1 0 0 0 0
International World Cup 1970 4 1 0 0 3

Note: Player shirt numbers that appear in bracketed italics are where the player was named as a non-playing substitute.

If you believe any of the data above to be inaccurate, or do not wish for your personal data to be shared, please click here to send details.