Born in Coatbridge, near Glasgow, John represented Lanarkshire Boys while at school and at 16 joined Celtic, where he played alongside Jimmy Johnstone. After six month he moved south to join Leicester City, where he stayed for four years without breaking into the first team, leading to a move back to Scotland with Morton.

Having won a Scottish League Division 2 winners medal and played in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup he joined Crystal Palace and was a regular in the side that won promotion to the First Division, playing regularly at the top level before an injury at the end of the season sidelined him for the last five matches. A subsequent back injury severely limited further appearances and after a loan spell at Wrexham he was released when his contract expired.

He joined Wimbledon as club captain for the start of the 1972/73 season and played regularly over the next two seasons before joining Kettering Town.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Loughlan

Years Team Apps (Gls)
1961-1964 Leicester City 0 (0)
1964-1968 Greenock Morton 83 (1)
1968-1972 Crystal Palace 60 (0)
1971-1972 - Wrexham (loan) 5 (0)
1972-1974 Wimbledon 75 (1)
1974-1976 Kettering Town ? (?)