The Scottish defender was with the Magpies between 1973 and 1975.

He impressed United officials when playing against them for Morton in the Texaco Cup, scoring for the 'The Ton' in the first leg before scoring an own goal in the second.

That proved to be the only goal he scored for Newcastle, but his performances in the two games helped to earn him a move to St. James' Park and he made his debut against Birmingham in December 1973.

With the likes of Bob Moncur ahead of him in the pecking order, he made only ten appearances for the club in all competitions before retiring in the summer of 1975 with a bad knee injury.

Later moving to Gibraltar, Laughton returned to Tyneside where he became a Whitley Bay hotelier, then worked in the North East for UK Plant.

The thoughts of everybody at Newcastle United are with his family and friends.