It was with tremendous sadness that we learned of the death of our former manager Jim McLaughlin who passed away on Thursday.

Jim McLaughlin has always had a special place in the hearts of all Hoops fans and will be remembered always for laying the seeds of success that led to the first four-in-a-row league title sequence from 1983 to 1987. Prior to that no other club in the history of the League of Ireland had recorded such an achievement.

Jim was appointed as manager of Shamrock Rovers on 20th June, 1983 and succeeded Noel Campbell in the role. A native of Derry City, he played for his hometown club Derry City FC before embarking on a prolonged career in England with Shrewsbury Town FC. He also had a spell with Swansea City before returning to Ireland to join Dundalk as player-manager. The success he brought to Oriel Park was unprecedented and the further experience he gained there was tapped into by Shamrock Rovers who recognised he was the man for the job at Milltown.

Upon taking up the reigns at Glenmalure Park, Jim began immediately to put almost an entire new squad together and brought in players such as Kevin Brady, Dermot Keely, Noel King, Pat Byrne, Mick Neville and Liam O’Brien. With the transfer abroad of twin strikers Alan Campbell and Liam Buckley, Jim displayed all of his shrewdness when he swiftly moved to bring in Mick Byrne and Noel Larkin, the latter having he coaxed out of premature retirement from the game. His signing of midfielder Paul Doolin from Bohs for the 1984/85 season was yet another major coup.

With three successive league titles in the bag, Jim took the decision to return to Derry City for a new challenge but he left a legacy at Milltown that will never be forgotten. The song “Going Down the Milltown Road”, which is about “McLaughlin’s Aces” is sung regularly at Hoops games home and away by a whole new generation of fans born long after the Milltown years.

We wish to express our deepest sympathy to Jim’s family on their great loss. Certainly, Jim McLaughlin will always be remembered at Shamrock Rovers and beyond. His name will always be recalled with great fondness.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Funeral arrangements and a condolences book are on RIP.ie