Louis Mark Laing (born 6 March 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for National League North club Darlington. He started his career at Sunderland and has also played for Wycombe Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, Motherwell, Hartlepool United and Blyth Spartans.
![]() Laing playing for Sunderland | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Louis Mark Laing | ||
Date of birth | (1993-03-06) 6 March 1993 (age 29) | ||
Place of birth | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Darlington | ||
Number | 5 | ||
Youth career | |||
2009–2011 | Sunderland | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2014 | Sunderland | 1 | (0) |
2012 | → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 11 | (0) |
2014–2015 | Nottingham Forest | 0 | (0) |
2014 | → Notts County (loan) | 10 | (0) |
2015 | → Motherwell (loan) | 11 | (1) |
2015–2017 | Motherwell | 15 | (1) |
2016–2017 | → Notts County (loan) | 21 | (1) |
2017 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 14 | (0) |
2017–2018 | Hartlepool United | 40 | (1) |
2018–2019 | Blyth Spartans | 18 | (1) |
2019– | Darlington | 36 | (0) |
National team | |||
2008 | England U16 | 3 | (0) |
2009–2010 | England U17 | 9 | (0) |
2011 | England U18 | 1 | (0) |
2010–2011 | England U19 | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:14, 28 February 2021 (UTC) |
Laing was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and grew up supporting Newcastle United.[1] Laing started at youth level with Montague B.C.[2] before he joined Newcastle's arch-rivals Sunderland in summer 2009.[3] In his first year at the Sunderland academy, he made 18 appearances, scoring once, despite injuries during the 2009–10 season.[3]
Laing made his Sunderland debut on 14 May 2011, coming on as a late substitute for John Mensah in a 3–1 defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.[4] Although manager Steve Bruce was normally keen to let young players out on loan to play first-team football, the Sunderland Echo speculated that Laing might "have a part to play" for his parent club.[5]
On 16 January 2012, Laing signed for League One club Wycombe Wanderers on a one-month loan.[6] On 21 January, he made his debut in a 3–0 win against Rochdale at Adams Park.[7] The loan was extended until the end of the season.[8]
On his return from loan, Laing signed a new contract with Sunderland.[9] His next two seasons were overshadowed by injuries,[10] and he was released at the end of the 2013–14 season.[11]
Despite interest from Blackburn Rovers,[12] Newcastle United[13] and Manchester United,[14] Laing signed a one-year deal with Nottingham Forest.[15]
Having only featured in Forest's reserves and under-21 sides, Laing joined Notts County on a one-month emergency loan on 12 September 2014.[16] He made his County debut the next day in a 0–0 draw with Peterborough United.[17] After helping the club keep four clean sheets in seven matches, Laing's loan spell with Notts County was extended to the maximum 93 days.[18] After making ten appearances for the club, Laing's loan spell with Notts County came to an end, as he made his last appearance against Swindon Town on 13 December.[19]
On 30 January 2015, Laing moved on loan to Motherwell until the end of the 2014–15 season.[20] He made his debut the following day against St Johnstone, but was sent off after 25 minutes.[21] Laing scored his first Motherwell goal in a 2–1 win over Inverness CT on 28 February.[22] He played in both legs of the Scottish Premiership play-off final as Motherwell maintained their top-flight status with a 6–1 win on aggregate against Rangers.[23] At the end of the season, Laing returned to his parent club,[24] although he said he hoped he would be able to come back to Motherwell.[25]
Laing was released by Nottingham Forest at the end of the season, having never made an appearance for the club.[26]
On 30 June 2015, Laing returned to Motherwell, signing a two-year contract with the club.[27] In March 2016, Laing revealed that earlier in the season, while out of the first team at Motherwell, he had considered giving up football.[28]
On 15 August 2016, Laing moved on loan to Notts County until 16 January 2017.[29] He was released by Motherwell on 31 January.[30]
Laing signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 16 February 2017 on a contract due to run until the end of the 2016–17 season.[31]
Laing signed for Hartlepool United on 10 July 2017.[32] His contract was terminated by mutual consent in October 2018;[33] he made 40 league appearances for the club.
Shortly after his release from Hartlepool, Laing signed for National League North club Blyth Spartans on 18 October.[34]
Laing signed for another National League North club, Darlington, in 2019.[35]
Laing played for England at all levels from under-16 to under-19.[36]
Club | Season | League | National Cup[lower-alpha 1] | League Cup[lower-alpha 2] | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Sunderland | 2010–11[37] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
2011–12[38] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
2012–13[39] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
2013–14[40] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 2011–12[38] | League One | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
Nottingham Forest | 2014–15[41] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
Notts County (loan) | 2014–15[41] | League One | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
Motherwell (loan) | 2014–15[41] | Scottish Premiership | 11 | 1 | — | — | 2[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 13 | 1 | ||
Motherwell | 2015–16[42] | Scottish Premiership | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 1 | |
2016–17[43] | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 2 | ||
Notts County (loan) | 2016–17[43] | League Two | 21 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 3[lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2016–17[43] | Scottish Premiership | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||
Hartlepool United | 2017–18[44] | National League | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 6] | 0 | 42 | 1 | |
2018–19[44] | National League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
Total | 40 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |||
Blyth Spartans | 2018–19[44] | National League North | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 6] | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
Darlington | 2019–20[44][45] | National League North | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 4[lower-alpha 6] | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
2020–21[44][46] | National League North | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 6] | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
Total | 36 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 47 | 0 | |||
Career total | 178 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 205 | 6 |