[1] Loughran grew up in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast and spent his early football career at amateur club Brantwood.
He showed such skill and potential for the Victorian Division 1 team that he soon caught the eye of both Victoria and Australian selectors.
[3] Loughran scored for Moreland in their 2–1 victory over Juventus in the 1957 final of the Dockerty Cup, played at Olympic Park in Melbourne.
[5] Loughran first represented his adopted country in July 1955 when he turned out for an Australian XI in a B international against South China.
In 1957, Australia only played B games hosting FK Austria, Ferencváros and Eastern Athletic from Hong Kong.
[10] His success helped him become an inaugural inductee to the Australian Football (Soccer) Hall of Fame in February 1999.