From the age of 4, Sam Gaughran from Hunstanton was part of Keith Rudd's Kings Lynn Football in the Community Scheme. He joined Norwich's academy in June 2000 as a schoolboy but was released at the age of 14. He rejoined Lynn initially playing for their youth team then for the Kings Lynn Reserves in the Ridgeons League. After breaking into the first team and having trials with Nottingham Forest, he was spotted by Peterborough United around Christmas 2006 and invited him to several trials at London Road. In April 2007, he signed a two year scholarship with Peterborough to begin in June 2007, under the auspices of former Lynn manager Tommy Taylor. In the meantime, he has been on loan at Norwegian side Kvinesdal IL.

Gaughran was loaned to Boston United in January 2008