Vaughan started his career at Liverpool, playing reserve and youth football. However, he was released in 2004 having played over 70 reserve games. He represented England at Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 level. He was soon signed by League Two side Chester City, which was owned by his father Stephen Vaughan Sr., under the guidance of Mark Wright. He quickly became a regular at the Deva Stadium, and became the owner of the club in 2009. At the start of the 2006–07 season, he was made Chester's captain at aged 21. He made 58 league appearances. On 3 January 2007, new Rochdale manager Keith Hill made Vaughan his first signing, initially on loan until 4 February, with a view to a permanent deal. However, on 18 January 2007, Boston United signed him on a one-year contract from Chester City. He made seven appearances for the Pilgrims before rupturing his achilies tendon against Hartlepool, which sidelined him for nine-months. Now fully recovered, he rejoined Chester on 8 February 2008. He was then loaned out to Droylsden in the Conference National for one-month, as part of a rehabilitation programme. Stephen made his first league appearance back for the club in a 5–1 win over Barnet on 30 August 2008, playing the full 90 minutes along with his brother, James. He made eight appearances during the 2008–09 season in The Football League and started the opening game of the following season against Cambridge United in the Conference National. In September 2009 he joined Northwich Victoria on loan.
Post playing career
Vaughan was the President of Floriana FC. He resigned on 4 February 2014 and became technical director of Mosta FC. He left his position at Mosta FC following a successful six-month period, leading the club to its highest position in history as they finished fourth in the BOV Premier League in the 2013–14 season, before returning to the UK. On 4 November 2016 it was announced that Vaughan had been appointed as full-time director of football at Welsh Premier league side Bangor City having already been working in the role on a part-time basis from 1 August 2016. In his first season the Club qualified for the Europa League by winning the play-offs. This followed in the second season with the Club finishing second and automatically qualifying again for the Europa League. On 26 April 2018 the FAW Club Licensing Appeals Body decided to revoke Bangor City'sTier 1 and UEFA license due to not meeting financial criteria meaning that they would automatically drop down to the second level of Welsh football the next season and would not be able to compete for a place in the following season's Europa League. Prior to this Bangor had been one of only three clubs to have been ever present in the league since it began in 1992. In October 2018, he was appointed as interim manager of Bangor City following the resignation of Craig Harrison. He left the club in November to take up a position as Assistant Manager of Maltese club Mosta. On 5 July 2019, he was appointed as manager of Bangor City following the resignation of Gary Taylor-Fletcher. He left the club in September. In June 2020, he was appointed manager of Boca Gibraltar in the Gibraltar National League, in a move which also saw his company, Total Sports Management, sponsor the club.
Boxing promotions
Stephen Vaughan Jr. was the youngest licensed boxing promoter in the UK.. He is also a licensed boxing promoter in Malta. He has promoted World title fights both in the U.K. And Malta. He brought Malta their first ever professional boxing World Champion when he promoted .
Personal life
He is the son of fellow Boxing promoter and former football chairman Stephen Vaughan Sr. He was charged with and convicted of perverting the course of justice in relation to the murder of Neil Doyle, a Liverpool Police Constable.
