Jack Stephen Payne (born 5 December 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League side Boreham Wood where he holds the role of player-assistant manager.
Career Gillingham He made his debut for Gillingham in a League Two match against Chester City on 25 October 2008, and signed an 18-month professional contract three months later. He was voted Young Player of the Year for Gillingham at the end of the 2008–09 season. He made his first senior start for the club on 8 August 2009 in a 5–0 League One victory over Swindon Town. Payne's form created interest from then Championship side Reading though no offer was ever lodged. Payne then signed a two-year extension in November 2011 to keep him at the club until 2015.
Peterborough United In January 2013, Payne signed on loan for Championship club Peterborough United until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move. Payne had been due to sign for the Posh in the summer of 2012, however the deal fell through. Payne made 14 appearances whilst on loan at Peterborough, having made his debut for the club on 2 February 2013 as an 84th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw with Burnley. Peterborough finished 22nd in the Championship and were relegated to League One, whilst parent club Gillingham were promoted to League One as League Two champions. He joined Peterborough United on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee in summer 2013. Payne featured as a 67th minute substitute when Peterborough defeated Chesterfield 3–1 in the 2014 Football League Trophy final at Wembley. Following the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, he was transfer-listed by the club.
On 1 September 2015, Payne went on a season-long loan to League Two club Leyton Orient, with an option for a permanent deal. He made his debut for the club on 12 September 2015 in a 1–1 draw with Cambridge United. He scored his first goal for the club on 24 October 2015 with the only goal of a 1–0 win away to Morecambe. He made 32 appearances for Orient across the 2015–16 season, and scored once.
Blackpool In August 2016 he signed for Blackpool on a one-year deal. He left the club in May 2017 after his contract ended, shortly after featuring for the club in their League Two play-off final victory over Exeter City.
Ebbsfleet United Payne signed for side Ebbsfleet United in June 2017. He made his debut for the Kent side in a 2–2 draw away to Guiseley on the opening day of the 2017–18 season.
He joined fellow National League side Eastleigh on a one-month loan in September 2018.
Eastleigh Having rejected the offer of a new deal at Ebbsfleet, Payne joined Eastleigh permanently in June 2019, signing a one-year deal with the Hampshire side. He made his second debut for the side in a 1–0 victory over Notts County on 3 August 2019.
Crawley Town Payne joined League Two side Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee on 1 July 2021 on an initial one-year deal, with the option of an additional year.
Boreham Wood In July 2022, Payne joined Boreham Wood of the National League following the cancellation of his contract with Crawley.
In June 2025, Payne was appointed player-assistant manager following the departure of Mark Ricketts.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGillingham2008–09League Two20000000202009–10League One1900010102102010–11League Two3111010103412011–12League Two3024110003532012–13League Two192101000212Total10156140201136Peterborough United (loan)2012–13Championship140000000140Peterborough United2013–14League One3223031604432014–15League One4132010104532015–16League One2000000020Total755504170916Leyton Orient (loan)2015–16League Two291300000321Blackpool2016–17League Two351400050441Ebbsfleet United2017–18National League23000—202502018–19National League32030—10360Total550300030610Eastleigh (loan)2018–19National League5000—0050Eastleigh2019–20National League37160—204512020–21National League41110—00421Total782700020872Boreham Wood2022–23National League22220——242Career total414163018119046918
Honours Gillingham Football League Two: 2012–13
Peterborough Football League Trophy: 2013–14
Blackpool EFL League Two play-offs: 2017
Boreham Wood National League South play-offs: 2025
Individual Gillingham Young Player of the Season: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
References
External links