Jack Payne

Jack Payne made his 100th appearance for Colchester United in a 2-0 win over Cheltenham Town on 29 November 2025, the first time in his career he had reached a century of games for a single club. It capped a run of individual success at the club since joining on a free two-year contract in July 2024: he was named Colchester United Player of the Year for 2024-25 and was picked for both the EFL League Two Team of the Season and the PFA League Two Team of the Year, having also been shortlisted for the PFA League Two Players' Player of the Year.

Payne began his career at Buckhurst Hill before joining Southend United's academy in 2009 and making his senior debut there in 2013. He was part of the Southend squad that won promotion through the League Two play-offs in 2015, though he did not feature in the final, and was named the club's Player of the Year in 2015-16 after scoring nine goals in 32 appearances. A move to Huddersfield Town followed in 2016, but loan spells took him to Oxford United, Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City, with his time at Blackburn ending in promotion to the Championship. He later had spells with Lincoln City and Swindon Town.

Since arriving at Colchester, Payne has punished opponents from open play more than once: he scored a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over Chesterfield on 4 October 2025 and another in a 4-1 victory against Barnet on 21 February 2026. The Barnet display earned him a nomination for the EFL League Two Player of the Month award for February 2026, though he did not go on to win it.