Jack Payne Reaches 100 Appearances for Colchester United
Jack Payne will bring up a personal landmark this weekend – and he hopes it is only another step in a much longer journey with Colchester United.
The 31-year-old playmaker is set to make his 100th appearance for the U’s, a milestone that has taken him the best part of a decade and a half as a professional to reach with a single club.
“It’s the first time I’ve actually played 100 games for one club,” Payne said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long, but I’m really glad to reach the 100 mark.”
For Colchester, his century comes with weight. Payne arrived in Essex in 2024 and quickly became the heartbeat of the side, driving a survival push that kept the club in the Football League. He was named Colchester’s player of the season in 2024-25 and earned a place in the EFL League Two Team of the Year, recognition of his influence in a campaign that went right to the wire.
Since signing, he has delivered consistently: 22 goals and 18 assists in 99 games, numbers that underline why he has become the on‑field reference point for Danny Cowley’s team.
“I really enjoy myself here, and I want to make that many more,” he said. “This is my third season here, and I’ve only ever done that once at any other club.”
That line tells its own story. Payne’s career has been one of constant movement: Southend United, Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic, plus loan spells at Oxford United, Blackburn Rovers, Bradford City and MK Dons. Always useful, often important, rarely rooted.
“I’ve moved more often than I would have liked over the years for various different reasons,” he admitted. “I’ve felt settled here and hopefully I can be here for many more seasons. The supporters have taken really well to me, and the club really suits me.”
That sense of belonging has not gone unnoticed. Cowley revealed to BBC Essex that Colchester turned down bids for Payne during the summer transfer window, a clear sign of how central he has become to the project.
Payne heard the noise.
“It’s nice to hear and I’m obviously doing something right if people from elsewhere are looking to pay money for you,” he said. “I’d lie if I said it wasn’t flattering to hear about that, but that was never going to happen. I was always going to be here past the window, and hopefully past a few more windows.”
The season itself has started in a quieter fashion for him on the stats sheet. Payne set up Colchester’s first League goal of the campaign in the 2-2 draw at Accrington, but has gone five matches since without adding another goal or assist.
He is not panicking.
“I never worry about those things as I know as long as I’m available and I’m playing goals and assists will come,” he said. “It’s just about making sure I’m available, making sure my performances are good and I feel good in myself.”
A century of games, bids turned away, a player finally settled. The numbers will come or they won’t, but Payne has made one thing clear: he sees his future in Colchester blue – and he wants that future to stretch well beyond appearance 100.
