Born: 10 March 1926

Born in: Bootle, Liverpool

Died: 23 January 2013

Other clubs: Bootle ATC, Everton (1956-57)

Signed from: Bootle ATC

Joined Liverpool: Joined May 1942 - Professional 02.11.1944

Debut: 11 Sep 1948

Final appearance: 22 Feb 1956

Debut goal: 09 Oct 1948

Last goal: 28 Jan 1956

Contract until: 18.04.1956

League: Apps / Goals / Assists: 222 / 38 / 36

All Competitions: Apps / Goals / Assists: 243 / 43 / 39

Player Profile

Dubbed the "Merseyside Matthews" Payne was a tricky, diminutive right-winger beating man after man for fun, although he did spend part of the 1951/52 season at inside-left, a position he was not really suited to. Payne, who supported Everton as a kid, made his debut for Liverpool against Bolton Wanderers at Anfield on 11 September 1948, having joined the club six years earlier. After the title win in 1947, Liverpool’s fortunes gradually declined and they were relegated to the Second Division at the end of the 1953/54 season. Payne struggled with injuries in the latter part of his career, lost his form and the Liverpool crowd seemed to turn against him.

Payne eventually signed for Everton in April 1956 but due to injuries his spell there was a brief one, playing only six games and scoring two goals. He retired from the game before his thirtieth birthday and became a newsagent. He died in at the age of 86 in 2013.