Jack Payne: Committed to Colchester United as He Approaches 100 Games

Jack Payne has been around long enough to know how this usually goes. Short contracts, new dressing rooms, another fresh start. Yet as he closes in on 100 games for Colchester United this weekend, the 31-year-old is talking about something he’s rarely had in his career: staying put.

The creative midfielder arrived in Essex in 2024 and quickly became the heartbeat of a side fighting to keep their place in the EFL. He dragged Colchester through a fraught 2024-25 campaign, winning the club’s player of the season award as they narrowly avoided dropping out of the Football League. The wider division noticed too – Payne earned a place in the EFL League Two Team of the Year.

Since then, the numbers have stacked up. Across 99 appearances, he has scored 22 goals and supplied 18 assists, a steady stream of end product from the middle of the pitch. Yet the milestone he is about to hit means more to him than any stat line.

"It's the first time I've actually played 100 games for one club. It shouldn't have taken this long, but I'm really glad to reach the 100 mark," he said. "I really enjoy myself here, and I want to make that many more. This is my third season here, and I've only ever done that once at any other club."

That last line says plenty about the journey. Southend United, Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic – Payne has packed a lot of crests into one career. Loan spells at Oxford United, Blackburn Rovers, Bradford City and MK Dons only added to the list.

"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."

Colchester boss Danny Cowley clearly feels the same. He revealed to BBC Essex that the club had turned down bids for Payne in the summer window, a firm statement about his importance to the squad.

Payne appreciated the interest, but he never saw his future anywhere else.

"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."

On the pitch this season, his start has been quieter on paper. Payne set up Colchester’s first League goal of the campaign in the 2-2 draw at Accrington, but has not added another goal or assist in the five matches since. For some players, that might spark tension. He sounds utterly unmoved.

"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 appearances, bids turned away, a player finally settled and talking about “many more seasons” in the same colours. For a club that has flirted with danger in recent years, Payne’s commitment is more than a nice story. It’s a foundation.