Boreham Wood are delighted to announce the arrival of midfielder Jack Payne to the LV BET Stadium Meadow Park ahead of the 2022/23 National League season following the mutual cancellation of his contract at League Two side Crawley Town.
Jack arrives at Meadow Park with a wealth of experience, with nearly 450 senior appearances to his name across spells with Gillingham, Peterborough United, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Ebbsfleet United, Eastleigh and Crawley Town.
The ball playing defensive midfielder began his career with Gillingham, graduating from the Academy at the Priestfield Stadium in 2008, and would go onto make 113 total appearances for Gill’s over five seasons. Jack won the Kent outfit’s Young Player of the Season award for three consecutive seasons; 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11, as well as the League Two title in 2012/2013, before an initial loan move to then-Championship side Peterborough United was made permanent in 2013.
Three-and-a-half seasons at London Road saw Payne rack up 91 appearances in a Posh shirt across the Championship and League One, a period which included a loan spell with Leyton Orient, before spending a successful single season with Blackpool in League Two, helping the Tangerines win the end of season play-offs at Wembley to ignite their climb back up the English Football pyramid. His single season at Bloomfield Road saw Jack contribute significantly to their promotion, making 44 total appearances for the Seasiders.
A return to his native Kent saw Jack then experience his first taste of Non-League football, signing for Daryl McMahon’s big spending Ebbsfleet United ahead of the 2017/18 season, making 61 appearances for the Fleet across two seasons at Stonebridge Road, before an initial loan move to National League counterparts Eastleigh during the 2018/19 season was made permanent ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
Jack would make 87 appearances for the Spitfire’s, making a name for himself at the top tier of Non-League football as one of the best defensive midfield players at the level, before a deserved return to the Football League with Crawley Town materialised, signing a two-year at Broadfield Stadium.
Despite recently signing a new contract with the Red Devils in April 2022, Jack mutually cancelled his contract with the West Sussex side this week.
Gaffer Luke Garrard had this to say on capturing Jack’s signature on a permanent deal, “In truth we have looked to sign Jack for a few years now and to finally get his signature is very, very pleasing.
“Jack is a player I have admired since his time at Ebbsfleet United and he will bring a wealth of experience to our group. He brings quality to our midfield and will compliment a very competitive area, where we have bolstered heavily this off-season.
“He is comfortable in possession and shows an understanding of his role and match management superbly. He is and will be a very positive addition to an already strong squad.” Garrard concluded.
Jack has signed an initial two-year contract with the Wood, with the option to extend his stay at Meadow Park for a further third season.
Welcome to the LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Jack!
OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.
