Main Menu
Contents
What's New
Search
Comments
BLIND, STUPID AND DESPERATE
 
Gone but not forgotten:
Derek Payne
 
Position: Leg-biter/midfield
From: Southend - swap for Keith Dublin - July 1994
Record: Played: 38(4) Scored: 1
To: Peterborough United - free transfer - May 1996
Career stats: Soccerbase
He was: A bit of an animal

Weird one, this. As a footballer, Payne was good at doing the simple things but little else (although he will be remembered for his one goal - a spectacular overhead kick); as someone to have around the midfield to kick the opposition up in the air whenever necessary, he was just the man for the job. Nicknamed "Freddie" thanks to an alarming resemblance to mass-murderer Fred West (a clue to the man's personality is that he revelled in the nickname), he was basically Andy Hessenthaler without any of the refinements. After a shaky start and injury problems, he found his way back into the side in early '95 and won the respect of the fans with some tremendously physical performances in the winter mud. He was there to do a job, he knew it and he got on with it. Which is why I'm a little disappointed that we've got rid of him - I would have thought he'd be exactly the sort of player we'll need in the Second Division. The last time I saw him he was in the reserves, kicking lumps out of Ipswich players and generally looking like the only player in the side capable of doing well in the first team - I'll kind of miss him around the place, I think.