Payne-stakingly Good

People reading this will think "Well he's spelt painstakingly wrong", my response is that you keep reading and enjoy the pun, rather than criticise it. Yes in all my wisdom I have decided upon doing yet another football blog. Over recent times we've had well known players like Alan Dzagoev, Romelu Lukaku, Balazs Dszudszak and England starlet Adam Johnson enter and retain their places in the Gareth Messenger blog archive; however times are changing and I now invite you to something fresh, something younger and something with the potential to be big. We are plummeting down the leagues, to Coca-Cola League Two and the young starlet of Kent-based Gillingham Football Club.

At the young age of just 18, Jack Payne has gone from a virtual unknown in Medway to the centrepiece of Gillingham's midfield. In 2008, the youngster made his debut for the Gills, aged just 16, and since then has been the creative mastermind the side have craved for some years. Played usually in a defensive midfield role, this season has seen Payne play with more confidence, a level of maturity particularly seen in vastly experienced performers, and now an attacking threat which many defenders fear to be at times devastating. After making his debut against Chester two years ago, Payne signed an 18-month contract and in the same season received the club's Young Player of the Year award, a title which many Gillingham legends have in their trophy cabinets, including current Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Matthew Jarvis.

Along with his technical skill, and his impressive defensive duties, Payne is also a throw-in specialist. Referred to by many as the 'Rory Delap of League Two', Payne's threat with the ball in his hands provides Gillingham with a superb advantage over their rivals.
Gillingham before the season were second favourites to be promoted however have struggled for form and their record of no away win has been stretched to over a year-and-a-half. Recent away defeats to Bury and Accrington saw them score four goals in each game, yet conceding a, to be honest rather dire, five and seven respectively.

The return of fans favourite Danny Spiller and the ability to keep midfield maestro Curtis Weston at the club has seen more competition for places, however Payne has managed to play every minute for the Gills this season, staking his claim to compete with the very best in the league. Being a former season ticket holder, when I first saw Payne I was far from impressed. I thought he was weak, technically good but nothing special, and I thought he lacked that cutting edge needed to be a big player and in all honesty, I was highly critical of the Gravesend-born player. He has proved me wrong though, and now I firmly believe he is the key to Gillingham's success in England's lowest tier of league football. He scored his first goal for the club this weekend in a 2-1 home victory against Stockport County, lashing in after 37 minutes.

All I can say, keep an eye on this boy. He may not seem like much now, but to all you football fans, sign him on your Football manager games. You don't have to play him, but I can assure you, if he keeps his head down and works hard, he will be plying his trade in the Premier League a lot sooner than anticipated.