Defender Steve (26) only missed epresent in our League programme to date. The West Yorkshire born player had an injury restricted first season with The Spireites, but from the autumn of 2000, he's been a virtual permanent feature of our first eleven.

Steve began his career as a Trainee at Huddersfield Town, signing pro in the summer of 1993 but they had a big squad and were improving on the field. Fellow youngsters included Rodney Rowe whilst more senior players at Leeds Road were former Spireites Phil Robinson and Iain Dunn.

He was unable to break through into the first team and just before the end of 1994 he moved on a free to then Conference side Macclesfield Town, then Managed by current Northern Ireland Boss Sammy McIlroy.

It was a successful but ultimately frustrating season for The Silkmen, Steve scored 1 goal in 33 games as his new side took the Vauxhall Conference title, 5 points clear of Woking, but were denied the chance to replace Exeter City in the Football League because their Moss Rose Ground was deemed inappropriate, despite being used at the time by Chester City in the League!
Season 95-96 saw Macc finish 4th, Stevenage Borough like the Cheshire side a year earlier, were denied promotion because of ground failings, Steve played 38 of the 42 Conference games, one goal again was scored, though he did also grab a more important goal in the 3-1 victory over Northwich Victoria in the Wembley Final of the FA Trophy before a crowd of 8672.

Made his "First Class" debut on 15th November 1996 in an FA Cup tie at Moss Rose, the non-leaguers lost 2-0 to Rochdale but the more important task was achieved, the Conference title was won (41 games, 2 goals) and this time the ground was good enough to allow Hereford United to be replaced in Division Three.

Became an England International on 8th April 1997 in a 0-0 draw in The Netherlands in a Semi-Professional encounter, on the bench that day was another man with Spireites connections, Steve Prindiville, then with Kidderminster Harriers.

Was part of the historic side that won 2-1 in Macclesfield Town's first ever League match at home to Torquay United, a season which saw a mid term dip, but a strong finish to claim the runners up spot to Notts County and promotio
to Division Two.

Steve's regular run in the side continued in the higher sphere in 1998-99, a disappointing campaign which saw Macclesfield finish bottom but the defender notched up his first two League goals, both on April 13th, both in the match against.... Chesterfield! The Silkmen won 2-0 and Payney was also the centre of attention in a spat which saw David Reeves red carded. He had played at Saltergate earlier that season when we won 2-0 with goals from Reeves & Hewitt.

John Duncan obviously remembered Payne and he recruited him for Chesterfield in the summer of 1999, and he played in the opening game of the new season, a 1-0 home loss against Colchester United.

Ankle problems kept him out of contention for much of the season but towards its end, and with goals a problem in a relegation headed side, Steve was thrust as an emergency forward, he scored from there in a rare win, 2-0 at Reading, again in a draw with Wigan and in the 1-1 with Cardiff City, but his efforts were not able to keep Duncan his job and when Nicky Law took over as Caretaker, Steve returned to his defensive duties.

Missed out to Steve Tutill early in the 2000-01 season as injury again ruined his pre season but he came in for the 6th game of the campaign, the key 1-0 win at Cheltenham Town and from then on, hardly missed a game. Was part of the trio of centre halves, with Breckin and Blatherwick, that helped us keep 8 consecutive clean sheets, incidentally the next goal conceded came when Steve was out of the side at Barnet, the game which saw Blathers injure his back.

Fired a terrific goal in the draw at Exeter City as The Spireites won promotion in a topsy-turvey season on and off the field and this season, with both Steve's, Blatherwick and Tutill, out of contention, he's made the centre half role alongside Captain Breckin his own, indeed Steve himself captained the side recently when Brecks was suspended.

Steve's League Career

                                                League             League

                                            Appearances            Goals

Huddersfield Town                             0                      0

Macclesfield (Conference)              112                      4

Macclesfield (League)                      77                      2

Chesterfield (to 20.1.02)                   79                      5