Jimmy Payne (James Bolcherson Payne)
Born: Bootle, Liverpool, 10 March 1926.
Died: Kendal, Cumbria, 22 January 2013.
Clubs:
- Liverpool (Nov 1944 to Apr 1956): FL 224 Appearances, 43 goals, FA Cup runners-up medal (1950)
- Everton (Apr 1956 to cs. 1957): 5 Appearances
Senior Debut: Liverpool vs. Bolton Wanderers, 11 September 1948
Despite most of his career being spent with Liverpool Football Club, Jimmy Payne was one of only 35 players in history to play for both Merseyside clubs. Despite growing up as an Everton fan, Jimmy Payne began his career with their rivals.
Jimmy Payne was a skillful right-winger who made over 200 first-team appearances and eight seasons for Liverpool in the early post-war period. However, he had to wait until the 1948-49 season for his first-team debut, signed by the Reds from local football during the war years. Nevertheless, he gained an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1950 and also won England B international honors.
It’s time for a confession. While I was still a schoolboy, I dreamed of playing for Everton one day! Please don’t judge me for it. At the time, I was just nine years old. It would have been just as great to play for Everton as it would have been to play for Liverpool, but I’m glad the fates decreed that I end up at Anfield. Our players are the finest bunch you could meet anywhere in the world, and Liverpool is a great club. – Jimmy Payne
His skills earned him the nickname ‘Merseyside Matthews’ after former Blackpool, Stoke, and England winger Stanley Matthews. Jimmy Payne left Anfield to join his boyhood heroes Everton Football Club in 1956 for 3000 pounds. However, his time on the Blue half of Merseyside was restricted to just six games due to injury before he was forced to retire just short of his 30th birthday.
In a letter from Sepp Blatter: “On behalf of the members of the international soccer family who had the pleasure of knowing Jimmy Payne, I should be highly grateful if you could extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of Jimmy, as well as to all the members of The Football Association.
On retiring from the game, he ran a newsagents’ shop.
Main Image: Twitter
