Shelton Payne

Name:Shelton Payne

Born:04/02/1989

Position:Midfield

Joined the club:Jan 2016

Previous Club(s): Port Talbot Town, Trafford, Chorley, Colwyn Bay, Hyde, FC United, Ramsbottom United

Shelton is unsponsored

Player Profile (PITMENWEB.COM)

Much-travelling forward, regarded as one of the quickest players in non-league football, who joined the Pitmen from Evo-Stik Premier League side Ramsbottom United in January 2016

Cardiff-born Payne started his career at amateur side Dimas Powys. In the summer of 2009, he re-located to the Manchester area and linked up with Trafford for the first time in his career. He was prolific during Trafford’s Evo-Stik Division One North campaign, which saw them finish twelfth in the table

He was a much-demand name in the summer of 2010, having trials with Blackburn Rovers for a spell, before Division One North rivals Chorley won the race for his signature in June 2010. He was to have an excellent 2010-2011 season for the Magpies, grabbing twelve goals as Chorley won promotion to the Evo-Stik Premier League via a play-off final win over AFC Fylde in May 2011

After agreeing a new deal for Chorley’s first season back at step three in 2011-2012, Payne became a frustrated figure as Garry Flitcroft’s side made a flying start to the season. He handed a transfer request in in November 2011 and was allowed to go out on loan to Blue Square North side Hyde for a month to get game time

He left Victory Park in January 2012 to link up with another Blue Square North side, joining the club just days before Frank Sinclair also linked up with the North Wales club. His initial stay at Llanelian Road was short – just two months – before returning to Hyde to complete the season

Payne returned to a happier hunting ground in the summer of 2012, moving back to Trafford after a brief trial spell at FC Halifax Town. He was to once again star for the Manchester-based club, scoring freely once again as Trafford made a flying start to their Evo-Stik Division One North campaign. He crossed paths with the Pitmen for the first time in October as the two sides met in F.A. Trophy action.

Payne would not be part of Trafford’s play-off winning side at the end of the season, however, as he stepped back into Conference North action in February 2013 by rejoining Colwyn Bay, now managed by Sinclair. His form – and goal return – towards the end of the season was a big factor in Bay staying in the league for another season as they finished eighteenth

His goalscoring form attracted the attention of better-financed clubs in Conference North, with Barrow offering the forward a trial in the summer of 2013. He did enough to convince manager Dave Bayliss to offer him a six month deal – although he would fail to kick a ball competitively for the Bluebirds after leaving in acrimonious circumstances before the start of the season

He made another return to Trafford following his departure from Holker Street, with his former team struggling to consolidate their league status after the previous season’s promotion. He scored all five goals in Trafford’s F.A. Cup demolition of Droylsden in September 2013, which turned the team’s fortunes for the better. Trafford finished the 2013-2014 season in a respectable tenth position in the Evo-Stik Premier League, ahead of more established names such as Marine, Ilkeston, Witton Albion and Stafford Rangers

A bright start to the 2014-2015 campaign saw Payne again on the scoresheet for Trafford, again attracting interest from bigger clubs who weighed up taking a chance on an undoubtedly talented player. High-flying FC United of Manchester moved to bring Payne into their ranks in January 2015, adding to their firepower as they looked to push towards the Evo-Stik Premier League title. Payne was a useful addition to the FCUM ranks, scoring five times in thirteen starts as FC United clinched a long-anticipated promotion in April 2015

Big-spending Salford City snapped the player up in the summer of 2015 when many expected him to stay at FC United, although he was one the move once again without making an appearance for City by joining league rivals Ramsbottom United. After only one appearance for the Rams, Payne announced his retirement from the game, although this was to be false information as he re-appeared at Vanarama National League North side Curzon Ashton the following month

After three starts for Ashton, he made the surprise return to Ramsbottom in October 2015, scoring four times in six games before linking up with Sinclair once again in January 2016 to become the former Chelsea man’s first signing as Hednesford manager

Player Stats