United Debut: v East Fife LC 11/8/73.
Signed From: St Columba's B.C. 9/7/73.
Transferred to: Arbroath, March 1984.
Payne was one of the first players to emerge from Jim McLean's Youth Academy, along with Dave Narey, John Holt and Andy Gray. At just 18 he was a member of the Scottish Cup Final team in 1974, the youngest United player to appear in a Final, and played an important role in getting United there, scoring one of the goals in the 4-2 win over Hearts in the Semi-Final. Was in the starting 11 for both games of the 1979 League Cup Final against Aberdeen and also the 1979 League Cup Final against Dundee, as United won their first two trophies. The flame-haired midfielder was at United for 10 years, but was only a first-team regular for a couple of seasons in the late 70's and just missed out on a League Championship medal in 1983, playing in only 3 matches, spending much of the season out on loan at Morton.
Scottish Cup Final 1974
4 Appearance 1 Goal
League Cup Winner 1980
9 Appearances 1 Goal
League Cup Winner 1979
7 Appearances 1 Goal
| League | Scot Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | |
| 1973-74 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | 31 | 2 |
| 1974-75 | 11 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 2 | - | 15 | 0 |
| 1975-76 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | 4 | - | 26 | 3 |
| 1976-77 | 36 | 1 | 1 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 43 | 1 |
| 1977-78 | 33 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | - | 2 | - | 47 | 2 |
| 1978-79 | 26 | 3 | 1 | - | 2 | - | 2 | - | 31 | 3 |
| 1979-80 | 19 | - | 2 | - | 7 | 1 | 4 | - | 32 | 1 |
| 1980-81 | 22 | 2 | 2 | - | 9 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 4 |
| 1981-82 | 7 | 1 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | 2 | - | 14 | 2 |
| 1982-83 | 3 | - | - | - | 6 | 2 | - | - | 9 | 2 |
| 1983-84 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 0 |
|
Total
|
200 | 11 | 17 | 3 | 50 | 5 | 21 | 1 | 288 | 20 |
