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Shelton Payne: “I am thankful to be playing football again.”

Shelton Payne: “I am thankful to be playing football again.”

Matthew Jones31 Oct 2018 - 07:48
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Adam Harrison speaks to newly crowned October Player of the Month about everything from long term injuries to happiness on the pitch.

Thank you for the votes and the recognition it really does mean a lot and I can only thank you for deciding on me for this past month
- Shelton Payne

• ACL injury was a scare for Payne, but he reacts by winning POTM after top form in October
• He has found the right fit in Radcliffe after struggling to fit in at other teams.
• A “Top draw” squad assembled by Jon Macken capable of winning silverware.

There is nothing quite like when you find that right fit. Whether it’s a shoe on the foot or a tailored jacket. In Shelton Payne’s case, he’s suited and booted to Radcliffe - it’s the perfect fit.

Octobers Player of the Month, Payne, joined the Boro in the summer and he believes that he has found his place in a “top draw” squad at the blues with Jon Macken at the helm.

The attacker has five goals to his name, sits joint second in the top scorer charts this season, but he knows how quickly football can change. However, he is happy to have found a club which he can express himself and enjoy his time on the pitch. The winger has recently returned to football after being out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury - and with this award, it looks as though that book has closed on a dark chapter.


Payne is thankful to be playing again

Payne thought he was out for the count for nearly two years, but he got out of his corner - recovered and is knocking centre-backs out of his way to a Player of the Month award. It is certainly relief for the number 10 who is delighted to be back on the field.

Since joining in the summer, the five-goal attacker said: “It has been good. It’s a good feeling being happy and playing football – any player will tell you that.

“I’ve just come back having missed two years of football recently with my ACL injury and I’m thankful that I’m back playing again for one and secondly in a squad and around people that I enjoy and all get along with one another.”

The former Trafford winger is looking to keep ‘positive’ after a tough run of results has seen Radcliffe slip to seventh in the table. However, he has his eyes set on moving straight back up to the top.

“The results haven’t been going the right way for us,” Payne added. “We’ve played well at times and lost, we’ve had decisions by officials go against us and we’ve had a bit of bad luck but that’s football unfortunately.

“It will even itself out through the season. We just have to stay positive, stay together and work hard in training. We as a team are doing these things so it is only a matter of time. We have to stay humble and take each game as it comes.”

Payne was top scorer during the month of October netting a hat-trick against Irlam and he continued to cause mayhem for the opposition defences.


Payne believes the squad environment is an enjoyable place to be

He described his happiness for finding the back of the net but also being part of such squad which is so close.
Shelton continued: “Any attacker will tell you scoring goals and creating assists is a nice feeling and I’m not one to tell otherwise, so yeah it’s a nice feeling and it’s something that boosts confidence and makes you feel good.”

Septembers Player of the Month Scott Metcalfe spoke of the “togetherness” of the squad and Payne reiterated that after some tough results.

“The lads all help each one another out in different ways both on and off the field. Were all a very close knit team and I’m just happy I’m able to contribute in some way to it all.”
The former FC United man believes that he has found a “different” club and is really happy with his choice after some difficult moves.

“I have had several clubs, more than I wanted to have but hey ho. At all different level, different styles, different places with different managers but here is much different. You only really know and enjoy football and the environment you’re in when you’re deeply happy.”

The winger recalled the last time he really felt the feeling of happiness at a club.

“I haven’t really been truly happy since I played for Trafford under GV and Goody (Garry Vaughan and Wayne Goodison) and since then I’ve joined clubs where I haven’t really liked players, or a coach, a manager or training is boring. If something bugs me at a club me being stubborn I’ve left and got on with my day. Here is different, much different.
The environment, group chat, lads, training, the Gaffer, Frank (Sinclair), coaches, Marcus, the Chairman all down to the physios are top draw and it’s a very good and enjoyable place to be.”


Top Draw: Management and Squad

Payne was among a whole host of new signings brought in by Jon Macken in the summer and he believes that the group has what it takes as they head into the business part of the season.
“The Gaffer has assembled and brought together a squad which is top draw, we have a good mixture and group that only want to win and it shows in training and before and after games. This is good to see and be a part of.”

Payne went on to thank everyone for receiving the Player of the Month award.
“Firstly, thank you and I mean that. Thank you for the votes and the recognition it really does mean a lot and I can only thank you for deciding on me for this past month.”

The Boro now face a high flying Prescot Cables on Saturday after a well-earned 14 day break.

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