Andrew Payne is an all-round cricketer

Cricketer

A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....

 (opening bowler and middle-order batsman) who was on the books of Lancashire

Lancashire County Cricket Club

Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...

 as a teenager but was released without making a first-class appearance, despite playing for England under-19s. He was signed by Somerset

Somerset County Cricket Club

Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...

, for whom he made regular senior appearances in two years on the county's books.

Upon release Payne returned to his native Lancashire to be a club professional. He played for Baxenden

Baxenden

Baxenden is a village and ward located in the Borough of Hyndburn in Lancashire, North-West England. Baxenden is sometimes known to the locals as ‘Bash’.- History :...

 in 1995, and subsequently signed for Flowery Field Cricket Club

Flowery Field Cricket Club

Flowery Field Cricket Club is located in the Flowery Field area of Hyde, Greater Manchester and was formed in 1838. It celebrated its sesquicentennial year in 1988 with a number of special matches....

in the Saddleworth League for four seasons, in which he scored over 4000 runs and took nearly 400 wickets.

After leaving Flowery Field he returned to his home club Rawtenstall where he has had great success.