2025 EFL League One play-off final

Nathan Jones' Charlton Athletic lined-up in a 4-1-4-1 with Will Mannion in goal, a back four of Kayne Ramsay, Lloyd Jones, Macaulay Gillesphey and Josh Edwards, Conor Coventry as the lone central defensive midfielder, then a midfield four Thierry Small, Alex Gilbert, captain Greg Docherty and Tyreece Campbell and Matt Godden as the lone striker while Richie Wellens' Leyton Orient lined-up in a 4-2-3-1 with Josh Keeley in goal, a traditional back four of Ethan Galbraith, captain Omar Beckles, Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Jack Currie, a defensive midfield two of Sean Clare and Jordan Brown, then Daniel Agyei on the right and Ollie O'Neill on the left, Jamie Donley on the left and Charlie Kelman as the lone striker.^[9]

In the 13th minute, Ethan Galbraith missed a right-footed shot from outside the box after an assist from Jordan Brown. In the 19th minute, Ollie O'Neill had a shot blocked for Leyton Orient after an assist from Jamie Donley. In the 29th minute, Tyreece Campbell won a free-kick for Charlton Athletic which Macaulay Gillesphey scored into the right corner of the net in the 31st minute past Leyton Orient keeper Josh Keeley. In the 41st minute, Daniel Agyei had a shot blocked for Leyton Orient by the Charlton Athletic defence after a left-footed shot from the right side of Addicks' box and Rarmani Edmonds-Green missed a header from the centre of Charlton Athletic's box after a corner kick from Jamie Donley. In the 44th minute, Ollie O'Neill had has right-footed shot from a difficult angle on the right which was blocked by Charlton Athletic's defence and Daniel Agyei then also had his left-footed shot from the centre of the box blocked by the Addicks' defence. In the 45th minute, in the final action of the first half, Alex Gilbert's right-footed shot from outside the Leyton Orient box went over the bar.^[10]

In the 55th minute, Jack Currie's left-footed shot from outside the box was blocked by the Charlton Athletic defence. In the 58th minute, Jack Currie's left-footed shot from outside the box was again blocked by the Addicks' defence and Jordan Brown's right-footed shot from the centre of the box went over the bar after a corner kick. In the 62nd minute, Charlie Kelman's right-footed shot from outside was blocked by Charlton Athletic's defence and Sean Clare's header from the right side of the six-yard box went over the bar after a corner kick by Jamie Donley. In the 66th minute both Jamie Donley and Ollie O'Neill had their shots blocked by the Charlton Athletic defence. In the 67th minute, Nathan Jones made Charlton Athletic's first two changes of the match with Tennai Watson replacing Thierry Small and Karoy Anderson replacing Alex Gilbert. In the 70th minute, Charlton Athletic captain Greg Docherty's right-footed shot from outside of Leyton Orient's box was saved in the top centre of the goal by Leyton Orient goalkeeper Josh Keeley. In the 74th minute Richie Wellens made Orient's first two changes of the match with Thomas James replacing Sean Clare and Dominic Ball replacing Jordan Brown. In the 78th minute, Ollie O'Neill's left-footed shot from the left side of the box was blocked by Charlton Athletic's defence. In the 81st minute, Nathan Jones made another two changes for Charlton Athletic with Chuks Aneke replacing Matt Godden and Micah Mbick replacing Tyreece Campbell and in the 82nd minute Richie Wellens made a triple change for Leyton Orient with Daniel Happe replacing captain Omar Beckles, Azeem Abdulai replacing Daniel Agyei and Randell Williams replacing Ollie O'Neill. In the 89th minute, Chuks Aneke's right-footed shot from a difficult angle and from long range on the left was saved in the bottom left corner by Leyton Orient keeper Josh Keeley. In the 92nd minute, Randell Williams received the match's first yellow card from referee Andrew Kitchen and he also missed a left-footed shot from outside the box which went wide. In the 100th minute, in the final action of the second half and the match, Dan Happe's header from the centre of the box was saved in the top centre of the goal by Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Will Mannion. This meant that the match finished in a 1-0 win for the Addicks who were promoted to the 2025-26 EFL Championship keeping Leyton Orient in the 2025-26 EFL League One.^[11]

Charlton Athletic

Leyton Orient

GK 25 Will Mannion CB 2 Kayne Ramsay CB 5 Lloyd Jones  90+2' CB 3 Macaulay Gillesphey RWB 26 Thierry Small  68' CM 6 Conor Coventry CM 10 Greg Docherty (c) LWB 16 Josh Edwards AM 17 Alex Gilbert  68' AM 7 Tyreece Campbell  81' CF 24 Matt Godden  81' Substitutes: GK 21 Ashley Maynard-Brewer DF 4 Alex Mitchell DF 27 Tennai Watson  68' MF 8 Luke Berry MF 18 Karoy Anderson  68' FW 22 Chuks Aneke  81' FW 33 Micah Mbick  81' Head Coach: Nathan Jones

GK 24 Josh Keeley RB 22 Ethan Galbraith CB 19 Omar Beckles (c)  82' CB 45 Rarmani Edmonds-Green LB 12 Jack Currie CM 8 Jordan Brown  74' CM 28 Sean Clare  74' RW 7 Dan Agyei  82' AM 17 Jamie Donley LW 21 Ollie O'Neill  82' CF 23 Charlie Kelman Substitutes: GK 26 Noah Phillips DF 2 Tom James  74' DF 5 Dan Happe  82' MF 9 Randell Williams  82' MF 15 Dominic Ball  74' MF 47 Azeem Abdulai  82' FW 44 Dilan Markanday Head Coach: Richie Wellens

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones said this to Sky Sports about promotion to the EFL Championship for the following season: "This is euphoria. We've had to battle, we didn't play well. We just defended really well. To win a game here [at Wembley Stadium] and keep a clean sheet, I'm so, so happy. There's also a bit of relief, but the majority is euphoria and pride. This is a good [Leyton] Orient side, and they've hardly had a chance on goal. And that's down to our side. I wanted to build something. That's why I came here [to Charlton Athletic]. It's the first step. Now we kick on".^[12]

Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens said in this to BBC Sport in his post-match press conference about losing the final and remaining in EFL League One for the following season: "It's really difficult for me, it's heart-breaking to be honest, it is hard". On player retention for the following season: "Our budget is not like some other clubs. The end of that [first] season, I lost two or three of my best players. Next season, we got promoted, I lost a few more. It's the same every season. Potentially, we're going to lose six or seven now. I am gutted for the supporters but I'm also heartbroken this is the last time I will ever manage this set of players as a collective".^[13]

Prior to the following season Charlton Athletic made 9 signings with Sonny Carey joining from EFL League One club Blackpool, Thomas Kaminski joining from another EFL League One club Luton Town, Tanto Olaofe joining from Stockport County, Amari'i Bell also signing from Luton Town alongside Reece Burke, Joe Rankin-Costello joining from fellow EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers, Rob Apter also signing from Blackpool, Charlie Kelman signing from Leyton Orient - after playing against Charlton Athletic in the play-off final in the previous season and also winning the 2024-25 EFL League One Golden Boot - and Harvey Knibbs singing from Reading - after he was the first person since Dave Kitson to score 15 or more goals in all competitions for the Royals in back-to-back seasons since the 2005-06 season.^{[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]} However, the following players left Charlton Athletic at the end of the previous season: Chuks Aneke who later joined EFL League Two club Shrewsbury Town, Dean Bouzanis who joined A-League club Brisbane Roar, Aaron Henry who later joined National League club Boreham Wood, Danny Hylton who retired, Thierry Small who joined EFL Championship club Preston North End and Tennai Watson who signed for EFL League One club Barnsley.^{[23][24][25][26][27][28]}

Leyton Orient also made 9 signings in order to have another go at getting promoted to the EFL Championship with Killian Cahill joining from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, Demetri Mitchell joining from EFL League One club Exeter City, Michael Craig signing from another EFL League One club Reading, Idris El Mizouni signing from EFL Championship club Oxford United, Aaron Connolly signing from another EFL Championship club Millwall, Tyreeq Bakinson joining from Wycombe Wanderers, Josh Koroma signing from Huddersfield Town, Lemar Gordon joining from Fulham and Charlie Wellens signing from Reading - like Michael Craig earlier in the window and to join his dad Richie Wellens at the club.^{[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]} However, the following players left Leyton Orient at the end of the previous season: Ethan Galbraith who later joined EFL Championship club Swansea City, Jordan Brown who signed for EFL League One club Blackpool, Charlie Pegrum who joined National League South club Hornchurch and Brandon Cooper who then joined EFL League Two club Salford City.^{[38][39][40][41]}