Review of week: Charlton Athletic U18s set up PDF play-off final against Wigan, Charlie Kelman up for Goal of the Month and David Davis makes 'throw you under the bus' comment about refusal to play
Ex-Addicks defender Ezri Konsa on verge of Europa League glory with Aston Villa
It’s the latest review of the week.
This update has details on the U18s producing a big performance in SE7, news involving former Charlton Athletic players that will be free agents this summer and Ezri Konsa closing in on European glory.
Kayode Peterkin celebrates after keeping his cool from the spot/Top picture: Kyle Andrews Bottom picture: Keith Gillard
Charlton score four as they book final spot against Wigan
Charlton Athletic U18s are into the Professional Development League play-off final after a 4-1 victory over Hull City at The Valley on Saturday.
The hosts were 1-0 down at the break but came roaring back against the Tigers with Sam Washington-Amoah levelled on 56 minutes.
Charlton quickly went into the lead through Raynon Richman. Substitute Kacper Podgorny made it 3-1 in the 75th minute.
Kayode Peterkin, another introduction off the bench, scored from the penalty spot in the third minute of additional time after Podgorny was fouled.
The Addicks face Wigan Athletic this week with details still to be confirmed.
The U18s, managed by Jason Pearce, finished top of the South league - finishing 12 points clear of second-placed Millwall. They lost just three times in 28 matches and won 19 times.
Wigan took first place in the North section and defeated Millwall 1-0 in their semi-final on Thursday.
Tanto featured for County in play-off tie but no place for Apter at Bolton
Isaac ‘Tanto’ Olaofe came on as a 76th-minute substitute in Stockport 1-0 win at Stevenage on Saturday in their League One play-off semi-final.
The 26-year-old Charlton striker replaced Adama Sidibeh in the 76th minute. Ben Osborn scored the County goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Olaofe, who made a January loan move back to the Hatters, has not started the last six matches but has come on in five of those.
The second leg takes place on Wednesday (8pm).
Bolton Wanderers lead 1-0 after their first leg against Bradford City but Rob Apter did not make the squad.
Apter, who also opted for a temporary switch from SE7 to try and secure regular football, was an unused substitute in their final three fixtures of the regulation season.
Karl Robinson at a match at The Valley in October 2022/Picture: Keith Gillard
Play-off action for ex-Charlton bosses
Karl Robinson’s Salford City were 2-1 winners at Grimsby Town on Sunday afternoon.
The Liverpudlian’s side were behind inside 26 seconds but restored parity on four minutes through Kallum Cesay.
There were offside debates about Adebola Oluwo’s goal which put Salford ahead in the 40th minute. The return leg is on Friday.
Robinson, who left his role as Charlton manager in March 2018, said: “It’s half-time and we’re winning 1-0 really. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got to regroup, we’ve got to recover.”
Former Charlton managers Dean Holden and Ben Garner are now number twos at other clubs in the Championship.
Holden has been assistant head coach at Hull City since the start of July.
He filled coaching posts at Adana Demirspor in Turkey and Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia after his dismissal by the Addicks in August 2023.
The Tigers drew 0-0 in a nervy first leg on Friday night. The return is at The Den tonight (8pm).
Dean Holden applauds the Charlton fans after Hull’s recent loss at The Valley/Picture: Kyle Andrews
Garner was appointed as Southampton’s assistant coach in January. He had not had a domestic job since being sacked by Colchester in October 2023.
Saints boss Tonda Eckert praised Garner ahead of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Boro in their play-off semi on Teesside.
“I’m so happy to have him around,” said the German. “He’s been in many of these moments and in different situations. There’s so much love and dedication for the game, and so much detail in the way he prepares. He’s a big support for me.”
The second leg is Tuesday at 8pm.
Tom Lockyer in action for Charlton against Reading in July 2020/Picture: Keith Gillard
Player movement
Plenty of clubs have announced their retained and released list - with a number of former Charlton players let go.
Among those to be released are Michael Morrison (Cambridge United), Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers), Ben Amos (Port Vale), Ben Hamer (QPR), Josh Magennis (Exeter City) and Diallang Jaiyesimi (Leyton Orient).
AFC Wimbledon are in discussions with Patrick Bauer while Blackpool have exercised Albie Morgan’s 12-month contract extension.
Konsa reaches Europa League final
Ezri Konsa is one win away from lifting the Europa League trophy with Aston Villa.
Unai Emery’s side thrashed Nottingham Forest 4-0 at Villa Park on Thursday to win their semi-final tie by 4-1 on aggregate.
Villa will face German club Freiburg on May 20 in Istanbul.
Konsa, who came through Charlton’s youth ranks, played the full match against Forest.
Emery has won the Europa League four times already - three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.
Konsa, voted the Addicks’ Young Player of the Year in 2016-17, won the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2017. He is expected to be part of England’s squad for the World Cup finals in the USA this summer.
Charlie Kelman scores against Hull City/Picture: Paul Edwards
Kelman up for EFL Goal of the Month accolade
It will come as a surprise to absolutely nobody that Charlie Kelman’s delightful finish against Hull City has made the shortlist for the EFL Championship Goal of the Month for April.
“Chasing a long ball, Kelman beat one defender but knew he had to improve his angle for the shot by taking it inside another before unleashing a breathtaking curler into the far corner,” is the way that the EFL press release described his seventh goal of the season.
The 24-year-old forward is up against Will Lankshear (Oxford United), Kasey McAteer (Ipswich Town) and Frank Onyeka (Coventry City) for the award.
Fans are invited to vote for their favourite goal on EFL.com before 5pm today.
The supporters’ votes will be combined with the choices from a panel to determine the winners.
The judging panel comprises Sky Sports’ pundits Don Goodman and David Prutton.
David Davis/Picture: Paul Edwards
David Davis piece
David Davis has revealed that his decision not to return to Charlton Athletic after the Covid outbreak in 2020 hampered his chances of getting a new club as he looked to leave Birmingham City.
The midfielder, now 35, joined the Addicks on loan in the January window, just a couple of months before the virus shut down the Championship season.
English football resumed in late June at Premier League and Championship level but Davis ruled himself out of featuring.
He played five times for Charlton prior to lockdown.
“I went to Charlton and it wasn’t great there,” Davis, who played non-league for Kidderminster Harriers last season, told the Made In Brum podcast. “It doesn’t start well. I’m constantly back and forth, my missus is coming down and what not. It’s a long way, isn’t it?
“I shoot myself in the foot by not going back to Charlton as well. With the Covid stuff, I’ve got a newborn and you see all this shit that is coming on. I know we had all those meetings and the doctor is saying this and that. Where I live is an apartment block. So I’m thinking if I’m going to be on lockdown then my missus and kid are going to be with me in an apartment…it’s not right.
“In my head I was not coming back until I knew it was safe for me and my family.
“So they were like ‘so you are refusing to come back?’ ‘I’m not refusing’. Before this I had spoken to people at Charlton and they were like ‘yeah, listen, we totally get it but we’re going to have to throw you under the bus in public’. I was like ‘I get that’. But it was not for footballing reasons.
“When I look back now, with hindsight, that was a detriment to me. I had a duty to go back and play because they were in a relegation fight. But also, we started the next season and [Aitor] Karanka said: ‘You’re not for me’.
“My agent was on the phone to managers and they were like ‘why didn’t Digga go back to Charlton?’ He explained to them and they went ‘is he going to bail on us when shit gets tough?’
“It’s tough but I get the way football works. As soon as someone sees you are not all in then your character gets questioned, of course it does. Then I am scrambling to get a club.”
CAST free webinar with academy boss Miller
Charlton Athletic Supporters’ Trust are holding a Q&A with the club’s new academy manager Greg Miller on Thursday (7.30pm).
The webinar is open to all fans and you can register here.
Miller, appointed recently after Tom Pell moved to a role in Tottenham’s academy, will be joined by Joe Francis, head of education.
A player from Charlton’s U18 squad will also be on the panel.
Picture: Charlton Athletic FC
Content that appeared on this website last week
Charlton Athletic sign partnership with the Mark Fish Foundation.
Addicks appoint Richard Law as a non-executive director.
Rick Everitt looks back at the 2025-26 season as Charlton achieve their ultimate goal.
Retained and released list confirmed - including our first post-season pod to discuss those developments.
Seasons ratings and verdicts on Charlton’s goalkeepers, defenders and defensive midfielders.
Really interesting comments from David Davis. We have never heard from Chris Solly on why he made his decision at the time. I know he is back at the club but I feel it tainted his long career with us. Especially if we as fans have to make our own conclusions.
Lyle Taylor likes to talk about everything but did we ever get to the bottom of why he did what did. I think we all know why. 🐍
Each of those three careers in many ways never kicked on. Yes, Taylor made a shit load of money but has hardly played since and was just released by Chelmsford.