‘I have a load of years ahead of me yet’ – Matty Godden exclusive on Charlton Athletic move, winning at League One level and being a Nathan Jones-type striker

BY EDMUND BRACK

Matty Godden will be 33 by the time Charlton Athletic kick-off their League One campaign at Wigan Athletic on August 10 – but Nathan Jones’ summer signing believes he has plenty of years ahead of him as he sets his sights on getting the club back to the Championship.

The Canterbury-born striker’s senior journey has seen him go through the mill at non-league level at the likes of Gainsborough Trinity, Brigg Town and Ilkeston Town, to playing in the Championship with Coventry by September 2020.

Godden has enjoyed success with Ebbsfleet in the National League South and has scored goals at every level as he made his way up the football pyramid.

“That’s the big part for me,” Godden told the South London Press when asked about his journey from non-league to the second tier.

“I know I have a load of years ahead of me yet because I came into the game so late – my legs are like a 27-year-old.

“I know that I have plenty of time left.

“I have been told by every coach all of last year and previously.

“Where I was in non-league, and I didn’t play a huge amount of football when I was younger, I didn’t get driven into the ground.

“My legs are, as they say, a young 32-year-old’s.

“I feel though I still have all the pressing and everything I need to do for a good few years yet.”

Godden has more than 100 goal contributions at EFL level and won the League One title with Coventry in the 2019-20 season, earning a place in the League One Team of the Season.

He netted 32 times for the Sky Blues in the Championship and helped them get one game away from the Premier League in the 2022-23 season – losing on penalties to Luton in the play-off final.

“I’m more experienced than I was five years ago in League One,” he added.

“There is no hiding behind the fact that there is a big gap when you go up to the Championship – the defenders are a lot quicker and sharper.

“The whole game is a lot more powerful.

“League One is getting stronger and stronger.

“There are some good teams at this level. We know it’s not going to be plain sailing.

“But I’m well up for the challenge of trying to help the boys achieve what we want to.

“I worked too hard to get my way into the Championship and spend four years there – I didn’t want to let it go.

“But to let it go was for a project that I felt could get me back up there pretty quickly.”

It was a full-circle moment for Godden when putting pen-to-paper on an initial two-year deal, which has a club option for a third season, at The Valley this summer.

The forward would train at the club’s community pitches as a youngster and wanted to move back to the Addicks following his impressive spell with Stevenage, where he picked up 46 goal contributions in 88 games before moving to Peterborough in 2018.

He added: “I actually tried to come back to the football club when I was at Stevenage.

“It didn’t work out for whatever reason, but I have always dreamt of coming to play for Charlton.

“Especially now that I believe they should be higher than where we are – it’s always something that I wanted to do.

“I grew up watching Charlton in the Premier League. I want to help the club achieve and get the club back to at least the Championship.”

Addicks boss Nathan Jones managed to add goals to Danny Hylton, James Collins and Elijah Adebayo’s games during their time together at Luton.

“The project and how I’m going to fit into that,” said Godden of how Jones sold Charlton as the next step in his career.

“Being on the front foot and pressing is a huge part of my game – I got the feeling I was his sort of striker.

“That’s the reason why he wanted me at the football club.

“If the boys are pressing behind us front two and we knick the ball high up, it’s a very good form of attack.

“It’s where a lot of my goals come from. It’s something I am excited about.”

With nearly 300 EFL appearances to his name and a title at third tier level, Godden’s experience will undoubtedly benefit Charlton as they pitch up against Birmingham, Wrexham, Huddersfield and Bolton for promotion to the Championship.

When asked what it took to be successful at the level, he said: “Everyone being together. We had a really tight unit up there and everybody was pulling in the same direction.

“Player-wise and staff – we were all really together.

“You’re going to have bumps and cracks along the way – it’s about being consistent and sticking to what you’re good at and working hard for each other.

“It’s about making sure everybody is pulling and trying to achieve the same goal at the end of the season.

“I’m sure we will have a very good season this year.

“It would mean everything to be [to get Charlton back into the Championship].

“It’s the reason why I have dropped down – I want a project.”