‘I’ve worked my n*** off’ – Charlton’s Matty Godden on non-league career rebuild and rooting for Coventry City play-off success

Charlton Athletic striker Matty Godden is hoping to be a Championship player again at the end of this month – and has talked about the graft required to make it back into the EFL earlier in his career.

The 33-year-old striker has scored 21 goals in all competitons for the Addicks since his summer transfer from Coventry City.

Kent-born Godden dropped into non-league after leaving Scunthorpe United in 2014 and then had spells in the then Conference South and Premier with Ebbsfleet United.

Godden also has stints with Brigg Town, Ilkeston and Gainsborough Trinity while on the Iron’s books.

“With my football that has been my journey – the hard work,” Godden told the South London Press earlier this week.

“I dropped myself out of the league with Scunthorpe into non-league with Ebbsfleet. It was a reset – that I needed to work hard and I believed I should be playing a lot higher.

“It was a case of ‘drop down, score a lot of goals and build my way back up’. I’ve worked my nuts off to get to where I am. I got myself up to the Championship and spent four years there.

“I came to Charlton and want to get back to that level. I feel we’ve got an unbelievable opportunity to do that.”

Godden played in the Championship play-off final for Coventry in the 2022-23 season. He scored in the penalty shootout but they lost to Luton Town.

The forward banged in 50 goals in 156 appearances for the Sky Blues, who are in the play-offs again and face Sunderland in the first leg on Friday evening.

“I’m really pleased for them,” said Godden. “I’ve still got good guys I speak to there.

“They deserved it for the run they’ve been on. I think they’ll be happy with the tie they got – against the only team going into the play-offs probably not in form.

“I’ll be watching them on Friday night and seeing how they get on.”

Godden scored twice in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Burton Albion.

The first saw him latch on to Tennai Watson’s pass and convert from a wide position past stranded keeper Max Crocombe.

The second was a clean left-footed finish after chesting down Josh Edwards’ pass and sharply turning defender Finn Delap.

“I would prefer to have the second chance again than the first chance – even though it (the first one) is an open goal,” he said. “It’s such a tight angle.

“When you’re running at speed like that, everyone in the ground and watching is expecting you to score – but I didn’t have much to aim for. You could easily miss the goal on the far side or hit the front post.

“When it left my foot I knew it was going pretty close to that post, I was happy to see it go in.”

See this Friday’s South London Press for a full interview with Godden.