‘Charlton must win – they’re too big for League One’

League One play-off final: Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient

Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Sunday, 25 May Kick-off: 13:01 BST

Coverage: Commentary on BBC Local Radio, plus live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

It’s been 17 years since club legend Alan Curbishley led Charlton Athletic to promotion to the Premier League in one of the greatest ever play-off finals.

The Addicks beat Peter Reid’s Sunderland 7-6 on penalties after Clive Mendonca scored a hat-trick in a stunning 4-4 draw at the old Wembley.

“It was a turning point for the club. We managed to get back to The Valley, we managed to get the stadium up and running, and then suddenly Premier League football,” Curbishley, 67, tells BBC Sport.

On Sunday, Charlton return to Wembley and face Leyton Orient in an all-London League One play-off final with the chance to win promotion back to the Championship after five seasons in the third tier, while Orient are looking to return to the second tier for the first time in 43 years.

The south-east Londoners have already sold out their allocation at the national stadium and their former boss says they have to take their opportunity.

“Charlton’s too big to be in this division,” he told BBC Sport.

“I’m not being disrespectful, [the club need to be in the] Championship at the least with the stadium we’ve got, so it’s a must-win game.”

Charlton and Leyton Orient have been two of the form teams in the second half of the season, with Richie Wellens’ O’s winning their last six matches to pip Reading to the final play-off spot.

Of the 24 league games the Addicks have played in 2025, Nathan Jones’ side have won 16 and lost only four, against the top two of Birmingham City and Wrexham, and away to Peterborough United and Rotherham United.

Having been in 12th place at Christmas, Charlton secured their play-off place with three games to go when they beat Northampton Town at The Valley, before laying down a marker at Adams Park with a thumping 4-0 victory against fellow automatic promotion chasers Wycombe Wanderers.

A Matty Godden goal was all that separated the two sides over 180 minutes in the play-off semi-finals as the Addicks edged out the Chairboys to set up a final against Orient, who beat Stockport County on penalties at Edgeley Park the previous day.

It means Jones now has the opportunity to achieve a third promotion in his managerial career, having taken Luton Town from League Two to the Championship during his first stint at Kenilworth Road.

An unsuccessful tenure at Stoke City followed before the Welshman returned to Luton for a second spell.

But it was at Southampton when he was named Ralph Hasenhuttl’s successor in 2022 where things really unravelled.

The 51-year-old was sacked after just 95 days with a record of nine defeats in 14 matches, and became the Saints’ shortest-serving boss in the Premier League era.

It was almost a full year before he returned to the dugout, this time two leagues below with Charlton.

From the first day he was adamant he had made the right decision, stating he had turned down a number of approaches before signing at The Valley and could see “a real appetite to build something” at the club.

Having taken over with the Addicks three points above the relegation places, Jones steered the club to a 16th-placed finish. In his first full season at the helm, he has secured 25 wins, a fourth-placed finish and instilled belief back at the club.

“I’ve watched them at The Valley and they’ve really made it a fortress there and the fans are really backing the players and responding, and they’ve had some big wins this season at home,” said former Addicks striker Kevin Lisbie.

“They’re going to be really difficult to beat this Sunday.”

Curbishley backed Jones and his old side to get the victory they need at Wembley.

“I think Nathan’s done an excellent job and he understands the league, he’s been there before,” Curbishley said.

Charlton sold out their initial 36,945 allocation for Sunday’s final in 40 minutes, the club said on its website, and have secured an extra 1,400.

“Obviously the pitch is going to be super for the players but I just think the atmosphere that’s going to be generated here over the weekend is going to be second to none,” Curbishley said, speaking at Wembley.

“Once you get over walking into the stadium and you’ve seen how big it is and the dressing rooms and everything else, you’ve got to settle down and focus.”

The match will see two of League One’s most prolific goalscorers go head to head.

Godden’s strike against Wycombe was his 22nd of the season, while Orient’s on-loan striker Charlie Kelman has 27 in 60 appearances across all competitions.

Kelman was the league’s top scorer with 23 goals and has finished the season with a flourish, scoring eight in his past eight games, while Godden has five in six.

“Both are on form, both have scored lots of goals and it may be one of them two that sorts it out,” Curbishley added.

Lisbie, who played for both clubs in a career spanning 26 years, agreed it was likely to be a tight game that could be decided by one of the star strikers.

“Not only are they both goalscorers they’re clever players as well,” the 46-year-old said.

“They’re not the tallest or the quickest but they’re really sharp in and around the box.

“They’re able to sniff out chances where there is none at times. Both teams defend really well and even though we’ve got two strikers who are scoring lots of goals I think it’s going to be a tight game and there’s not going to be much in it.”