Nathan Jones finally earns second promotion and returns Charlton to the Championship

Charlton (1) 1 Gillesphey 31'

Leyton Orient (0) 0

Few footballing nations love to deify a manager quite like these British Isles, and even fewer managers are capable of taking on such a responsibility while bending a club to their will as Nathan Jones.

Having briefly experienced the overbearing noise of the Premier League and the attention that comes with it, the former football league journeyman from a small South Wales mining village always has the potential to be at the centre of a footballing story whether it be for reasons good or bad. 

So often, in both the words that he says and the way that he acts, Jones is able to perfectly encapsulate a sort of main character energy that is too much to bear for other kinds of personalities. Rather than being scarred by his experience at Southampton, it seems to have made his enthusiasm even more boundless.

“I didn’t drop into League One to be a League One manager,” he said in a triumphant press conference littered with quotable moments after guiding Charlton to Wembley glory against Leyton Orient.

“It is unfathomable how much work has gone into this. You can’t quantify every single sleepless night, every single time I’ve slept at the training ground and my family has had to sacrifice not seeing me.

“Going to Southampton was a sad time. I just wasn’t accepted but I’d earnt my stripes. I’d proved at every level I could get results.”

Jones led Luton to promotion from League Two in 2018, but twice left the club in seasons when their impressive rise through the divisions ended in promotion. 

The most galling of those to miss was surely Luton’s ascension to the Premier League. By the time replacement Rob Edwards had successfully navigated the Championship play-offs, Jones had been appointed by top-flight Southampton, overseen a run of nine defeats in fourteen matches and more than one unusual press conference, and was relieved of his duties after just ninety-four days.

This week he described his time at St.Mary’s as the only regret of his life, perhaps explaining why it took more than a year for him to return to management. Taking over a Charlton side that was only three points clear of the third-tier relegation zone in February 2024 an indication of the extent to which his stock had fallen.

But it is his personality and zeal, coupled with an ability to consistently mould, hone and develop aggressive, athletic and well organized teams that means he should be considered one of the very best coaches outside of the Premier League. 

This play-off final against London rivals Orient will not be held up at the vanguard of Jones’ coaching rehabilitation. It was a nervy game short on attacking quality, with even Macauley Gillesphey’s free-kick winner squirming around the wall and into the net via the desperate outstretched hand of goalkeeper Josh Keeley.

Charlton kept a club-record twenty clean sheets in the regular season. The entertaining soundbites and the touchline dramatics can mask just how capable a team led by Jones can be.

Aside from a three minute spell in which Jack Currie and Jordan Brown missed the target by inches and League One’s top scorer Charlie Kelman went even closer with a deflected effort onto the bar, Orient rarely threatened to a stain a spotless defensive record in the play-offs at a ground and on an occasion where so often in-season form and records count for little. 

In response, Jones made a double substitution and an unwelcome interlude forced by the VAR losing communication with the refereeing team followed. Charlton regained control and Will Mannion’s goal was not troubled again. 

“We had to build a structure where you’re difficult to beat and then you can add from that structure. You can’t put a roof on the house before you build foundations,” Jones said after correcting a questioner in regards to how many clean sheets his side have registered this season.

The final whistle has often proved the moment at which Jones evolves into his final and most aggravating form. Whether it be unleashing his enthusiasm in the direction of opponents and match officials or even jumping into crowds of supporters. The dying moments of the semi-final second leg even saw the born-again Christian drop to his knees before time was up.

He did creep onto the pitch with two minutes still to play here after Mannion had claimed a cross but managed to shake hands with Richie Wellens and his coaching staff before succumbing to the celebrations. 

Arms pumping, eyes wide with furious enthusiasm; the Championship needs to get ready for Charlton, and Jones, once again.

Charlton: Mannion, Ramsey, Jones, Gillesphey, Edwards, Docherty, Coventry, Small (Watson 68), Gilbert (Anderson 68), Campbell (Mbick 80), Godden (Aneke 80). Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Mitchell, Berry

Leyton Orient: Keeley, Galbraith, Beckles (Happe 82), Edmonds-Green, Currie, Brown (Ball 74), Clare (James 74), Agyei (Abdulai 82), Donley, O’Neill (Williams 82), Kelman. Subs not used: Phillips, Markanday