Matthew James Godden

Matty Godden's route to League One with Charlton began in non-league loan spells, not academy graduation. Scunthorpe United handed him his professional start in 2009, but he made only 18 senior appearances, spending long stretches out on loan at Brigg Town, Ilkeston Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Ebbsfleet United, Dartford and Tamworth. It was only once he joined Ebbsfleet permanently in 2014 that he began scoring consistently, netting 35 goals in 70 games before a free transfer to Stevenage in 2016.

A six-figure move to Peterborough United followed in 2018, though his path there was not straightforward — manager Steve Evans had publicly rejected signing him that May, saying the club could not meet his wage demands. Godden scored 14 goals in 38 games before Coventry City paid around £500,000 for him in July 2019. He scored the decisive goals in Coventry's run to promotion at the end of the curtailed 2019–20 season and struck back-to-back hat-tricks in January 2020, going on to score 46 goals in 138 appearances for the club.

Godden joined Charlton Athletic in July 2024 on a deal since extended to 2027, and lost no time making an impact. He finished 2024–25 as the club's top scorer with 20 goals in 53 appearances, helping Charlton win promotion to the Championship through the play-offs. His career tally stands at roughly 173 goals from 460 senior appearances.