EFL play-off stories: Wembley drama, boyhood dreams & forgiving Thierry Henry | Football News

Shea Charles on recovering from injury to help Saints march

It is easy to forget now that Shea Charles missed nearly three months of the season with injury, missing late October through to late January.

“Obviously it was a tough season in the mid part when I had my injury,” Charles says.

“It was the first one I’ve ever had, so it was a bit of a weird one. I had a bit of a setback in the middle of the injury as well, so it was tough, but I have got mates and team-mates that have gone through similar things, so they helped me and I was able to get through it.

“I take care of myself, but I have been lucky not to have any injuries like that. These things happen to almost every player, so it is about how you react to it and I feel like I have reacted quite well.”

That is an understatement. Charles has been one of the stars in midfield as Southampton have risen to the play-offs, while he also scored the winner against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final that took them to Wembley.

“Coming back and being able to contribute and score a few goals along the way has been really good for me,” the 22-year-old adds.

“The team is doing really well at the moment, so yeah, it’s really good vibes.”

Sky Bet Championship

Play-off semi-final first legs

• Hull vs Millwall – Friday May 8, kick-off 8pm
• Middlesbrough vs Southampton – Saturday May 9, kick-off 12.30pm

Play-off semi-final second legs

• Millwall vs Hull – Monday May 11, 8pm
• Southampton vs Middlesbrough – Tuesday May 12, 8pm

Play-off final

• Saturday May 23, Wembley Stadium

Tommy Conway on his relationship with Middlesbrough fans

Tommy Conway is undoubtedly a fan favourite at Middlesbrough, despite being at the club for less than two years.

His workrate and endeavour up top has endeared him to the Riverside faithful, and that has taken on a new level this season as the club have pushed for promotion to the Premier League.

“You can feel the buzz around the town,” he says. “Even when you’re doing your food shop there are fans there and they’re buzzing.

“When you’re in a place like this where football is everything, it’s perfect for me as a footballer. I want to play for passionate fans and for fans that want to win every week. People are living and breathing Middlesbrough Football Club and I think that’s so special.

“To play for them, to win on the weekend and to give back to them means a lot. I’d love nothing more than to go up this year and give something back to everyone because it would be very special.

“A big part of my game is based on energy, pressing from the front and being a nuisance, and you feed off the fans a lot of the time. When times are getting tough and they get behind you, it makes you go that extra bit further.

“You just want to give back to them. They’re so supportive, even when you’re going through tough times. I just want to give back to them as much as possible.”

Jake Cooper: I didn’t expect to be at Millwall for nearly a decade

“The simple answer is no,” Jake Cooper says with a smile. The Millwall defender has just been asked whether he still would have expected to spend nearly a decade at the club after joining on loan in January 2017.

“Neil Harris brought me in and I didn’t know where I would go after the three or four months I was here. To then join permanently and see the progress within the football club, I wanted to be part of that.

“I wanted my career to push forward as well. We’ve kind of gone at the same pace as each other and it’s worked as a really good relationship between myself and the club.”

Now 31, Cooper has been a stalwart at The Den ever since signing and is fifth on the all-time list of appearance makers for Millwall. Quite a remarkable feat in the modern day.

In seven of his nine full seasons for the club, he has made upwards of 40 Championship appearances. In total he has made more than 400 for the club.

“It’s not something I saw coming in or set out to achieve, it’s just been nice,” he adds. “I always try to make myself available because I want to play as many games as I can. I enjoy being part of it every week and the appearances have added up quite quickly.

“Now it’s about trying to improve, trying to make the team better and using my experience to help new players understand what the fan base wants and how people see us from the outside. We need to pull together to try and achieve something special for this football club.”

Lewie Coyle: It would be beyond my wildest dreams to captain Hull to Premier League

Hull have twice been promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs; in 2007/08 – thanks to that Dean Windass goal – and in 2015/16 under Steve Bruce.

On both occasions, Lewie Coyle watched his hometown club triumph from across the way in Leeds, where he was on the books from 2004 to 2020.

Now, though, the defender is the Tigers’ club captain. And after they pipped Wrexham and Derby to the final play-off place on the last day of the regular season, he has a dream at the forefront of his mind.

“I was a young boy – I call it ‘the golden era’, when Hull had that first success at Wembley. That’s the stuff I dreamed of being able to do as a player myself,” he says.

“I look back with fond memories. It’s great for the city, it’s great for everyone involved at the club and it’s now time for me to put my stamp on things and really try and make it happen.”

This comes just a year after Hull avoided relegation to League One on goal difference alone.

The 30-year-old knows more than most what it would mean to reach the top-flight.

“It means everything to be club captain,” he added. “It’s something I’m very, very proud of. I don’t take it for granted. I know that a football career is very short and this will all be over some day.

“To be able to proudly say I’m the club captain of my hometown club, it would just make it that bit sweeter if we go on and achieve that ultimate dream of getting this club back to the Premier League.

“In a nutshell, that would do for me. It would be beyond my wildest dreams, and if I can keep a little promise I made to someone a long time ago, it would make me very, very happy.”
Dan Long

Corey Addai: A tale of two play-off controversies

There aren’t many players in the EFL who have experienced more drama in the play-offs in the past few years than Stockport goalkeeper Corey Addai.

Back in 2024, he was in goal for Crawley Town as they beat Crewe 2-0 in the League Two play-off final.

But it could have been very different. With just a goal in the game after the break at Wembley, Addai was deemed to have fouled Christopher Long and a penalty was awarded. However, after a VAR check it was correctly overturned.

But VAR is only in use in the finals of the play-offs. Last season, Addai had moved on to Stockport and was in action as they conceded an opening goal in the semi-final to Leyton Orient’s Charlie Kelman. And to say he was was offside would have been an understatement. Orient would go on to win the tie on penalties in the second leg.

“When I was at Crawley, I benefited from VAR in a big moment, so I’ve experienced both sides,” Addai says. “It’s a great tool when used properly, but since it’s not part of our league, we rely on referees to make the right calls. Most of the time they do, but sometimes decisions go against you.

“Even so, we created enough chances in that semi-final to win the game. You just have to take the positives, learn from it, and move forward.”

Addai adds: “Everyone knows about the goal against Leyton Orient. It was offside, and we were unfortunate to come out on the wrong end of it.

“You can’t change the past, though. The focus now is on getting back to work, performing well every day, and turning performances into results this season.”

Sky Bet League One

Play-off semi-final first legs

• Stevenage vs Stockport – Saturday May 9, kick-off 3pm
• Bolton vs Bradford – Saturday May 9, kick-off 8pm

Play-off semi-final second legs

• Stockport vs Stevenage – Wednesday May 13, kick-off 8pm
• Bradford vs Bolton – Thursday May 14, kick-off 8pm

Play-off final

• Sunday May 24, Wembley Stadium

Amario Cozier-Duberry: Leaving Arsenal was tough, but it was the right step for my career

Amario Cozier-Duberry doesn’t turn 21 until the end of May, but he has already had quite the adventure in football.

The boyhood Arsenal fan achieved his dream when he signed for the club as a 14-year-old, before moving to Brighton in 2024. Since then, he has had loan spells in the Championship at Blackburn last season, and is currently impressing on loan at Bolton in League One.

“My football journey has moved quite quickly,” he says. “I joined the academy at under-15 level, worked my way through the under-16s, 18s, and 21s, then left to join Brighton for what I felt was a better pathway for me.

“My time at Arsenal was amazing. The facilities, the coaching, and the environment were all top level. Being part of such a famous academy was a privilege, and I learned a lot from my time there.

“As a kid, I was always outside playing football. I watched games too, especially Arsenal matches, and my brothers used to take me to see them. But mostly, I just loved being out there with a ball at my feet.

“Growing up, my heroes were all Arsenal players. I loved watching the team play and always tried to learn from them.”

Cozier-Duberry also got to spend some time around Bukayo Saka, a player he calls an inspiration, before choosing a move to Brighton to increase his chances of breaking into the first team.

“Saka was definitely someone I looked up to,” he says. “We play in similar areas of the pitch, and he’s such a good example, both as a player and as a person.

“I was lucky enough to be around him and see how he trained every day. That motivated me to keep improving my own game.

“Leaving Arsenal was a tough decision because I’m an Arsenal fan. It was hard to walk away, but I saw an opportunity at Brighton that felt right for my career. Once I made that decision, I didn’t look back.”

Dan Kemp: Chelsea youngster in the Portsmouth end at Wembley

Saturday, May 15 in 2010 was an interesting day for Dan Kemp. Back then, he was an 11-year-old in the Chelsea academy, but attended the FA Cup final at Wembley as a Portsmouth fan.

“I was there that day!” he recalls. “I’m a Portsmouth fan and my family are from there. I’ve watched them ever since I was young. I was there with my Dad and Grandad. I was also there two years before to see the final, when Kanu scored the winner at Wembley. That was amazing.

Kemp, now 26, eventually moved on to West Ham’s academy, before dropping into the EFL to begin his career. He is currently at his third permanent club in Stevenage after spells at Leyton Orient and MK Dons.

“My journey through different clubs, styles and managers has helped me become a much better and more experienced player and I’m grateful for it,” he says.

“It’s been some journey. From academy football to making my way in the EFL, I’ve loved it. There have been ups and downs, different experiences, different teams.

“There’s no better feeling than performing on a Saturday and helping the team win. I just want to keep improving and get to the best level possible.”

One dream has yet to be fulfilled, however.

“I’ve never played at Fratton Park or against Portsmouth,” he says. “I’ve always missed the opportunity, but hopefully one day.”

Josh Neufville: Play-off heroics and a big switch from Dons to Bantams

Josh Neufville was one of the stars for AFC Wimbledon a they sealed promotion through the play-offs in League Two last season.

Despite that, he chose to move on and switch to Bradford City – who also went up to League One last season. But for the wing-back, it was the right one.

“Whenever you leave a club it is tough,” Neufville says. “Given the way I left, winning the awards at the end of the year, getting promoted at Wembley, and leaving best friends, plus moving from down south to up north, you have to factor all of that in.

“They are tough decisions but you want to be ambitious. You can stay where you are loved or you can go somewhere else and try to earn that love again. That was the route I took. There are more fans, there is a different type of pressure, and it tests me.”

Neufville also scored a superb goal in their second leg semi-final win over Notts County, helping steer the Dons to Wembley. An excellent run in behind and a lifted finish – showing off his array of physical and technical attributes in one fell swoop.

“I don’t know if it is the best goal I have scored, but it is definitely up there,” he recalls. “In terms of importance, it is probably the most important.

“It also did a lot for me personally, giving us a platform to go to Wembley. It is definitely up there.

“You can only dream of going to the play-off final, winning it, and doing it at Wembley. Those are things you dream of as a young boy. It lived up to everything I expected.”

James Belshaw is living his dream at Notts County

James Belshaw still has to pinch himself from time to time. Back in January, at the age of 35, the goalkeeper sealed his dream move to his boyhood club Notts County.

“It still feels surreal,” he says. “Every time I pull the badge on and represent the football club, walking out at Meadow Lane, I don’t think that will ever get old. I don’t take a minute for granted here. As you can probably tell, I’m loving every minute of it.”

Belshaw, born and raised in Nottingham, was at County as a youngster, but then had to work his way back up through the game, first in the USA at college level, before time in both non-league and the EFL.

Now, he is back where it all began.

“I don’t think these stories happen very often in football,” he adds. “It’s a club I’ve tried to sign for for a long time and we’ve had conversations in the past. When it all became real around the back end of December and things started moving, I was only ever going to do one thing.

“It’s a club that’s so close to my heart and my family’s heart. My dad is a season ticket holder and still sits in the Kop supporting me. For my family, my wife and my little daughter, to see me play for the club is really special.

“I was part of the Centre of Excellence here until I was 15. After leaving, I had to work my way through non-league and eventually got back into the Football League at 30.

“To now wear the goalkeeper shirt, represent the club and follow in the footsteps of the legends who have played here before me means a lot. It’s really special to be part of it now.”

Sky Bet League Two

Play-off semi-final first legs

• Grimsby vs Salford – Sunday May 10, kick-off 3pm
• Chesterfield vs Notts County – Sunday May 10, 6pm

Play-off semi-final second legs

• Salford vs Grimsby – Friday May 15, kick-off 7.15pm
• Notts County vs Chesterfield – Friday May 15, kick-off 8pm

Play-off final

• Monday May 25, Wembley Stadium

Lee Bonis on his Northern Ireland journey and that Grigg chant

Lee Bonis is only 26 but it has already been some journey to make it to England and the EFL and Chesterfield, who take on Gillingham in League Two on Tuesday.

There was a pit stop in the Netherlands with ADO Den Haag last season, while before that there were multiple years in the Northern Irish league.

“I started off at Portadown and then made the full-time move to Larne, which really kickstarted my career,” the striker says.

“When I was at Portadown, I had a few trials with clubs like Burnley, but there was nothing concrete. It was not until I went to Larne that teams started coming in to try to sign me.

“Some moves did not work out because it was not the right time for me to go. Once I settled at Larne and started performing well, then the right opportunity came along and I felt it was the right time and the right club to move to.”

His form at Larne and then in the Netherlands saw him win four caps for Northern Ireland. And he laughs when it is put to him that a decade ago he may well have been singing the name of his current Chesterfield team-mate Will Grigg – whose famous ‘Will Grigg’s on fire’ chant was all the rage back at Euro 2016.

“I probably did!” he says. “He is a great character is Griggy, in the dressing room and on the pitch. As a striker you learn so much from him. His movement in and around the box and his finishing are outstanding.

“That is exactly what you want, someone you can learn from and push you to improve.”

Jaze Kabia: I’ve forgiven Thierry Henry for the handball… but it’s a touchy subject!

Jaze Kabia has enjoyed an incredible first season in the EFL, scoring more than 20 goals in all competitions as Grimsby Town have enjoyed cup runs and reached the League Two play-offs.

His inspiration when he was a kid, being an Arsenal fan, was Thierry Henry.

“I used to try and get to their games when I could with my family,” he says. “Luckily we managed to get a couple.

“Henry was my big football idol growing up, what he did at Arsenal was just incredible.”

The potential problem? Kabia grew up in Cork.

Back in 2009, Henry was public enemy No 1, when his controversial handball in a World Cup play-off match send France to the South Africa ahead of Ireland.

Kabia laughs, however, when asked if his childhood hero had been forgiven yet.

“It’s a bit of a touchy subject!” he jokes. “But I think he did just enough for Arsenal for me to turn a blind eye on that one.

Adebola Oluwo and an educational, unconventional path to the EFL

Every footballer’s journey is different, and Adebola Oluwo certainly took a unique one into the EFL – where he now plays as a centre-back for Salford City.

He had a spell at Bromley in his youth days, back when the club was a non-league outfit, but chose to go to university at 18 to study economics.

“My path has been a bit unconventional,” Oluwo says. “Before university, I played for Bromley Under-18s and then stopped football when I went to the University of Kent to study economics.

“At that point, being a professional footballer was not really on my radar. In my first year, I did not play football at all. In my second year, I joined Tower Hamlets, who were in step seven or eight. Then in my final year, I went to Fisher, who were in step six or seven.

“I played football because I enjoyed it. Education took priority because it seemed like the path that made the most sense.”

Things then got slightly more serious for Oluwo, now 26, when he moved to Chelmsford City in the National League South in 2020.

“After university, the plan was to get a graduate job, but an opportunity came up for a trial at Chelmsford City because they needed a left-footed centre-back.

“I discussed it with my family and decided to take the risk. I went, did well, and they offered me a contract. I spent three seasons there before being noticed by Barnet.”

That move signalled his switch to the National League and the professional game. Last season, they won the title and promotion, and he caught the attention of Salford City in League Two.

“It is a bit of a step up,” he says. “The intensity and quality are higher, and it takes some getting used to, but with each game I am acclimatising bit by bit.

“But it feels amazing to be here. It is about finding the balance between taking it all in and not letting your head get lost in the clouds. I try to stay focused week in, week out, while appreciating how far I have come.”