Macaulay Gillesphey won promotion from League One with Plymouth Argyle in 2023, and now the defender has the chance to repeat that feat with Charlton Athletic this weekend.
Gillesphey has been a mainstay of the side for Charlton, who will take on London rivals Leyton Orient in the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley on Sunday. The 29-year-old started both legs of the play-off semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers, playing alongside Plymouth-born former Argyle loan signing Lloyd Jones, as Charlton kept a clean sheet in both games.
Gillesphey played regularly and dependably for Argyle when they won the 2022/23 League One title with 101 points, holding off strong challenges from Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
He made 29 starts plus six substitute appearances for the Pilgrims that season and scored two goals but played just four games in the Championship the following campaign and joined Charlton for an undisclosed fee in January 2024.
Gillesphey was part of the Argyle team that was heavily beaten 4-0 by Bolton Wanderers in the Papa John’s Trophy final at Wembley in April 2023, so he will hope for a much better experience of playing at the national stadium this time around.
Jones, a former Devonport High School for Boys pupil, has been in excellent form for Charlton this season, so much so that he was named in the EFL League One Team of the Year.
Standing between Charlton, who finished fourth in League One this term, and a return to the Championship for the first time since 2020 are Orient, who were sixth in the table and seven points behind them.
Orient clinched their trip to Wembley by beating Stockport County 4-1 on penalties after drawing 3-3 on aggregate in their semi-final.
Meanwhile, former Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper will play for Sheffield United in the Championship Play-Off Final against Sunderland at Wembley on Saturday.
Cooper said, “It has been a brilliant season since coming in last August. I don’t know what I really expected, but some of the performances and results have been brilliant, and there is now one final hurdle to overcome.
“I was honestly surprised to be named the club’s Player of the Year; the backing we have had has been tremendous, both home and away, so I’m just grateful for their support.
“Our success so far this season has been earned; it has come through lots of hard work, lots of planning and small details, and, most importantly, working as a team. We laid a good foundation at the front of the season, and from there we have built and carried on with trying to achieve our goal.”
He added, “When I have watched the finals in previous seasons, I have always thought about playing there one day, and I honestly can’t wait to step out at Wembley; it is a massive occasion for everyone.
“To be at Wembley in a Championship play-off final is so special; potential is one thing, doing it is another. I’m not one to look too far ahead.”
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