Charlton Athletic ended a five-season absence from the Championship by winning the League One play-off final in 2025, but Addicks fans cherish memories of some of the players who starred for their team in the third division.

For example, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi was a standout for Charlton during the 2022/23 season, scoring 15 goals and assisting nine times in 49 games across all competitions.

His exploits enabled the South London team get to the EFL Cup quarterfinals, when they were defeated 3-0 by Manchester United.

Meanwhile, another winger Corey Blackett-Taylor thrilled Addicks fans until he moved with Derby County in January 2024.

Corey Blackett-Taylor of Derby County performed admirably for Charlton Athletic.

Blackett-Taylor joined South London on a free transfer in the summer of 2021, after his contract with former club Tranmere Rovers expired.

The winger was not as productive as he would have liked in his first season with Charlton, scoring two goals and providing four assists in 27 League One games.

However, he improved significantly in his second season with the Addicks, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in the third tier.

The former Tranmere player performed even better in the first half of the 2023/24 League One season, unsettling defenders with his aggressive dribbling style and scoring eight goals and six assists in 25 appearances.

Derby County signed him on loan in January 2024 after being impressed by his performances.

As previously stated, the Rams secured automatic promotion to the Championship at the end of the 2023/24 season, however Blackett-Taylor played little role in that process.

The winger did not score in 12 League One games for the Pride Park Stadium club, although he did provide one assist.

Then, after officially joining Derby in the summer of 2024, Blackett-Taylor made only 12 Championship appearances in his debut season with the East Midlands club, scoring only once.

He was similarly ineffective in the first half of the 2025/26 season, failing to score in nine second-tier games.

As a result, the Rams permitted Blackett-Taylor to join Bolton Wanderers in January 2026, and he quickly established a larger presence in League One for the Trotters than he did for Derby in the Championship.

When the winger first joined Derby, he told the club website, “It’s a massive club, everyone knows that.” I’m glad to be on board. I believe in the project for the next 12 to 18 months, and I believe it will be a place where I will not only have the opportunity to play in a better league, but also grow as a player.”

However, the East Midlands club will believe that the former Charlton player has not developed as he would have liked and has left his best football behind in South London.

The Addicks will always remember Blackett-Taylor’s time at The Valley fondly, especially after signing him on a free transfer, whilst Derby have not seen the same promise from the former Tranmere star.

Corey Blackett-Taylor’s tenure at Bolton Wanderers ended in heartache.

Even though the winger did not perform well in the Championship for Derby, Bolton saw an opportunity to sign a player with actual talent at the third-tier level in January 2026.

However, Blackett-Taylor made only seven games for the Wanderers before suffering a season-ending injury.

On March 26, the winger expressed gratitude to the club’s supporters, staff, and players for their unwavering support.I have no doubt that the club will meet its promotion ambitions. I’d like to thank you so much for making me feel so welcome and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is over due to an injury, but I’ll be here to support the squad until the very finish.

Blackett-Taylor scored twice and assisted once for Bolton, including two goals in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Wycombe Wanderers.

The winger was frustrated by his defeat in Greater Manchester, and Derby have never seen the same vitality from him as Charlton did.