Glenn Hoddle leads mourners at Justin Edinburgh’s emotional memorial as friends, family and fans pay tribute to Tottenham legend and former Leyton Orient manager at service at Chelmsford Cathedral following his death at the age of 49 last month
- An emotional memorial service is being held for the late Justin Edinburgh at Chelmsford Cathedral in Essex
- Former Leyton Orient boss Edinburgh tragically passed away last month after suffering a cardiac arrest
- His family and friends were joined by former team-mates and hundreds of fans for the service on Tuesday
- Edinburgh’s family have set up a JustGiving charity page to raise funds for Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation
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Hundreds of football fans have joined Justin Edinburgh’s family and friends to pay their respects to the late Leyton Orient boss at a memorial service in Chelmsford.
Edinburgh passed away on June 8 after suffering a cardiac arrest just six weeks after leading Orient back into the Football League, winning promotion from the National League.
A private funeral was held following his death, but Tuesday’s memorial service at Chelmsford Cathedral is the first time the public have been invited to pay their respects to the Tottenham legend.
A memorial service is being held at Chelmsford Cathedral to celebrate Justin Edinburgh’s life
Charlie Edinburgh (centre), Justin’s son, shakes hands with Glenn Hoddle before the service
The new Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore shakes hands with well-wishers in Essex
Leyton Orient chairman Nigel Travis (left) and Clive Allen ahead of the memorial service
Allen was representing Edinburgh’s former club Tottenham and wore a club suit to the service
A number of high-profile ex-footballers and managers were in attendance, with Glenn Hoddle, Clive Allen, Doncaster boss Darren Moore and Salford City’s Graham Alexander all pictured arriving early ahead of the ceremony.
Edinburgh’s son Charlie was pictured hugging family members outside the cathedral, and he wore dark sunglasses with his black suit on an emotional day for the family in Essex.
When the ceremony began, a video of the moment Leyton Orient were crowned National League champions was said to have been played to the congregation, with a series of Edinburgh’s quotes being played over the top.
A choir sang an emotional rendition of Bill Withers’ ‘Lean on Me’ as the ceremony began at 11am.
Due to high demand, places were given out via a ballot, with fans asked to apply for seats through the club’s website at the start of July.
Those without a seat were still invited to pay their respects outside, with roads around the Cathedral shut for the majority of the day and crowds gathering from 9am.
By 10:15am, there were already around 100 seated guests inside and the same amount outside, with club officials chatting to fans.
Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry (left) was among the guests arriving early
Salford City manager Graham Alexander (left) was at Chelmsford Cathedral – both he and Edinburgh got their sides promoted to the Football League at the end of last season
Tributes to Edinburgh were laid outside Leyton Orient’s stadium in the days after his death
Edinburgh managed eight clubs in his post-playing career, including Newport (pictured)
More floral tributes were laid in memory of Edinburgh, with one featuring the Tottenham Hotspur cockerel – the club he played for over 200 times.
Edinburgh began his playing career at Southend United before spending a decade with Spurs, with whom he won the FA Cup and League Cup and remained closely associated after his playing career. Days before his death he had been in Madrid to watch Tottenham’s Champions League final defeat by Liverpool.
After his playing days, Edinburgh managed a host of lower and non-league clubs, leading both Newport County and Orient to promotions from non-league.
Edinburgh had said he regarded Orient’s promotion after 18 months in charge as his greatest achievement in football.
Leyton Orient’s players observed a minute’s silence for Edinburgh before a pre-season friendly