Tributes have been paid at Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road home after the tragic passing of manager Justin Edinburgh on Saturday.
Edinburgh tragically passed away on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest just six weeks after leading Orient out back into the Football League by winning promotion from the National League.
The 49-year-old was hospitalised on Monday after returning from watching his former team Tottenham in the Champions League final before his untimely death.
Leyton Orient placed a framed photograph of Justin Edinburgh on his seat in the dugout
Leyton Orient captain Jobi McAnuff and goalkeeper Dean Brill lay their shirts in the dugout
Further tributes have been paid at Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road home after his tragic passing
Supporters left personal tributes to Edinburgh written on shirts and scarves at the ground
Fans of his former club Spurs left their own messages on Champions League flags at ground
And on Sunday, his former club paid tribute by placing a framed photograph of Edinburgh on his seat in the dugout.
Leyton Orient captain Jobi McAnuff and goalkeeper Dean Brill were clearly emotional as they laid their club shirts in the home dugout at the Breyer Group Stadium.
McAnuff’s shirt bore the hand-written message: ‘Thanks for everything you did for me and the club. Will carry your memory with me forever. R.I.P, gone but never forgotten.’
Speaking to assembled media in the ground, McAnuff said Edinburgh was ‘much more than a manager’.
Scarves, shirts and flowers were also laid in the dugout at their Brisbane Road home
He added: ‘Football aside, Justin was a hugely positive man, loved his family. Every day he came in he had that lust for life, a real zest about him, a real willingness to enjoy himself.
‘I think he would want us to carry that on… I know for sure he would want us to approach this in the most positive way we can, that’s very much what he was about, being on the front foot.
‘Together, using those lessons that he taught us, it can help us deal with such tragic circumstances.’
A young supporter lays flowers in front of Edinburgh’s seat in the Orient dugout
A supporter signing a book of condolence at Leyton Orient’s Supporters Club on Sunday
Brill’s shirt also featured a note, reading: ‘RIP Gaffer. Thank you for everything. You are a true hero and inspiration. You believed in us all. Rest well, Love ‘Goalie’.’
Fans also gathered outside of the ground and placed scarves and shirts to symbolise the sadness they felt after his death.
Many of the shirts had personal messages written on them explaining how important Edinburgh had been to them.
Spurs supporters also travelled down to the ground to leave mementos from the Champions League final in a tribute to Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was referred to as a ‘true O’s legend’ in one tribute hung up at the ground
There were also flowers left by a six-year-old support at Brisbane Road on Sunday
A shot of the tributes that have been left at the Orient ground after Edinburgh’s passing
McAnuff wrote a tribute on his Twitter account and promised the club would build on his legacy.
He described the Orient manager as a ‘leader, a fantastic manager and a truly great man’.
‘You’ve helped rebuild what was a broken club and been the driving force returning it to where it belongs,’ he added.
He said Edinburgh was ‘a man who inspired so many of us with his drive, passion and sheer desire to win.
The manager was responsible for taking Orient back into the Football League last season
‘A man who had so much love for this game and even more for his family, my heart goes out to them at this tragic time.
‘I am so grateful that I got to share some truly amazing moments with you and know how much wining the league with this club meant to you,’ he continued.
‘It was a privilege and an honour to serve as your captain and these happy memories will lie with me forever.
A tribute thanked Edinburgh for putting Orient ‘back on the map’ after a tough few years
‘You were always at the centre of all the jokes and the banter with the boys and staff, we had so many laughs and good times.
‘You’ve helped rebuild what was a broken club and been the driving force returning it to where it belongs.
‘That will be your legacy here and as difficult as it will be, it’s now up to us to carry that on and make sure all of that hard work is continued and built upon.’
Supporters inspecting the tributes that have been left at the ground after his passing
Orient fans have also started a campaign to rename a stand at their Brisbane Road ground after Edinburgh.
They want to change the name of their west stand, with over 350 already signing the petition.
Orient fan Tor Bartram wrote on Change.org: ‘Following the sudden and tragic death of Justin Edinburgh, it can only be right that we, as a club remember Justin Edinburgh in a fitting way.
‘By renaming the West Stand to the Justin Edinburgh (West) Stand, this would be a fitting tribute to the man who turned the club around from 20th in the conference to league winners for the first time since 1970, in only 16 months.’
Edinburgh smiles with Leyton Orient captain Jobi McAnuff as they celebrate promotion
Orient supporters have started a petition to have their West Stand named after him
Fan Tor Bartram started the petition and it has had over 350 signatures since it went up
Edinburgh left behind his wife Kerri and their children Charlie and Cydnie.
There were plenty of tributes from the world of football after the news was announced on Saturday.
‘We are completely heartbroken by this tragedy’, Orient chairman Nigel Travis said in a statement.
‘All our thoughts and love are with the Edinburgh family and we know from the messages that have flooded into the Club over the last week that the wider football world will share our sentiments.
Edinburgh leaves behind his wife Kerri and their children Charlie and Cydnie
Edinburgh (second left) was last pictured before watching Spurs at the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1 with fellow Tottenham legends Clive Allen (left) and Paul Allen (2nd right) and Benny V of Souped Up records
‘We are completely heartbroken’, Orient chairman Nigel Travis said of Edinburgh, pictured here with his wife Kerri
‘The success that Justin brought to Leyton Orient was incredible, but more importantly the impact he had on us all as a winner and a wonderful, inspirational human being will be his legacy and will stay with us forever.’
Macauley Bonne, Edinburgh’s star striker at Orient, added on Twitter: ‘There are no words to describe the loss of our gaffer, our leader & inspiration.
‘First & foremost, my deepest condolences to Justin’s family. He brought us all together – we’re eternally grateful for everything you’ve done.’
His former team-mate at Spurs Darren Anderton also posted a heartfelt tribute, saying: ‘Can’t believe it… such sad news about Justin… it’s not fair. One of the greatest guys you could ever wish to meet.
Edinburgh proudly holds the National League trophy with his son Charlie back in April
‘When you were around him, you just laughed and smiled constantly. RIP mate.’
Gary Lineker also took to Twitter to say: ‘Deeply saddened to hear that Justin Edinburgh has passed away. He was an excellent coach and a terrific fullback who was a delight to share a dressing room with and have as a teammate. Thoughts are with his family.’
A Tottenham statement added: ‘We are deeply saddened and shocked to hear of the passing of Justin Edinburgh.
‘Our heartfelt condolences and thoughts go out to his family and friends at this terribly difficult time as well as everyone that worked alongside Justin at Leyton Orient.’
Edinburgh (left) celebrating a goal with David Ginola during his time at Tottenham Hotspur
Edinburgh (left) travelled to Madrid last week to watch the Champions League final
Edinburgh guided Leyton Orient to promotion back to the Football League last season after taking over the club at their lowest ebb in 2017
The former defender made more than 200 appearances for Tottenham between 1990-2000
On Saturday evening Tottenham legend David Ginola paid his own emotional tribute to his former team-mate. Ginola was 49 when he, too, suffered a cardiac arrest back in 2016.
‘It is terrible news,’ he told BBC 5Live. ‘He’s the kind of person you meet in your life and you fall in love with the character, with the person he was. He was supporting me on the football pitch being left back, all the memories are coming back now.
He added: ‘There’s a few people that stick in your brain when you leave football. I don’t have many football friends, but Justin was one of them and we called recently. I can count on two hands how many friends I have from that time, and he was one of them.’
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville labelled Edinburgh ‘a Champion that managed a team that played with your spirit,’ while Burnley, Fulham, Scunthorpe and Accrington Stanley were among the clubs to express their sadness.
‘Absolutely shocking news about the death of Justin Edinburgh. Taken far too young. Thoughts go out to his family,’ added former player turned pundit Chris Sutton.
Former Spurs and Leyton Orient midfielder Tom Carroll said: ‘Incredibly sad news, my thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone at the club.’
West Ham, meanwhile, posted on Twitter: ‘All at West Ham United are deeply saddened by the passing of @leytonorientfc manager Justin Edinburgh. Our thoughts are with his loved ones and everyone who knew him at this sad time.’
Edinburgh in Madrid with ex-Spurs team-mates Steve Sedgley (L) and David Howells (R)
Lee Tomlin, who played under Edinburgh at Rushden and Diamonds, also wrote a heartfelt tribute to his former boss.
‘Words can’t describe how I’m feeling now, I can’t thank you enough everything you did for me and every time I saw you I still thanked you, you are one of a kind you really are,’ he said.
An Arsenal statement read: ‘We are shocked and saddened to hear of Justin Edinburgh’s passing. Our condolences and thoughts are with Justin’s loved ones and everyone at both Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient. Rest in peace, Justin.’
Last week the 49-year-old had travelled to Madrid to watch his former side Tottenham in their Champions League final defeat by Liverpool.
Justin raised almost £5,000 for the Epilepsy Society with his son, Charlie, by running the London Marathon this year. Justin pulled out with a knee injury but Charlie, who suffered from benign rolandic epilepsy, completed the race
Edinburgh dispossesses Liverpool’s Robbie Fowler during a Premier League match in 1996
Shortly after his return to the UK he suffered a cardiac arrest and on Saturday, Leyton Orient confirmed the terrible news of his death.
Edinburgh played for Spurs between 1990 and 2000, featuring more than 200 times, winning the FA Cup in 1991 and the League Cup eight years later.
Before joining Spurs in 1990 Edinburgh started his career at Southend.
He joined Portsmouth in 2000, initially on loan, and spent three years there.
He ended his playing career at Billericay Town and also managed them during his spell there.
He won the FA Cup with Spurs in 1991 after they beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in extra-time
He enjoyed a successful spell at Newport and guided them back to Football League in 2013
Edinburgh then took charge of the likes of Rushden and Diamonds before enjoying a successful period at Newport County.
In 2012-13, Edinburgh steered Newport back to the Football League, after a 25-year absence, via the play-offs.
He also had spells at Gillingham and Northampton Town before joining Orient in 2017.
The O’s missed out on the non-League Double when they lost the FA Trophy final to Fylde but the priority was always to get back to the Football League and Edinburgh got them there by topping the National League table by three points from closest challengers Solihull Moors.