Justin Edinburgh
{{short description|English association football player and manager (1969–2019)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Justin Edinburgh
| image = Justin edinburgh charity (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Edinburgh in 2016
| fullname = Justin Charles Edinburgh{{Hugman|5737|access-date=28 May 2019}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1969|12|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Basildon, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|6|8|1969|12|18|df=y}}{{cite web |title=Justin Edinburgh dies aged 49: Leyton Orient boss and former Tottenham defender passes away |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48568007 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=8 June 2019 |date=8 June 2019}}
| death_place = Basildon, England
| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/justin-edinburgh-501/ |title=Justin Edinburgh |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=8 June 2019}}
| position = Left back
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1988–1990 | clubs1 = Southend United | caps1 = 37 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1990 | clubs2 = → Tottenham Hotspur (loan)| caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1990–2000 | clubs3 = Tottenham Hotspur | caps3 = 213 | goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2000 | clubs4 = → Portsmouth (loan) | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2000–2003 | clubs5 = Portsmouth | caps5 = 34 | goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2003–2006 | clubs6 = Billericay Town | caps6 = | goals6 =
| totalcaps = 287
| totalgoals = 2
| manageryears1 = 2003–2006 | managerclubs1 = Billericay Town
| manageryears2 = 2006 | managerclubs2 = Fisher Athletic
| manageryears3 = 2007–2008 | managerclubs3 = Grays Athletic
| manageryears4 = 2009–2011 | managerclubs4 = Rushden & Diamonds
| manageryears5 = 2011–2015 | managerclubs5 = Newport County
| manageryears6 = 2015–2017 | managerclubs6 = Gillingham
| manageryears7 = 2017 | managerclubs7 = Northampton Town
| manageryears8 = 2017–2019 | managerclubs8 = Leyton Orient
}}
Justin Charles Edinburgh (18 December 1969 – 8 June 2019) was an English professional football manager and footballer who played as a left back.
He played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, where he made 213 league appearances in a decade at the club. He also played in the Football League for Southend United and Portsmouth before finishing his career with non-league side Billericay Town. In 1991 he was part of Spurs FA Cup winning side wearing number 2 and he also won the League Cup with the club in 1999, despite being sent off in the final.
Following retirement, he managed at non-league level for Fisher Athletic, Grays Athletic and Rushden & Diamonds before taking Newport County to the Football League during a four-year tenure. He went on to manage both Gillingham and Northampton Town before once more winning promotion from the National League as he guided Leyton Orient back to the EFL in 2019. He remained manager of Orient at the time of his death in June 2019.
Playing career
A defender, usually employed as a left-back,{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=39721 |title=Football photographic encyclopedia, footballer, world cup, champions league, football championship, olympic games & hero images by |website=Sporting-heroes.net |access-date=3 April 2017}} Edinburgh started his career as a trainee with Southend United, turning professional in August 1988. He helped the Shrimpers win promotion from the Football League Fourth Division in 1990. In all competitions he played 47 games for the seaside club, scoring one goal.{{cite web|url=http://www.mehstg.com/justin.htm |title=Justin Edinburgh – THE LURE OF THE SEA |website=Mehstg.com |access-date=3 April 2017}}
He moved to Tottenham Hotspur for £150,000 in January 1990, initially on loan. He joined Spurs permanently in July 1990, making his debut for them on 10 November 1990, as a substitute in a 4–2 win at home to Wimbledon. He played for Spurs for most of the 1990s. He won an FA Cup winner's medal in 1991 despite just previously starting only 12 league games.{{cite web |url=http://www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=104018 |title=Portsmouth | He played for them too – Spurs – Justin Edinburgh |website=Portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk |access-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902225245/http://www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=104018 |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=dead }} He would also win a League Cup winner's medal with Spurs, in 1999. This second medal was awarded to Edinburgh despite his being sent off in the final for raising his arms to Robbie Savage, as the post-match analysis showed that Savage had distinctly over-reacted to a minimal contact and that the red card was unjustly awarded. In total, he made 213 league appearances for Tottenham, scoring once.{{cite news |title=Justin Edinburgh: Leyton Orient issue update on manager's condition |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/justin-edinburgh-leyton-orient-issue-16480184 |access-date=8 June 2019 |publisher=Mirror Ireland |date=8 June 2019}}
Edinburgh left London for Portsmouth in March 2000 for a fee of £175,000, playing 35 league games over the next two years, scoring once against Sheffield United.{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1606732.stm
|title=Portsmouth 1–0 Sheff Utd
|publisher=BBC
|date=20 October 2001 |access-date=1 January 2010}} However, he did not play a single competitive game during Portsmouth's Division One title winning campaign (2002–03), and joined non-league Billericay Town as player-manager in July 2003.{{cite news |title=Justin Edinburgh, Leyton Orient manager, dies aged 49 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jun/08/justin-edinburgh-leyton-orient-manager-dies-aged-49 |access-date=8 June 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=8 June 2019}}
Managerial career
=Early career=
In January 2006, he left Billericay to become manager of semi-professional club Fisher Athletic. Fisher finished third in the Isthmian League Premier Division in season 2005–06 and beat Hampton & Richmond 3–0 in the play-off final to win promotion to Conference South. Edinburgh left Fisher by mutual consent in November 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?%26newsmode%3DFULL%26nid%3D38720 |title=....But Edinburgh Goes at Fisher |work=NonLeagueDaily.com |date=23 November 2006 |access-date=23 November 2006 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930032818/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=38720 |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}
He subsequently joined Grays Athletic as assistant manager to Andy King in December 2006,{{cite news |title=Edinburgh joining King at Grays |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/6216714.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 December 2006 |access-date=20 January 2016}} and took over as manager on 5 January 2007 after King's resignation.{{cite news |title=Edinburgh replaces King at Grays |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/6233725.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 January 2007 |access-date=20 January 2016}} However, Edinburgh's first match in charge ended in disappointment as his team lost 3–1 to Southport. His reign as manager of Grays Athletic came to an end on 20 February 2008, when his contract was terminated by mutual consent, leaving the club 14th in the Conference Premier.{{cite news |title=Grays and Edinburgh part company |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/7255167.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=20 January 2016}}
On 9 April 2008 it was announced that Edinburgh would become Colin Lippiatt's assistant at Woking following the departure of Frank Gray and Gerry Murphy.{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Dick |title=Edinburgh returns to football with Woking post |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/2186520.edinburgh-returns-to-football-with-woking-post/ |access-date=8 June 2019 |work=BCS Echo |date=10 April 2008}}
=Rushden & Diamonds=
In October 2008, Edinburgh became assistant manager to Garry Hill at Conference Premier club Rushden & Diamonds.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/7680391.stm |title=BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Rushden & Diamonds | Edinburgh takes up Diamonds role |publisher=BBC News |date=20 October 2008 |access-date=3 April 2017}} On 10 February 2009 he was appointed as caretaker manager following Hill's resignation{{cite news |title=Hill resigns as Rushden manager |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/7881307.stm |publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 February 2009 |access-date=17 January 2016}} and on 24 April 2009, Edinburgh was appointed manager on a permanent basis. He guided the team to a fourth-placed finish in the 2009–10 season securing a play-off spot within the Conference Premier but they were unable to reach the Conference Play-off Final at Wembley after lacklustre performances in both games of the two legged tie against Oxford United. The games finished 1–1 and 2–0 to Oxford.{{cite news |title=Oxford United 2–0 Rushden & Diamonds (agg 3–1) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8643854.stm |access-date=8 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport}}
The 2010–11 season saw Rushden & Diamonds secure a mid-table finish in 13th place but they never seriously challenged for promotion. In the summer of 2011, the club was expelled from the Football Conference and subsequently went into administration, bringing Edinburgh's time at the club to an end.{{cite news |title=Rushden & Diamonds enter administration |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14012770 |publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 July 2011 |access-date=17 January 2016}}
=Newport County=
On 4 October 2011, Edinburgh was appointed manager of Newport County, taking over from Anthony Hudson with the team in 23rd place in the Conference Premier.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15172904.stm|title=Justin Edinburgh named Newport County manager|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 October 2011|access-date=4 October 2011}} Jimmy Dack was appointed as his assistant manager on 6 October 2011.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15206807.stm |title=Jimmy Dack named as Newport County assistant – BBC Sport |publisher=BBC News |date=6 October 2011 |access-date=3 April 2017}} Newport County finished the 2011–12 season in 19th position hence avoiding relegation and reached the FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on 12 May 2012 which Newport lost 2–0 to York City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18017573|title=FA Trophy: Newport County 0–2 York City|date=12 May 2012|access-date=19 May 2019|language=en-GB}}
In August 2012, Edinburgh was selected as Conference Manager of the Month after Newport County won all five of their opening matches of the 2012–13 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/9899324.Double_Conference_honour_for_the_Exiles/ |title=Double Conference honour for the Exiles (From South Wales Argus) |website=Southwalesargus.co.uk |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=3 April 2017}} He led Newport to a 3rd-place finish that season, reaching the Conference Premier play-offs. Newport County won the 2013 Conference Premier play-off final versus Wrexham at Wembley stadium 2–0 to return to the Football League after a 25-year absence with promotion to League Two.{{Cite news
| first = Dewi
| last = Hughes
| title = Wrexham 0–2 Newport
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22335600
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 5 May 2013
| access-date = 5 May 2013}} Edinburgh was named the Conference Premier Manager of the Year.{{cite news |title=Justin Edinburgh – the journey continues... |url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2014/october/justin-edinburgh---the-journey-continues/ |access-date=8 June 2019 |publisher=Newport County News |date=4 October 2014}}
On 2 December 2013, Newport County announced on their official website that, having consulted Edinburgh, they had rejected an approach from Edinburgh's former club Portsmouth to be interviewed as a successor to Guy Whittingham as Portsmouth manager.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25237557 |title=Justin Edinburgh explains why he rejected Portsmouth approach – BBC Sport |website=Bbc.co.uk |date=5 December 2013 |access-date=3 April 2017}} In January 2014 Edinburgh stated he had rebuffed an unofficial approach directly to himself to be considered as manager of Northampton Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25865553 |title=Justin Edinburgh 'approached to be Northampton boss' – BBC Sport |website=Bbc.co.uk |date=23 January 2014 |access-date=3 April 2017}} In his first season as a Football League manager Edinburgh led Newport County to a 14th-place finish in League Two for the 2013–14 season.
=Gillingham=
On 7 February 2015, with Newport County in sixth place in League Two, Edinburgh was appointed manager of League One club Gillingham, with Gillingham paying Newport compensation as Edinburgh was under contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31112173 |title=Edinburgh joins Gillingham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 February 2015 |access-date=18 October 2016}} Edinburgh led the Gills to a 12th-place finish in the third tier of English football, after a poor start to the season led to the sacking of former manager Peter Taylor on 31 December. Gillingham had won just three of their first 15 league games, and were sitting 20th in League One, just two points above relegation.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30642796 |title=Peter Taylor: Gillingham sack manager after 14 months in charge |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 December 2015 |access-date=18 October 2016}}
The 2015–16 was his first full season in charge, Edinburgh led the Gills to a second-place position at Christmas, after a 3–0 victory against Millwall.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35077919 |title=Millwall 0–3 Gillingham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2015 |access-date=18 October 2016}} Gillingham had also managed to defeat League favourites Sheffield United, with a 4–0 victory on the first day of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33744300 |title=Gillingham 4–0 Sheffield United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2015 |access-date=18 October 2016}} However, after a run of bad injuries to crucial players, Gillingham slipped to a ninth-place finish in League One, after losing on the last day of the season, against Millwall.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36180723 |title=Gillingham 1–2 Millwall |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2016 |access-date=18 October 2016}}
Edinburgh was sacked on 3 January 2017, along with his entire coaching team, with the club placed 17th in League One.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38513512 |title=Ady Pennock: Gillingham appoint new head coach to replace Justin Edinburgh |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 January 2017 |access-date=3 April 2017}}
=Northampton Town=
On 13 January 2017, Edinburgh was appointed manager of League One club Northampton Town on a two-and-a-half-year contract, formally taking over on 16 January.{{cite news |title=Northampton Town: Justin Edinburgh named new manager of League One club |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38613249 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 January 2017 |access-date=3 April 2017}} Edinburgh was dismissed on 31 August 2017, following a poor run of results including losing the first four matches of the season.{{cite news |title=Justin Edinburgh: Northampton Town part company with manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41109601 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2017 |access-date=1 December 2017}}
=Leyton Orient=
File:Justin Edinburgh tributes.jpg at Brisbane Road]]
On 29 November 2017, Edinburgh was appointed manager of Leyton Orient of the National League on a two-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite news |title=Justin Edinburgh: Leyton Orient appoint new head coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42172616 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 November 2017 |access-date=1 December 2017}} Edinburgh guided Orient to the top of the National League winning the division and promotion back to the Football League in the 2018–19 campaign.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47994932 |title=Leyton Orient 0 – 0 Braintree Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2019 |access-date=27 April 2019 }}
On 24 January 2020, Leyton Orient announced that the West Stand at Breyer Group Stadium would be renamed the Justin Edinburgh Stand, which was officially commemorated the next day during the club's home match against Newport County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.leytonorient.com/2020/01/24/justin-edinburgh-stand-announcement/|title = NEWS: West Stand to be renamed the Justin Edinburgh Stand|date = 24 January 2020}}
Personal life and death
Edinburgh had two children with his wife Kerri. He owned two Toni & Guy hair salon franchises with his business partner, Jim Shaw.{{Cite news | last1 = Edinburgh | first1 = Justin | title = These are my men to take on all-comers | newspaper = The Non-League Paper | issue= 440 | page= 13 | date = 31 August 2008}}
On 3 June 2019, Edinburgh went into sudden cardiac arrest. He died at Basildon University Hospital five days later, aged 49.{{cite web|url=https://www.leytonorient.com/news/2019/june/justin-edinburgh-statement/|title=STATEMENT: Justin Edinburgh|publisher=Leyton Orient F.C.|date=8 June 2019}} Leyton Orient announced a period of mourning and opened the stadium to allow supporters to leave tributes.{{Cite web |title=NEWS: Club to observe period of mourning |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C. |date=9 June 2019 |access-date=12 June 2019 |url= https://www.leytonorient.com/news/2019/june/mourning-period/ }}
Managerial statistics
Honours
=As a player=
Tottenham Hotspur
- FA Cup: 1990–91{{cite web |url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/spurs-v-forest-1991-090804/ |title=Spurs v Forest, 1991 |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |date=9 August 2004 |access-date=19 May 2018}}
- Football League Cup: 1998–99{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/300408.stm |title=Nielsen nicks it for Spurs |publisher=BBC News |date=22 March 1999 |access-date=19 May 2018}}
- FA Charity Shield: 1991 (shared){{cite web|url=https://www.leballonrond.fr/jogo.php?id=828015|title=The F.A. Community Shield 1991 – Final |website=leballonrond.fr |access-date=23 October 2019}}
=As a manager=
Newport County
- Conference Premier play-offs: 2013{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22335600 |title=Wrexham 0–2 Newport |first=Dewi |last=Hughes |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418194213/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22335600 |archive-date=18 April 2014}}
- FA Trophy runner-up: 2011–12
Leyton Orient
=Individual=
- Conference Premier/National League Manager of the Month: April/May 2013,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22513966|title=Newport boss Justin Edinburgh wins manager of month award|date=13 May 2013|access-date=19 May 2019}} November 2018,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/24941/justin-edinburgh-named-national-league-manager-of-the-month/|title=Justin Edinburgh named National League Manager of the Month|date=7 December 2018|website=The Non League Football Paper|access-date=19 May 2019}} March 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/26494/national-league-march-awards/|title=National League March awards|date=5 April 2019|website=The Non League Football Paper|access-date=19 May 2019}}
- Leyton Orient Hall of Fame{{Cite web |title=Hall of Fame |url=https://leytonorient.com/ |access-date=12 October 2023 |website=Leyton Orient}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Grays Athletic F.C. managers}}
{{Rushden & Diamonds F.C. managers}}
{{Newport County A.F.C. managers}}
{{Gillingham F.C. managers}}
{{Northampton Town F.C. managers}}
{{Leyton Orient F.C. managers}}
}}
{{Leyton Orient F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edinburgh, Justin}}
Category:Footballers from Basildon
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Southend United F.C. players
Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
Category:Portsmouth F.C. players
Category:Billericay Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English football managers
Category:Billericay Town F.C. managers
Category:Fisher Athletic F.C. managers
Category:Grays Athletic F.C. managers
Category:Rushden & Diamonds F.C. managers
Category:Newport County A.F.C. managers
Category:Gillingham F.C. managers
Category:Northampton Town F.C. managers
Category:Leyton Orient F.C. managers
Category:National League (English football) managers