Newport County and Justin Edinburgh remain forever linked through one of the most defining eras in the club’s modern history.
Seven years on from his passing, supporters, former players, staff and friends continue to reflect on a manager whose influence reached far beyond results, league tables and promotions, shaping people as much as performances.
Justin Charles Edinburgh passed away on June 8, 2019, aged 49, just days after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.
While his football achievements stand proudly in the record books, those closest to him often speak first about the man himself, not the manager on the touchline.
A devoted husband to Kerri and proud father to Charlie and Cydnie, family was always central to his life. His warmth, humour and ability to bring people together left a lasting impression at every club he served, and his presence was often felt most strongly in the dressing room, among teammates and staff who valued his honesty and leadership.
As a player, Justin enjoyed a distinguished career at the highest level, making more than 200 league appearances for Tottenham Hotspur. He lifted the FA Cup in 1991 and the League Cup in 1999, earning a reputation as a committed and uncompromising left-back who set high standards throughout his career.
For Newport County supporters, however, it is his time in the dugout that remains etched into club history.
When Justin arrived at Rodney Parade in October 2011, Newport County was battling to stabilise in the National League. What followed was a transformation that changed the direction of the club.
He guided County away from danger in his first season, then led the side to Wembley in the FA Trophy final, laying the foundations for a team that would soon challenge at the top end of the division.
The 2012-13 season remains one of the most celebrated campaigns in Newport County history.
Under Justin’s leadership, the side finished third in the National League before defeating Wrexham 2-0 in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium. That victory secured a long-awaited return to the Football League after a 25-year absence, achieved during the club’s centenary year and celebrated by supporters as a defining moment in modern Newport County history.
His work earned recognition as National League Manager of the Year, but those who worked alongside him often highlight something deeper than tactical success.
Justin was a leader built on connection. He valued people, built trust quickly, and created a sense of togetherness that united players, staff and supporters around a shared purpose. In training sessions, in team meetings, and pitchside on matchdays, his message was consistent, belief, responsibility and unity.
After leaving Newport County in 2015, he went on to manage Gillingham and Northampton Town before returning to the National League with Leyton Orient.
There, he delivered another remarkable promotion-winning campaign, guiding Orient back to the Football League as National League champions in 2018-19. It was further proof of his ability to rebuild, inspire and deliver success at clubs with strong identity and expectation.
Tragically, he never had the chance to continue that journey.
The football world united in grief following his passing, with tributes arriving from across the game. Leyton Orient supporters in particular honoured him as a club legend, with the West Stand at Brisbane Road later renamed the Justin Edinburgh Stand in recognition of his impact.
His legacy, however, extends far beyond football.
Following his death, his family established the JE3 Foundation, created to continue his life’s values through practical action that saves lives. The charity is focused on three core aims, improving access to defibrillators in public spaces, delivering CPR education and training, and supporting campaigning work for wider legislative change to ensure life-saving equipment is available in sports clubs, workplaces and community settings.
The foundation’s work has already had a tangible impact. Defibrillators have been installed in communities, schools and sports clubs across the United Kingdom, while thousands of people have received CPR training designed to give them the confidence to act in an emergency. In many cases, that knowledge has already contributed directly to saving lives.
Beyond equipment and education, the JE3 Foundation continues to push for broader awareness of cardiac arrest response, ensuring conversations around emergency preparedness remain active in sport and society. Its message is simple but urgent, immediate action saves lives, and access to the right equipment should never be a matter of chance.
Justin’s passing shocked football, but through the ongoing work of the foundation, his influence continues to be felt in a very real and lasting way. Every defibrillator installed and every person trained in CPR extends that legacy into communities he never had the chance to reach himself.
To learn more about the Foundation's work and support its life-saving mission, visit: JE3 Foundation
Seven years on, Justin Edinburgh remains a central figure in Newport County’s modern identity.
He delivered one of the club’s greatest achievements, restored belief at a pivotal time, and helped set standards that shaped the years which followed. More importantly, he did so while remaining true to the values that defined him throughout his life, humility, leadership, loyalty and family.
Today, Newport County remembers not only a promotion-winning manager, but a man whose impact continues to ripple through football and into communities far beyond it.
Justin Edinburgh.
Forever part of Newport County’s story.
