ON AN emotional Saturday afternoon at Brisbane Road, Josh Wright’s second-half goal gave Leyton Orient the win as the club remembered former manager Justin Edinburgh.

Orient overcame Cheltenham Town on their return to League Two. Edinburgh won promotion last season before dying in June having suffered a cardiac arrest.

The pre-match minute’s silence was observed impeccably by those in attendance and Wright, Edinburgh’s last signing before his death, scored the goal to secure the three points.

His celebration was a tribute to the former O’s manager. Wright also played under Edinburgh at Gillingham, running over to the to the stand where Justin’s son Charlie was celebrating before pointing to the sky and lifting an Orient shirt with Edinburgh’s name on the back.

“To get the goal, for me was extra special,” said Wright. “It would have been for anyone today. The emotion is hard to explain, it’s been a bit of a blur.

“You try not to think about what you will do if you score, but you’ve always got something in mind and I came over to where Justin’s family and friends were. I could see them up on their feet, going wild like Justin would have been up in the sky. It’s something that will stick with me forever.”

Justin’s son Charlie was at the game and at half-time accepted a cheque for £1,500 which the Cheltenham supporters’ group, the Robins Trust, had raised for the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation Charlie had set up.

Tweeting after the game, Charlie said: “What an unbelievable day to mark the first league game since dad passed away, this club is everything we are about and that’s Family. Special mention to my boy @Joshwright4 on the [goal]. There was some tears on the balcony when that one went in. Great result to start the season.”