Cheltenham Town fans have raised money to produce a giant flag paying tribute to Justin Edinburgh during their first game of the season at Leyton Orient.
The target for a memorial flag was reached in only five hours and will be displayed at Brisbane Road on 3 August when Orient host Cheltenham in their first match back in the EFL and first competitive game since Edinburgh’s tragic death on 8 June.
Edinburgh died after suffering a cardiac arrest, just weeks after leading Orient back into the Football League by winning the National League title.
More than ยฃ500 was raised on a crowdfunding page by supporters for a giant flag with an image of Edinburgh and the words ‘he made you dream again.’
Any extra money raised will be donated to the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation, which was set up last week to support a charity that will be related to heart or brain health.
Two Cheltenham fan groups joined forces to create the tribute which measures 24ft by 12ft.
The fixture will be an emotional day for Orient fans, and the efforts of Cheltenham supporters to honour Edinburgh won widespread praise on social media, not only from Orient fans but also from fans of other clubs.
Here is a selection of responses to the class gesture on Twitter.
Amazing tribute to Justin. Much appreciated. An Os fan โค
— Jeff Graves (@JeffDGraves) June 24, 2019
Beyond amazingโค๏ธ
— Jezzag (@orodelancs) June 24, 2019
Can only echo the thoughts and appreciation of my fellow Orient fans. Thank you!
— Enn Diamond (@EnnJason) June 24, 2019
Outstanding gesture. Well done.
— Craig (@Y2Craig) June 24, 2019
Blimey. That's a astonishing gesture. This is the real football family, not the fake Sky/EFL one
— Aidan Nicholas (@aidanorient) June 24, 2019
What a brilliantly thoughtful idea. Proper supporters down here in the lower leagues
— NEIL RODHOUSE (@NEILROD1961) June 24, 2019
Huge respects for this. The best of football fans in the saddest of circumstances.
— Super_Leeds_MOT๐๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐ค๐๐๐ป๐ฅ (@SuperLeedsUtd5) June 25, 2019
Pledged – as a #Gills fan it was the least I could do as he made us dream again as well.
— Steve H (@Pufnstuf1012) June 24, 2019
Absolutely๐ absolute class. ๐ im sure every @ leytonorientfc supporter will give all cheltenham fans a standing ovation at some stage of the game. I might even go in there end on 89 mins and shake their hands personally ๐๐
— Tony Sauvary (@orienttony) June 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/67sammi/status/1143243400159858690
@CTFCofficial ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป Pure class! So glad weโre playing you guys first game of the season. Itโll be an emotional day #lofc
— (C) Sam C (@SChurchett) June 24, 2019
This is top class ๐๐ฝ #footballfamily
— Rachel Wiles (@rachwiles) June 24, 2019
Beautiful gesture, thank you ๐
— David #WeDemandPPENow๐น๐ช๐บโฟ (@TommyXvelo) June 24, 2019
