In an age of football driven ever more by wealth and cynicism, it is sometimes easy to overlook the stories that give the game its soul.
Stephen Clemence and Justin Edinburgh had a friendship forged on the fields of Tottenham’s old training grounds at Spurs Lodge and Mill Hill. They played 27 times together for the north London club and following retirement, found careers in coaching and management.
Both managed Gillingham and when Clemence takes his current side Barrow to Priestfield in League Two on Saturday, Edinburgh will not be far from his thoughts.
Edinburgh, who was in charge of Gills from 2015-17,passed away aged 49 in 2019, five days after suffering a cardiac arrest. He had recently guided Leyton Orient back into the Football League.
‘I was very close to Justin,’ Clemence told Mail Sport. ‘I used to sit next to him in the dressing room at Tottenham and he was the one who helped me keep my feet on the ground when I broke into the first team.
Barrow boss Stephen Clemence (pictured) has been remembering his former friend and team-mate Justin Edinburgh
Edinburgh passed away aged 49 in 2019, five days after suffering a cardiac arrest
Stephen (right) remembers how Edinburgh previously played under his dad and former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence (left)
‘He had played under my father (former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence) so there was a connection there. When I was working with Steve Bruce at Aston Villa, Justin brought his Orient team to train at Bodymoor Heath on one occasion.
‘I was speaking to him already back then about lower-league management and he said the main difference was that what happens between the two boxes doesn’t matter that much. It’s what happens in them that counts.
‘When I heard the news it was the most shocked I have ever been and I still cannot believe he is no longer with us.
‘When I got the Gillingham job Justin’s son, Charlie, got in touch with me. I was following in his dad’s footsteps and he told me ‘Dad would be proud of you.’
‘I am still in touch on Instagram with his wife and son and I am proud of Charlie for the work he has done with defibrillators and CPR training.’
Charlie helped set up the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation, which has directly saved the lives of two individuals through the numerous defibrillators it has donated, alongside running CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training sessions.
With Edinburgh’s advice ringing in his ears, Clemence will try to maintain Barrow’s outstanding start to the season and give Gills something to think about. The 46-year-old was sacked last April after just six months as the board decided he had underachieved by leading the club to 12th.
Edinburgh (right) had recently guided Leyton Orient back into the Football League before his shock death
Edinburgh's son Charlie (middle) helped set up the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation, which has saved the lives of two individuals through the numerous defibrillators it has donated
The early signs are that he is proving them wrong. Barrow’s Carabao Cup defeat at Chelsea in midweek could earn the club up to £450,000 and they are top of League Two – above second-placed Gillingham on goal difference.
Clemence added: ‘I feel I left the role too soon as we were building something but there is no animosity from me. It was a kick in the stomach to lose my job but when Barrow came calling I knew it was the right. It’s nice to be going back to Gillingham on top of the table.’