Gills manager Justin Edinburgh reflects on the club being drawn against his former club in the EFL Cup
Manager Justin Edinburgh spoke to the GFC website following Wednesday night’s EFL Cup third-round draw, which saw the Gills paired against his former club Tottenham Hotspur.
Edinburgh made over 200 appearances for Spurs as a player during his 10 years at White Hart Lane, including their 1999 League Cup victory at Wembley. He will take his Gills side to north London next month, for only the second meeting between the two clubs. The date of the fixture is subject to confirmation, but will be played on the week commencing September 19.
Edinburgh on…the draw: “I’m delighted for the club and the players; it’s a great reward for a fantastic performance at Watford. I’m sure this game will be even better for everybody involved with the club, from the chairman to the staff, the players and the fans, because of the size, stature and history of Tottenham.
“It’s just reward for what the players did on Tuesday against Watford. We said to them before the game that when you get those opportunities, you want to make the most of them, and that’s what they did. The effort, the work rate and the quality they showed was impressive. We were very good with the ball, as well as putting in an unbelievable shift.”
Edinburgh on…the personal significance of the game: “There was a bit of celebrating in the Edinburgh house when the draw was made, that’s for sure! On a personal note, taking a club to White Hart Lane is something that I’ve wanted to do since I went into management. A lot of hard work has gone in to getting there, and when the evening arrives, I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic occasion.
“I was associated with Tottenham for 10 years; a huge part of my football life. My son was brought up around it, he was there for many a training session and game, as was my wife. It was a fantastic time for me, a privilege to play for such a great club surrounded by so many players for so long. It’s not just me with links to Spurs, either – David Kerslake, my assistant, Jamie O’Hara, Paul Konchesky all played for them, too, and Paddy [Emmanuel Osadebe] came through the Tottenham Foundation Academy.
“As a young manager, I’ve worked my way through the leagues, and you want to cause upsets when you get the opportunity. At Newport, we beat Brighton in the League Cup, but Tuesday night was the best cup moment for me, against a Premier League side who have spent big money. Yes, they made changes, but that was still a team of players who cost millions."
Related stories