Orrin Pendley is stepping back to keep moving forwards

But after working his way up from the Redditch Sunday League to National North, he plans on it being a temporary step back.

"Obviously the aim is to try to get back to the National Leagues, of course," he said. "That's the plan and things have been put in place to do so, so hopefully we can do that."

It is a big aim for someone who grew up a parks footballer, learning as he moved from club to club rather than being nurtured through an academy.

"I started playing Sunday league, I've never been in an academy, I've just worked my way up from Sunday league to Conference North," he said. "I was born in Redditch, played in Redditch Sunday league teams and only probably stopped playing Sunday league when I was 23 or 24.

"I joined Redditch United at 21 and kicked on from there, under Darren Byfield."

Despite the lower level, it was no less important to Pendley.

"It was quite serious for me, because that was the level I was at, at the time," he said. "I kept working, kept working and found myself going higher up the ladder.

"It is pleasing, it's the same for anybody isn't it? You can get anywhere if you put your mind to it.

"My journey is not finished, I still want to push on and do more, it doesn't matter where you start, it is where you finish at the end of the day."

Since his time at Redditch, he has played at Kettering Town, Rushall Olympic, Tamworth and – most recently – Hereford, where he made 32 appearances in National League North last season as well as having a few games at Coalville Town on dual registration terms.

"I played a few games out at Coalville and then I came back and pretty much played the majority of the season," said Pendley. "Personally I think I had a good season, as a collective we kind of underachieved, but personally I had a good time and chipped in with a good amount of goals.

"I like to chip in and get my fair share to help the team."

Pendley marked his emergency recall from Coalville with the winning goal in Hereford's FA Cup fourth qualifying round over Bromley.

"That was the first time I got to round one, obviously it was televised which just topped it off," he said. "That whole day, it was nice, it was different, something I've never done before. I really enjoyed it."

Away from the pitch, Pendley is helping children get a better start in life as a behaviour mentor.

"It's a challenging job, but it's rewarding at the same time, I enjoy it," he said. "I wasn't academically good in school, school isn't for everybody.

"But I could give back and guide them from what happened to me in school.

"Yeah (it does make a difference), I know what they are going through, people from different backgrounds and stuff, they just need a bit of guidance in life. I'm there to do that.

"You know what, it is a bit (different), but then in football when you are playing you have some mad fans and that, so it can have similarities.

"They like that I play football as well, the majority of the kids kicked out have an interest in football as well, so we can build that up together.

"Yeah I've had a few watch, sometimes it can be a bit far, but hopefully they can come watch me play for Telford."