How did they get here ? Steven Orchard

Steven Orchard joined Tiverton Town as a coach during the 2024/25 season under the incoming management team of Rob Dray following the departure of Leigh Robinson and Ben Gerring. Following a 5-0 defeat at home to Basingstoke Town, Rob Dray and his team decided to step away from the club, with Orchard deciding to stay and accept the role of assistant manager under player/manager Asa Hall.

Before joining the backroom staff at Tiverton Town, Orchard had spent 18 months a stone’s throw away from Tiverton as manager at Cullompton and also spent 2 seasons in charge of Elmore.

Steven had a successful playing career, beginning at Twyford Spartans before signing for Plymouth Argyle as an academy player from u12s up to u16’s before being released from the green side of Devon. Torquay was next for Orchard, where he played in the u18’s set up before signing a 1 year professional contract with the club. During his time in the youth set up at Torquay, Steven represented the England Schoolboys, playing in the centenary shield against the home nations, earning 4 England caps.

After a release from Torquay Steven went on to play for a number of non-league clubs including Weston-super-Mare, Willand Rovers, Bridgwater, Bideford and Cullompton.

Steven was no stranger to trophies in his playing career lifting 3 Les Phillips Cups, 3 Western League Titles, a Southern League Division 1 Title with Bideford and in his words ‘a couple of Devon Bowls’.

After hanging up his boots Orchard got to studying and achieved coaching badges up to and including his B license.