dᵻspˈaɪt mˈɪsɪŋ hˈæf ðə sˈiːzən θɹuː ˈɪndʒɚɹi, wˈæli ðˈɛn hˈɛlpt kɹˈuː tə ðɛɹ hˈaɪɪst lˈiːɡ fˈɪnɪʃɪŋ pəzˈɪʃən, ɪlˈɛvənθ ɪnðə sˈɛkənd tˈɪɹ, ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt.
Despite missing half the season through injury, Whalley then helped Crewe to their highest league finishing position, 11th in the second tier, in 1997–1998.