Whalley began his football career at Crewe Alexandra, making his club debut in a 4–1 League Cup first round win over Rochdale at Gresty Road on 18 August 1992.
wˈæli bɪɡˈæn hɪz fˈʊtbɔːl kɚɹˈɪɹ æt kɹˈuː ˌælɪɡzˈændɹə, mˌeɪkɪŋ hɪz klˈʌb deɪbjˈuː ɪn ɐ fˈoːɹ wˈʌn lˈiːɡ kˈʌp fˈɜːst ɹˈaʊnd wˈɪn ˌoʊvɚ ɹˈɑːtʃdeɪl æt ɡɹˈɛsti ɹˈoʊd ˌɔn ˈeɪtiːn ˈɔːɡəst nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti tˈuː.