[2] Tolley began his career as a trainee with Shrewsbury Town, and made his début for the club on 20 November 1999 in a 2–2 draw with Oxford United.

This was revealed to be a five-figure sum that did not meet Shrewsbury's valuation, but Tolley was allowed to leave in the best interests of both the club and the player, according to manager Gary Peters.

[3] Tolley made his Macclesfield debut in their 2–1 defeat at home to Milton Keynes Dons on 12 August 2006, having signed for the club two days earlier.

[5] In July 2010, Tolley joined Conference side Wrexham on trial,[6] featuring in several pre-season friendlies before signing a short-term deal with the club in an attempt to prove his fitness to manager Dean Saunders.

[9] His contract with Harriers was cancelled midway through the season and he left the club after only 4 minutes of first team action, joining up with Frank Sinclair, a former Wrexham teammate, at Colwyn Bay.