He made 449 appearances in the Football League and scored 150 goals, playing for Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City, Oxford United, Burnley and Mansfield Town.
[2] He made his debut for Bolton in what was then the Football League Third Division as an amateur, after coming through the club's youth system.
[3] Birmingham City signed him for £350,000 to reunite him with Worthington, but the pair failed to gel, and Whatmore played only rarely.
[4] The emergence of John Aldridge meant Whatmore was surplus to requirements after a season and, after a second loan spell at Bolton,[3] he joined Burnley in a part-exchange deal with Billy Hamilton before moving on to Mansfield Town a few months later.
[5] When he was released after two-and-a-half years he spent his fourth and final spell at Burnden Park, an anonymous fan coming up with his wages, but he did not make the team and re-signed for Mansfield Town on a non-contract basis[3] as reserve team coach and occasional player.