National League

What a star: City ace Oliver is hero for Dale!

It seemed hard to imagine how Rochdale keeper Oliver Whatmuff’s day could have been any more memorable – but try telling him that.

by
The Non-League Football Paper Team
17 May 2026

By Andy Mitchell

It seemed hard to imagine how Rochdale keeper Oliver Whatmuff’s day could have been any more memorable – but try telling him that.
Having earned his spot between Wembley’s sticks at the age of 18, the Manchester City loanee had his name up in lights after two saves in the penalty shootout that sent Dale back to the EFL.
He had more than played his part in ensuring the game got that far, too, a huge first-minute save to his left from Leon Ayinde, deftly tipping over Abdul Abdulmalik’s dipping drive at 1-0 down and an instinctive far-post block from Matt Rush preventing Boreh...

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