Oliver was born in
Middlesbrough, and began his career in the youth system of
Middlesbrough F.C. He turned professional with the club, but his only first-team appearance came on 16 November 1993, as a
substitute in the
Anglo-Italian Cup against
Ancona. In 1994, he signed for
Stockport County; the fee was determined by tribunal. He made his Stockport and
Football League debut on 28 February 1995, at the age of 19, as a substitute in a 4–0 defeat at
Oxford United in the
Second Division, and played in 12 of the remaining 14 matches in the
1994–95 season. He was used infrequently in his second season, His last game for the club was in the
2000 Third Division play-off final defeat to
Peterborough United. When his contract expired, he left the club and signed for another Third Division club,
Rochdale. He played regularly for two seasons, but his 2002–03 season was disrupted by injury and by disciplinary issues, and he was released at its end. After leaving Rochdale, Oliver moved into
non-league football with
Barrow of the
Northern Premier League, and went on to play for clubs including
Spennymoor United,
Thornaby,
Bishop Auckland,
Newcastle Blue Star,
Gateshead, and
Durham City. ==References==