 Rose came up through the Manchester United Academy before moving to Chester City in 2001.Further spells followed at Hereford United, Yeovil Town, Cheltenham Town (loan) and Scunthorpe United (loan), before Rose joined Stockport County in time for the 2006–07 campaign.He went on to play 107 games for Stockport and helped them to promotion at Rochdale's expense in the 2008 League Two play-off final, but spent the final six months of his time at Stockport on loan at Norwich City.