He scored his first senior goal on 6 November 1976, in a 3–1 win over Middlesbrough at the Victoria Ground.
They retained their Third Division status by a single point in 1980–81, before finishing above the drop zone only on goal difference in 1981–82 under new boss Neil Martin.
Waddington then left Fellows Park and joined John McGrath's Port Vale in July 1982.
[1] He made his debut in the League Cup First Round first leg 1–0 win over Rochdale at Vale Park on 30 August.
Whilst at Macclesfield Town in summer 1986 he was in a car crash with teammates Nigel Shaw, Ian Elsby and Trevor Brissett.