After many years in amateur and Junior football, Wardlaw started his senior career at Ayr United in 2004, signing from Burntisland Shipyard.[1] He made 111 appearances and scored 28 goals for the club in all competitions. Wardlaw signed for his hometown club Raith Rovers on 29 May 2008.[2] Wardlaw started the season well but then suffered a horrific injury in a game against East Fife.[3] After returning from injury Wardlaw struggled to get a place in the starting line-up, and ended up making only 13 appearances, scoring only 2 goals, eventually being released at the end of the 2008–09 season.
Following his departure from Raith Rovers, Wardlaw signed on at their neighbours Cowdenbeath[4] and was a regular starter in the line-up that season making 38 appearances and scoring 19 goals in all competitions.
In July 2010, St Mirren agreed a deal with Cowdenbeath to sign Wardlaw after agreeing compensation of around £45,000.[5] Wardlaw followed manager Danny Lennon in signing for the Paisley club from Cowdenbeath. This meant he became a full-time professional for the first time at the age of 31 when he signed for St Mirren, giving up a career as a postman.[6] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 defeat against Motherwell on 2 October 2010[7] and his second, again against Motherwell on 20 November 2010.[8] His goal against AberdeenatPittodrie on 10 May gave St Mirren a 1–0 victory, which not only kept the club in the SPL, but gave them their first victory away against Aberdeen since 1987.[9] He was released by the club at the end of the 2010–11 season.[10]
On 28 June 2011, Wardlaw re-joined Ayr United.[11] He was released by Ayr on 29 April 2008.[12] On 9 June 2012, Wardlaw signed for East Fife.[13][14]
