Born in Openshaw,
Manchester, Wagstaffe played in England and the United States for
Manchester City,
Wolverhampton Wanderers,
Los Angeles Wolves,
Blackburn Rovers and
Blackpool. Having signed for Wolves on Boxing Day in 1964, Wagstaffe went on to play 404 league and cup games for the club, placing him in the top 15 all-time appearance makers for Wolves. Although not a prolific goal scorer, he won Match of the Day's goal of the month in 1971 for a 35-yard shot as Wolves went on to beat Arsenal 5–1, as well as scoring in the second leg of the UEFA Cup Final against
Tottenham Hotspur the same year. Wagstaffe featured in the Wolves side that were competing in the United States of America in the inaugural
United Soccer Association league as Los Angeles Wolves in 1967. The LA Wolves went on to win the Western Division, finally beating the
Washington Whips (represented by
Aberdeen) in the final. During his time in the United States, Wagstaffe was visited by boyhood friend
Davy Jones, lead singer of
The Monkees who he had played street football with as a boy.
Jack Kent Cooke, a cable television entrepreneur and owner of the
Los Angeles Lakers basketball team who had bought the LA Wolves franchise for $250,000, asked Wagstaffe to move to the United States and join his potential business as potential face of American soccer, but after returning to Wolverhampton, Wagstaffe decided against pursuing the opportunity. Whilst at Blackburn Rovers on 2 October 1976, Wagstaffe was the first player in English football to receive a red card. Despite Wagstaffe's talent, he was never capped for England, though he was selected to play on the left wing in the
Football League versus the
Scottish League match at
Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, in 1972. ==Later life and death==