Hibernian Groves, an
inside forward, first broke into the
Hibernian squad as a 16-year-old during the 1885–86 season. In the following year, Groves made his international debut, in an
1888 British Home Championship match against
Wales.
Celtic By August 1888, Groves was one of several Hibs players who moved to the newly formed
Celtic. He scored ten goals in the club's
1888–89 Scottish Cup campaign. Groves made two further appearances for the
Scotland national football team while with Celtic. In one of those appearances he scored a
hat-trick against
Ireland in the
1889 British Home Championship.
West Bromwich Albion Groves moved to the professional English
Football League in 1890, signing for
West Bromwich Albion. He helped Albion win the
1892 FA Cup Final, playing at
half-back as
Aston Villa were defeated 3–0.
Aston Villa Groves subsequently signed for Villa in 1893, becoming the first player to be transferred for over £100. Villa were forced to pay that fee (around £16,000 in today's values) to West Brom and were fined by
the Football Association amidst allegations that Groves and
Jack Reynolds had been illegally poached. During this second spell he played in the
1896 Scottish Cup Final, which Hibs lost 3–1 to
Edinburgh derby rivals
Hearts. This final is perhaps best known for being the only
Scottish Cup Final to be played outside
Glasgow. He then briefly returned to
Celtic, but soon retired, suffering from
tuberculosis. He died in
Edinburgh in 1908, aged 39. == See also ==