Willie Groves
Encyclopedia
William "Willie" Groves (9 November 1869 – 13 February 1908) was a Scottish
footballer who played for Hibernian
, Celtic
, West Bromwich Albion
, Aston Villa
and Scotland
. He is known for being the very first player to be transferred for more than £100.
squad as a 16 year old during the 1885–86 season. He featured prominently as Hibs won the Scottish Cup
the following year, scoring in the first round, second round replay and semi-final. Vale of Leven
, Hibs' opponents in the semi-final, protested that Groves had accepted a payment from Hibs, which would have been illegal as the Scottish game was still amateur at the time. The protest was not heard until after Hibs had defeated Dumbarton
in the final. Vale of Leven only presented hearsay
as evidence, but it took the casting vote
of the committee chairman to exonerate Hibs.
In the following year, Groves made his international debut, in a 1888 British Home Championship
match against Wales
. Groves scored the fourth goal in a 5–1 win for Scotland at Hibernian Park
, Hibs' home ground.
. 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
.
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.
had been illegally poached. He helped Villa win the league championship in 1894. During his time in England, Groves played for the The Football League
against the Scottish Football League
. He left Villa in November 1894 after a dispute over his contract with the club arose.
in 1895
, Groves returned to the club. 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 38.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer who played for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. He is known for being the very first player to be transferred for more than £100.
Hibernian
Groves, an inside forward, first broke into the HibernianHibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
squad as a 16 year old during the 1885–86 season. He featured prominently as Hibs won the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
the following year, scoring in the first round, second round replay and semi-final. Vale of Leven
Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven Football Club are an association club based in the town of Alexandria, Scotland, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park...
, Hibs' opponents in the semi-final, protested that Groves had accepted a payment from Hibs, which would have been illegal as the Scottish game was still amateur at the time. The protest was not heard until after Hibs had defeated Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
in the final. Vale of Leven only presented hearsay
Hearsay
Hearsay is information gathered by one person from another person concerning some event, condition, or thing of which the first person had no direct experience. When submitted as evidence, such statements are called hearsay evidence. As a legal term, "hearsay" can also have the narrower meaning of...
as evidence, but it took the casting vote
Casting vote
A casting vote is a vote given to the presiding officer of a council or legislative body to resolve a deadlock and which can be exercised only when such a deadlock exists...
of the committee chairman to exonerate Hibs.
In the following year, Groves made his international debut, in a 1888 British Home Championship
1888 British Home Championship
The 1888 British Home Championship was the fifth edition of the annual international football tournament played between the British Home Nations...
match against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. Groves scored the fourth goal in a 5–1 win for Scotland at Hibernian Park
Hibernian Park
Hibernian Park was the home ground of the Scottish football club Hibernian from 1880 until the club's dissolution in 1891. When the club was reformed in 1892, the club took out on a lease on a site which became known as Easter Road...
, Hibs' home ground.
Celtic
By August 1888, Groves was one of several Hibs players who moved to the newly formed CelticCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Groves made two further appearances for the Scotland national football team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
while with Celtic. In one of those appearances he scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against Ireland in the 1889 British Home Championship
1889 British Home Championship
The 1889 British Home Championship was the sixth international football tournament between the British Home Nations and as with all but one of the previous tournaments, Scotland won, beating England by one point to take the championship...
.
West Bromwich Albion
Groves moved to the professionalProfessional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1890, signing for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. He helped Albion win the 1892 FA Cup Final
1892 FA Cup Final
The 1892 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at the Kennington Oval. West Bromwich Albion won 3–0, with goals by Jasper Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds...
, playing at half-back
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
as Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
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 to West Brom and were fined by the Football Association amidst allegations that Groves and Jack ReynoldsJack Reynolds (footballer born 1869)
John "Jack" Reynolds was a footballer who played for, among others, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Celtic. As an international he played five times for Ireland before it emerged that he was actually English and he subsequently played eight times for England...
had been illegally poached. He helped Villa win the league championship in 1894. During his time in England, Groves played for the The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
against the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. He left Villa in November 1894 after a dispute over his contract with the club arose.
Return to Scotland
After Hibs were elected to join the top division of the Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
in 1895
1894-95 in Scottish football
The 1894–95 season in Scottish football was the fifth season of the Scottish Football League.-Scottish Division One:Hearts won the Scottish Division One.-Scottish Division Two:...
, Groves returned to the club. During this second spell he played in the 1896
1895-96 in Scottish football
The 1895–96 season of Scottish football was the sixth season of the Scottish Football League.-Scottish Division One:Celtic topped the Scottish Division One.-Scottish Division Two:Abercorn came first in the Scottish Division Two...
Scottish Cup Final, which Hibs lost 3–1 to Edinburgh derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
rivals Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
. This final is perhaps best known for being the only Scottish Cup Final to be played outside Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He then briefly returned to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, but soon retired, suffering from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. He died in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1908, aged 38.
See also
- List of Scotland national football team hat-tricks
- Progression of British football transfer fee record
External links
- Willie Groves, www.ihibs.co.uk