| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Groves | ||
| Date of birth | 9 November 1869 | ||
| Place of birth | Leith, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 13 February 1908 (aged 38) | ||
| Place of death | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1885–1888 | Hibernian[note 1] | 0 | (0) |
| 1888–1890 | Celtic[note 1] | 0 | (0) |
| 1890–1893 | West Bromwich Albion[1] | 58 | (7) |
| 1893–1894 | Aston Villa | ||
| 1895–1896 | Hibernian | 5 | (1) |
| 1896 | Celtic | ||
| National team | |||
| 1888–1890 | Scotland | 3 | (4) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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William "Willie" Groves (9 November 1869 – 13 February 1908)[2] 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.
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Groves, an inside forward, first broke into the Hibernian squad as a 16 year old during the 1885–86 season.[3][4] He featured prominently as Hibs won the Scottish Cup the following year, scoring in the first round, second round replay and semi-final.[4] 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.[4] The protest was not heard until after Hibs had defeated Dumbarton in the final.[4] Vale of Leven only presented hearsay as evidence, but it took the casting vote of the committee chairman to exonerate Hibs.[4]
In the following year, Groves made his international debut, in a 1888 British Home Championship match against Wales.[5] Groves scored the fourth goal in a 5–1 win for Scotland at Hibernian Park, Hibs' home ground.[5]
By August 1888, Groves was one of several Hibs players who moved to the newly formed Celtic.[6] Groves made two further appearances for the Scotland national football team while with Celtic.[7] In one of those appearances he scored a hat-trick against Ireland in the 1889 British Home Championship.[8]
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.[9]
Groves subsequently signed for Villa in 1893, becoming the first player to be transferred for over £100.[10] Villa were forced to pay that fee to West Brom and were fined by the Football Association amidst allegations that Groves and Jack Reynolds had been illegally poached.[2] He helped Villa win the league championship in 1894.[3] During his time in England, Groves played for the The Football League against the Scottish Football League.[11] He left Villa in November 1894 after a dispute over his contract with the club arose.[2]
After Hibs were elected to join the top division of the Scottish Football League in 1895, Groves returned to the club.[3][11] During this second spell he played in the 1896 Scottish Cup Final, which Hibs lost 3–1 to Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts.[3][12] This final is perhaps best known for being the only Scottish Cup Final to be played outside Glasgow.[3][12] He then briefly returned to Celtic, but soon retired, suffering from tuberculosis. He died in Edinburgh in 1908, aged 38.[2]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by N/A |
World football transfer record 1893–1904 |
Succeeded by Andy McCombie |