Career
He is known for being the first player to be transferred for more than £100. Hibernian
Groves, an inside forward, first broke into the Hibernian squad as a 16-year-old during the 1885-1886 season. 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. 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 1888-1889 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. 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 Reynolds had been illegally poached.
During his time in England, Groves played for the Football League against the Scottish 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 League 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 39.