Vic Groves
Encyclopedia
Victor George "Vic" Groves (born November 5, 1932) is an English
former footballer.
Born in Stepney
, London
, Groves started his career at east London non-league clubs Leytonstone
and Walthamstow Avenue
, and then briefly as an amateur for Tottenham Hotspur
before signing professional forms with Leyton Orient
in 1954. Playing as an inside forward, his regular goalscoring for Orient soon attracted the attention of Arsenal
, who signed him in November 1955 for £23,000, at the time a very high figure. He scored on his debut, against Sheffield United
on November 12, 1955, in a 2-1 First Division
win (Don Roper
grabbing the other Arsenal goal).
Despite an eye-catching start, Groves initially struggled to live up to expectations at Arsenal, his first season at the club hampered by injury, first to a knee and then to his back. It wasn't until the 1958-59
season, that he had established a regular place. Groves scored ten goals that season, and formed a useful attacking partnership with David Herd
. The season after that, he was switched to wing half, where he played for the rest of his career; Groves was also made Arsenal captain, following the departure of Dave Bowen
. His spell at Arsenal was continually hampered by injury; although when he did play he impressed, enough so that he was selected for the London XI
that played (and lost to) Barcelona
in the first Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
final in 1958.
Groves lost his first-team place in the 1961-62
season, although he stayed at Arsenal as a bit-part player until the summer of 1964, when he left to sign for Southern League
side Canterbury City
. In all he played 201 times for Arsenal, scoring 37 goals. Although he represented England at amateur
and youth level, he never won a full cap.
After retiring from playing Groves left the game completely, running a pub
and working in insurance
. His nephew, Perry Groves
, played for Arsenal in the 1980s and 1990s.
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...
former footballer.
Born in Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Groves started his career at east London non-league clubs Leytonstone
Leytonstone F.C.
Leytonstone F.C. was an English football club based in Leytonstone, Greater London. Founded in 1886, the club ceased to exist in 1979 when it merged with Ilford to form Leytonstone-Ilford, which later became Redbridge Forest after also absorbing Walthamstow Avenue...
and Walthamstow Avenue
Walthamstow Avenue F.C.
Walthamstow Avenue Football Club was an English football club based in Walthamstow in London. They played in dark and light blue hooped shirts, and light blue shorts.-History:...
, and then briefly as an amateur for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
before signing professional forms with Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in 1954. Playing as an inside forward, his regular goalscoring for Orient soon attracted the attention of Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, who signed him in November 1955 for £23,000, at the time a very high figure. He scored on his debut, against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on November 12, 1955, in a 2-1 First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
win (Don Roper
Don Roper
Donald George Beaumont "Don" Roper was an English footballer.-Playing career:Born in Botley, Hampshire, Roper was a prolific scorer as a schoolboy...
grabbing the other Arsenal goal).
Despite an eye-catching start, Groves initially struggled to live up to expectations at Arsenal, his first season at the club hampered by injury, first to a knee and then to his back. It wasn't until the 1958-59
1958-59 in English football
The 1958–59 season was the 79th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:August 1958: The Football League season begins with the new national Third and Fourth divisions that have been created from the old Third Division North and Third Division South.September 1958: Manchester...
season, that he had established a regular place. Groves scored ten goals that season, and formed a useful attacking partnership with David Herd
David Herd (footballer)
David George Herd is a Scottish former international association footballer. His regular position was as a forward where he was a consistent goal scorer.-Family:...
. The season after that, he was switched to wing half, where he played for the rest of his career; Groves was also made Arsenal captain, following the departure of Dave Bowen
Dave Bowen
David Lloyd "Dave" Bowen was a Welsh football player and manager, who captained his country to their only ever World Cup finals, in 1958.-Playing career:...
. His spell at Arsenal was continually hampered by injury; although when he did play he impressed, enough so that he was selected for the London XI
London XI
The London XI was an association football representative team, specially created to take part in the 1955-58 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the precursor of today's UEFA Europa League although not recognized by UEFA....
that played (and lost to) Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in the first Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
final in 1958.
Groves lost his first-team place in the 1961-62
1961-62 in English football
The 1961–62 season was the 82nd season of competitive Football in England.-Overview:The season was notable for the remarkable achievement of Ipswich Town winning the League Championship. Under the managership of Alf Ramsey, the club progressed from the old Third Division South to the First Division...
season, although he stayed at Arsenal as a bit-part player until the summer of 1964, when he left to sign for Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
side Canterbury City
Canterbury City F.C.
Canterbury City F.C. are a football club currently based in Herne Bay near Canterbury, England. Reformed in 2007, they are the first football club formed as a Community interest company. For the 2011–12 season they will compete in the Kent League Premier Division...
. In all he played 201 times for Arsenal, scoring 37 goals. Although he represented England at amateur
England national amateur football team
The England national amateur football team was the amateur representative team for England at football. It was formed in 1906, due to the growth of the professional game which meant that amateur players could no longer easily find places in the main England national team.-First match and unbeaten...
and youth level, he never won a full cap.
After retiring from playing Groves left the game completely, running a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
and working in insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
. His nephew, Perry Groves
Perry Groves
Perry Groves is a former English footballer, known chiefly for his time at Arsenal. He was a fast-paced player who usually played as winger, and occasionally as a striker...
, played for Arsenal in the 1980s and 1990s.