Willie Groves

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] He scored ten goals in the club's 1888–89 Scottish Cup campaign.[7] Groves made two further appearances for the Scotland national football team while with Celtic.[8] In one of those appearances he scored a hat-trick against Ireland in the 1889 British Home Championship.[9]

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.[10]

Groves subsequently signed for Villa in 1893, becoming the first player to be transferred for over £100.[11] Villa were forced to pay that fee (around £12,000 in today's values)[12] 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 Football League against the Scottish League.[13] 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][13] During this second spell he played in the 1896 Scottish Cup Final, which Hibs lost 3–1 to Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts.[3][14] This final is perhaps best known for being the only Scottish Cup Final to be played outside Glasgow.[3][14] He then briefly returned to Celtic, but soon retired, suffering from tuberculosis. He died in Edinburgh in 1908, aged 39.[2]