Victor George Groves (5 November 1932 – 24 January 2015) was an English footballer.

Career

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. He scored twice on his Tottenham debut in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool at White Hart Lane in September 1952. But only made 4 appearances for the 'Lilywhites'. Playing as an inside forward, his regular goalscoring for Orient soon attracted the attention of

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

, 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 12 November 1955, in a 2-1 First Division win (

Don Roper Donald George Beaumont Roper (14 December 1922 – 8 June 2001) was an English footballer. Playing career Born in Botley, Hampshire, Roper was a prolific scorer as a schoolboy. He was spotted playing parks football by Toby Keleher, assistant m ...

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 The London XI was a football team that represented the city of London in the 1955–58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The competition began in 1955, and the first tournament took three years to complete. The entrants were the major football team of ...

that played (and lost to) Barcelona in the first

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, sometimes referred to as the European Fairs Cup, Fairs Cities' Cup, or simply as the Fairs Cup, was a European Association football, football competition played between 1955 and 1971. It is often considered the predecess ...

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. Whilst a player, Groves ran a garage, just off Blackstock Road, close to the Arsenal ground. After retiring from playing Groves left the game completely, running a pub and working in insurance. His great nephew,

Perry Groves Perry Groves (born 19 April 1965) is an English former association football, footballer, known chiefly for his time at Arsenal F.C., Arsenal. He was a fast-paced player who usually played as a Midfielder#Winger, winger, and occasionally as a Stri ...

, played for Arsenal in the 1980s and 1990s, helping them win two league titles and a

Football League Cup The EFL Cup (referred to historically, and colloquially, as the League Cup), currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout competition and major trophy in men's domestic football in England. Organised by the ...

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Groves, Vic 1932 births 2015 deaths English footballers England under-23 international footballers Association football midfielders Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players Walthamstow Avenue F.C. players Leyton Orient F.C. players Arsenal F.C. players Footballers from Stepney London XI players English Football League players Canterbury City F.C. players Leytonstone F.C. players