Willie Groves

Patrick William Groves (20 August 1868 – 13 February 1908) was a Scottish footballer who played as a forward for Hibernian, Celtic, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Scotland. He is known for being the first player to be transferred for more than £100 (£10,902.30 in 2025), or roughly half the average price of a house at the time, becoming the first official record holder for the most expensive transfer ever. The record-setting transfer was from West Bromwich Albion F.C. to Aston Villa F.C. in 1893 for exactly £100. Three years later, in 1896, Groves' record was broken when Fred Wheldon was transferred to Aston Villa F.C. from Small Heath Alliance (now Birmingham City F.C.) for between £350 and £500.

Career

Hibernian Groves, an inside forward, first broke into the Hibernian squad as a 16-year-old during the 1885–86 season.

In the following year, Groves made his international debut, in an 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 1888–89 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. He helped Albion win the 1892 FA Cup Final, playing at half-back as Aston Villa were defeated 3–0.

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 (around £16,000 in today's values) to West Brom and were fined by the Football Association amidst allegations that Groves and Jack Reynolds had been illegally poached. 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.