| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick William Groves | ||
| Date of birth | 20 August 1868 | ||
| Place of birth | Hutchesontown, Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 13 February 1908 (aged 39) | ||
| Place of death | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1885–1888 | Hibernian[note 1] | 0 | (0) |
| 1888–1890 | Celtic[note 1] | 0 | (0) |
| 1890–1893 | West Bromwich Albion[1] | 58 | (7) |
| 1893–1894 | Aston Villa | 22 | (4) |
| 1895–1896 | Hibernian | 5 | (1) |
| 1896 | Celtic | ||
| Total | 85 | (12) | |
| International career | |||
| 1888–1890 | Scotland | 3 | (4) |
| 1892 | Football League XI[2] | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Patrick William Groves (20 August 1868 – 13 February 1908)[3] 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 (£10,631 in 2023, 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 to £500.
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