Paul Groves (born 1966) is a former English footballer and currently Reserve team coach at Portsmouth F.C.

Grimsby Town player

Paul spent two separate spells as a player at Grimsby and was very consistent, regularly scoring goals from midfield, in addition to being a good tackler. Indeed he was top scorer in the 1992-93 season with 12 goals in 46 matches, 1995-6 with 10 goals in 46 matches and 1998-99 with 14 goals in 46 matches. He also played every league game in his first four season spell and in his first three seasons after returning from West Brom. Paul also spent several seasons as captain.

During this time Grimsby spent all but the 1997-98 season in the Second Tier of the football league, with only one season outside of it. This was the successful play-off promotion and Auto Windscreens Shield winning season, where Groves captained Grimsby to two Wembley wins in the space of three weeks. In addition to league success there were several cup runs where Grimsby beat Premier League opposition including West Ham, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Liverpool.

Paul first joined Grimsby from Blackpool for £150,000 in 1992, left to go to West Brom for £600,000 in 1996 but returned 13 months later for £250,000.

Grimsby Town Manager

Groves became player-manager of Grimsby in December 2001 with the club in danger of being relegated from the second tier of the Football League. With several good loan signings, including Andy Todd, he managed to steer the club to safety. The 2002-03 season was not as successful and the club got relegated and a poor 2003-04 season saw Groves sacked as manager in February 2004, but remarkably kept on as a player.

This spell as manager, as well as his eventual transfer to rivals Scunthorpe and perceived lack of charisma, has tarnished his reputation with Grimsby Town fans and he is not as highly regarded as someone with his playing and goal scoring record would have been.

Honours

Grimsby Town

• Grimsby Town Supporters Player of the Year: 1996,1999
• Auto Windscreens Shield winner: 1998
• Second Division playoff winner: 1998

Leicester Masters

• Central Masters Player of the Tournament: 2005
• Masters Cup winner: 2005

External links

• electronicfishcake.com Player Profile
• Masters Cup 2005 results

1966 births | Living people | English footballers | Grimsby Town F.C. players | Grimsby Town F.C. managers | West Bromwich Albion F.C. players | York City F.C. players | Lincoln City F.C. players | Scunthorpe United F.C. players | Leicester City F.C. players | Blackpool F.C. players