Paul Groves

Groves for Grimsby!

Paul Groves has been a loyal player to the club over the past decade or so and has had two decent spells at the club. Groves also managed the Mariners.

A young Paul Groves started of playing non-league football for Burton Albion at the start of the 1987/1988 season. After just under a year at Burton, Groves moved to Leicester City for £12,00.

Groves was used as a back-up player at Filbert Street. Groves made only a handful of apperances for The Foxes and also spent a few months on loan at Lincoln City in 1989.

In January 1990, Blackpool signed Groves for £6000. He was thrown straight in at the deep end and had to adjust quickly to life on the North West Coast. Paul spent two seasons playing for Blackpool before he was signed by Grimsby Town for £150,000.

Groves went onto tho feature heavily in manager Alan Buckley's side. Groves

Groves for Grimsby at Wembley!

was favoured in central midfield, but however sometimes was reverted to centre back. Paul was never shot shy and finished the clubs top scorer in a couple of seasons.

Groves stayed with The Mariners until the end of the 1995/1996 season, when he was lured away to West Bromwich Albion by Buckley, who had been sacked as Town boss. Groves joined Albion for £600,000

Groves spent the 96/97 season at West Brom, however with Mr Buckley departing at the end of the season to take over back at Grimsby, Paul re-joined The Mariners after 13 months at West Brom signing on for £250,000.

Paul for Grimsby!

Groves took over his role as skipper and captained The Mariners in the historic season of 97/98. Paul remained at Blundell Park the following season and established himself as the club captain for the next 3 and a half years.

Following the sacking of Lennie Lawrence midway through the 2001/2002 season,Paul was given shock command of the team on a caretaker manager basis. A few days later Groves was appointed Player/Manager to the shock of the Town faithful.

If they loved him before, they would certainly love him now. Groves kept The Mariners up and making inspirational last ditch signings sutch as Terry Cooke,Andy Todd and Martin Pringle, Groves pulled of another great escape for The Mariners.

The topsy turvy 2002/2003 season saw The Mariners dip in form towards the end. With Grimsby sitting above the relegation places filled by Sheffield Wednesday,Brighton and Stoke City for the majority of the season, Town dropped into bad form and not even the thrust and the support of the fans could save them from finishing bottom of the league.

Despite shaping a decent looking Town side the following season, The Mariners began to struggle hovering just under mid table. After the 6-0 hammering away at Oldham Athletic, Groves was sacked as manager, but in a shock move he was kept on as a player.

Groves The Gaffer!

Chairman Peter Furneaux told Groves he could leave the club, and he did on loan at first spending 3 weeks with local rivals Scunthorpe United. He was then released signing till the end of the season at Glanford Park.

Despite not doing too bad as a player, another former Town boss, Brian Laws released him from Scunthorpe, and he linked up with Conference side York City for the new season.

Paul for York!

Groves joined fellow ex-Mariners Lee Nogan,Kevin Donovan and later on Paul Robinson at Bootham Crescent. Paul now 38 years old has made no signs that he wants to return to managment after his 2 and a half year stint as Mariners boss.