John Groves
John Groves Date of Birth: Sep 16, 1933 Share "John Groves" on FacebookSon of pre-war Derby star Arthur who played alongside Luton manager Dally Duncan at the Baseball Ground, it was pre-ordained that young John should sign on for the Hatters just before his 16th birthday.
After National Service, John made his Luton debut as an inside-forward before reverting to his favoured wing-half position and going on make over 250 appearances with the highlight of his Hatters career coming in the 1959 FA Cup final.
A move to Bournemouth followed in 1963 but after two seasons he had to retire due to a back injury. He then settled back in his native Derby where he worked for Courtaulds for 30 years. John was still an occasional visitor to Kenilworth Road until the time of his death in 2017.
Appearances
- League
- 218
- Non-League
- 0
- FAC
- 16
- League Cup
- 6
- Other
- 11
- Total
- 251
Goals
- League
- 16
- Non-League
- 0
- FAC
- 0
- League Cup
- 0
- Other
- 3
- Total
- 19
Related Items
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John Groves -
John Groves climbs all over Billy McKinley - Luton Town FC vs Nottingham Forest (2nd May 1959)
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John Groves wins a header in a crowded penalty area - Luton Town FC vs Chelsea (5th Apr 1958)
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The ball sails across the Spurs penalty area but John Groves misses it - Luton Town FC vs Tottenham Hotspur (22nd Mar 1958)
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Ted Ditchburn thwarts another Town attack with Gordon Turner and John Groves left frustrated - Luton Town FC vs Tottenham Hotspur (22nd Mar 1958)
- Gordon Turner
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Ted Ditchburn and Maurice Norman combine to clear the ball away from John Groves - Luton Town FC vs Tottenham Hotspur (22nd Mar 1958)
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John Groves and Brian Miller compete for a high ball - Luton Town FC vs Burnley (16th Mar 1957)
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John Groves shot beats Ted Ditchburn but it goes wide of the goal - Luton Town FC vs Tottenham Hotspur (22nd Mar 1958)
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Bert Trautmann picks the up in front of John Groves - Luton Town FC vs Manchester City (8th Mar 1958)
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John Groves looks to find Gordon Turner as he flicks the ball on with his head - Luton Town FC vs Preston North End (22nd Feb 1958)
- Gordon Turner
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Vic Crowe clears the ball for Villa and all John Groves and Gordon Turner can do is take a watching breif - Luton Town FC vs Aston Villa (18th Jan 1958)
- Gordon Turner
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John Groves gets his head to the ball - Luton Town FC vs Manchester United (26th Dec 1957)
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John Groves, Gordon Turner and Allan Brown look on as Eric Bell heads the ball clear for Bolton - Luton Town FC vs Bolton Wanderers (24th Aug 1957)
- Gordon Turner
- Allan Brown
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John Groves chases the ball but it sails harmlessly through to Bill Robertson - Luton Town FC vs Chelsea (30th Mar 1957)
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John Groves leaps to send a header across the penalty area. Tommy Docherty stands and stares - Luton Town FC vs Preston North End (22nd Feb 1958)
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John Groves lifts the ball high towards the goal - Luton Town FC vs West Ham United (6th Sep 1958)
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John Groves gets his head to the ball - Luton Town FC vs Preston North End (19th Aug 1961)
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John Groves goes in where it hurts - Luton Town FC vs Derby County (4th Mar 1961)
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John Groves heads for goal - Luton Town FC vs West Ham United (23rd Apr 1960)
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John Groves watches as Leicester keeper Gordon Banks falls on the ball - Luton Town FC vs Leicester City (27th Feb 1960)
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Skipper for the day John Groves greets his Blackpool counterpart Hugh Kelly - Luton Town FC vs Blackpool (26th Aug 1959)
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Graham Stanley heads the ball clear for Bolton with Billy Bingham and John Groves in close attendance - Luton Town FC vs Bolton Wanderers (13th Sep 1958)
- Billy Bingham
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John Groves and Allan Brown watch the ball drift wide of the post - Luton Town FC vs West Ham United (6th Sep 1958)
- Allan Brown
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John Groves and Jack Charlton compete for a high ball. Allan Brown also leaps off the ground - Luton Town FC vs Leeds United (3rd Sep 1958)
- Allan Brown
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John Groves directs a header towards the goal - Luton Town FC vs Portsmouth (19th Apr 1958)
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Stuart Williams looks to clear the ball for Albion as John Groves closes in - Luton Town FC vs West Bromwich Albion (23rd Aug 1958)
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John Groves and Terry Kelly are the furthest men forward for the Town - Luton Town FC vs Portsmouth (19th Apr 1958)
- Terry Kelly
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John Groves challenges for the ball - Luton Town FC vs Charlton Athletic (10th Feb 1962)
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John Groves beats Les Shannon to a header - Luton Town FC vs Burnley (16th Mar 1957)
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John Groves gets his head on the ball - Luton Town FC vs Sunderland (8th Feb 1958)
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John Groves scores Town`s second goal - Luton Town FC vs Newcastle United (16th Feb 1957)
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John Groves rises high to head the ball into the net and put Town 1-0 up - Luton Town FC vs Arsenal (8th Dec 1956)
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John Groves looks on as Burnley keeper Colin McDonald tips a shot on goal around the post - Luton Town FC vs Burnley (28th Apr 1956)
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John Groves beats Bob Seith to the ball put his header was off target - Luton Town FC vs Burnley (28th Apr 1956)
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Dave Ewing heads the ball away from John Groves - Luton Town FC vs Manchester City (21st Apr 1956)
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John Groves heads the ball across the goal - Luton Town FC vs Manchester United (11th Feb 1956)
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John Groves chases a through ball - Luton Town FC vs Manchester United (11th Feb 1956)
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John Groves makes life difficult for The Hammers defence - Luton Town FC vs West Ham United (9th Apr 1955)
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Hammers keeper George Taylor punches the ball clear from John Groves - Luton Town FC vs West Ham United (9th Apr 1955)
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John Groves searching for the ball - Luton Town FC vs Fulham (12th Mar 1955)
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John Groves closes in as Fulham keeper Ian Black gathers the ball - Luton Town FC vs Fulham (12th Mar 1955)
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John Groves rises highest to head in Town`s first goal - Luton Town FC vs Rotherham United (12th Feb 1955)
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John Groves watches the ball - Luton Town FC vs Nottingham Forest (21st Aug 1954)
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The Forest keeper tries a one handed catch watched by John Groves - Luton Town FC vs Nottingham Forest (21st Aug 1954)
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John Groves rises highest to head in Town`s first goal - Luton Town FC vs Sunderland (8th Feb 1958)
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John Groves wins a header in the Portsmouth penalty area - Luton Town FC vs Portsmouth (19th Apr 1958)
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John Groves gets stuck in to try and win the ball - Luton Town FC vs Preston North End (10th Nov 1956)
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John Groves follows the progress of the ball - Luton Town FC vs Preston North End (10th Nov 1956)
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John Groves scores Town`s fourth goal - Luton Town FC vs Sunderland (18th Aug 1956)
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John Groves soars above Malcolm Allison but the ball is too high - Luton Town FC vs West Ham United (9th Apr 1955)
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John Groves charges in as George Taylor has the ball under control - Luton Town FC vs West Ham United (9th Apr 1955)
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John Groves watches the ball after Eric Kerfoot`s high clearance - Luton Town FC vs Leeds United (8th Apr 1955)
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John Groves sends a header towards goal but no joy - Luton Town FC vs Leeds United (8th Apr 1955)
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John Groves ducks as Roy Wood snatches at the ball - Luton Town FC vs Leeds United (8th Apr 1955)
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John Groves watches Gordon Turner`s shot head towards the net for Town`s second goal - Luton Town FC vs Rotherham United (12th Feb 1955)
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John Groves finds Arthur Willis blocking his progress - Luton Town FC vs Swansea Town (30th Oct 1954)
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Gordon Turner, John Groves and Jimmy Adam watch as the ball drifts harmlessly wide - Luton Town FC vs Swansea Town (30th Oct 1954)
- Gordon Turner
- Jimmy Adam
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John Groves looks on as Harry Walker gathers the ball - Luton Town FC vs Nottingham Forest (21st Aug 1954)
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John Groves shakes hands with his Blackpool counterpart Hugh Kelly - Luton Town FC vs Blackpool (26th Aug 1959)
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John Groves blocks Johnny Brooks of Spurs - Tottenham Hotspur vs Luton Town FC (4th Apr 1959)
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Ray Charnley sends a header towards goal despite the challenge of John Groves - Blackpool vs Luton Town FC (28th Feb 1959)
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Forest keeper Harry Walker parries this effort by John Goves - Luton Town FC vs Nottingham Forest (21st Aug 1954)
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1959 FA Cup Runners-Up Medals - Bob Morton
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1959 John Groves' FA Cup Final Shirt -
And On Luton Article - Billy Bingham
- Syd Owen
- Bob Morton
- George Cummins
- Gordon Turner
- Ron Baynham
- David Pacey
- Ken Hawkes
- Allan Brown
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John Groves Attends Centenary Celebration Night 1985 -
John Groves Memory Man Programme Article 1973 -
Scandinavian mag 1959 - Bob Morton
- Allan Brown
- Syd Owen
- George Cummins
- Billy Bingham
- Ken Hawkes
- David Pacey
- Ron Baynham
- Brendan McNally
- Tony Gregory
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John Groves Where Are They Now -
John Groves Photo -
L to R Davies Turner Morton Groves Cullen 1956 - Roy Davies
- Gordon Turner
- Bob Morton
- Mick Cullen
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John Groves, a Hatter and a Cherry - 95-96 programme feature -
John Groves 1958 -
Groves Pacey and Shanks Golfing 1960 - David Pacey
- Wally Shanks
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Training 1959 - Syd Owen
- Allan Brown
- Jimmy Adam
- Ron Baynham