Groves, an attacking midfielder, spent his relatively short stint at City as a squad player, being moved out on loan to Lincoln City as he failed to make an impact before securing a permanent move away from Filbert Street to Blackpool after making just seven league starts for the Foxes.

After playing for Belper Town and Burton Albion, Groves got his shot at higher-level football with City when David Pleat signed him in April 1988. He made a bright enough start, becoming the first City substitute to score on his debut when he netted against Huddersfield Town.

But his performances couldn't get him regular action in his first full season at the club, instead going on loan to Sincil Bank before Blackpool took a punt on him permanently. It was with Grimsby Town where he really flourished, however, and made such an impression on Town boss Alan Buckley that he followed him to West Brom before returning to Grimsby as a player-coach.

He was loaned out to Scunthorpe United before signing a permanent deal with York City and finishing his playing days at Stafford Rangers, where he was also assistant manager.