Matthew Groves (born 11 December 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays for Bristol Manor Farm.[1] He plays as a striker.Recently joined step 5 club Bitton AFC under manager Dan Langdon.

Matt Groves
Personal information
Full name Matthew Groves
Date of birth (1988-12-11) 11 December 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth Bristol, England
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Bristol Manor Farm
Youth career
2007 Bristol Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Bristol Rovers 1 (0)
2008Chippenham Town (loan) 3 (0)
2008Tiverton Town (loan) 7 (1)
2009Mangotsfield United (loan) 15 (2)
2009 Weston-super-Mare 3 (0)
2009–2010 Weymouth 24 (2)
2010 Yate Town 8 (2)
2010 Mangotsfield United 39 (11)
2013–2015 Gloucester City 55 (6)
2015–2017 Mangotsfield United 75 (11)
2017 Larkhall Athletic ? (?)
2017– Bristol Manor Farm ? (?)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 June 2017 (UTC)

Career

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Born in Bristol, Groves graduated through the Bristol Rovers centre of excellence, based at the Bristol Academy of Sport, and was awarded his first professional contract by Rovers in May 2007. His debut for the first team came on 1 December 2007, in a second-round FA Cup match against Rushden & Diamonds when he came on as a substitute for Andy Williams.[2]

In March 2008 Groves joined Chippenham Town on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season.[3] At the start of the following season he moved to Tiverton Town on loan.[4]

He made a third loan move in December 2008, this time to Mangotsfield United where he remained for three months, but after returning to his parent club he was released from his contract.[5] After his release he was signed by Weston-super-Mare to play for them in the Conference South, where he made one start and two substitute appearances.[6]

After a trial at another Conference South club, Weymouth, Groves signed a one-year deal in July 2009.[7] He left the financially troubled club in March 2010 when faced with the alternative of a 50% pay cut.[8] He had scored twice from 24 league games.[9] He ended the 2010–11 season with a brief stint at Yate Town, before re-joining their local rivals Mangotsfield United that summer.

References

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  1. ^ Groves Boost For Manor Farm‚ nonleague.pitchero.com, 9 October 2017
  2. ^ "Bristol Rovers 5–1 Rusden & D". BBC Sport. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
  3. ^ "Groves and Fraser loan news". Bristol Rovers official website. 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  4. ^ "Groves Joins Tiverton Town". Vital Football. 12 August 2008. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Trolls on Rovers' youngsters". bristolrovers.co.uk. Bristol Rovers Football Club. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Weston-super-Mare AFC – First Team". Weston-super-Mare Football Club. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  7. ^ Capel, Ky (29 July 2009). "Hale's double swoop". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  8. ^ Bish, Derek (8 March 2010). "Terras doomed as four stars leave club". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Weymouth". Blue Square South Guide. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  • Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack (2008). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2008–2009. London: Headline. p. 445. ISBN 978-0-7553-1820-9.
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