Groves joined hometown club Southport from Blowick in December 1968 and went on to play for Chester, transferring for a £3,000 fee in 1971 to Shrewsbury Town.
[1] In October 1972 he was sold for £40,000 to AFC Bournemouth,[1] for whom he played a year before beginning a long spell with Oldham Athletic in February 1974.
After his first three games he was convinced that he made the best move of his football career, commenting: "Two away wins in three weeks, it's unbelievable.
This led to a prosecution by local education authorities who insisted her birthday came too late for her to finish studies, for she quit school immediately after the wedding to keep house for Alan.
[2] A reputedly very fit player who had had no problems during training, he was taken ill at home in Royton but despite attempts to resuscitate him he was dead on arrival at Oldham Royal Infirmary.