The Thistle Archive

Feelings ran high at Fir Park on 29 October 1932 in the game between Partick Thistle and Motherwell. Thistle right-half Bobby Grove was tackled by his opponent hurt, and fell to the ground. As Bobby received treatment from the doctor, unkind comments were shouted from the Motherwell supporters. Concerned team-mate John Torbet was incensed; picking up the ball he volleyed it towards those making the heartless comments. Unsurprisingly this didn't calm the situation, tempers were raised and the police were called to calm things down, but Torbet's worries were justified when Bobby Grove was carried from the pitch with a compound fracture of his right leg above the ankle.

Bobby Grove joined Partick Thistle from his local junior side Shettleston in November 1922 as a big, strong inside forward, capable of playing either on the right or the left of the forward line, but was unable to earn a first team jersey due to the sparkling form of Johnny Ballantyne and Jimmy Kinloch. Bobby spent his first season as a professional footballer learning his trade in the reserve team. 1923-24 season saw Bobby get his chance in the first team due to an unfortunate injury to Kinloch. He grabbed it and helped Thistle to the top half of the League table by the end of the season, scoring seven goals.

The following season, with Ballantyne having emigrated to America, Bobby became first choice inside-left. He combined well with Willie Salisbury on his left, with Davie Ness and Kinloch on his right, and was well liked by players and fans alike for his hard work. His height, too, was an advantage and he was always dangerous when attacking - late runs into the box being his speciality. As well as his hard work and strength, Bobby was known for his skill, bamboozling defenders with feints and shimmys as he ran with the ball at his feet, and he delighted in tricking his opponents with unexpected backheels.

Bobby's club form won recognition from the Glasgow FA, and he was chosen to represent the city in a game against Sheffield in September 1926. He and Davie Ness combined well on the right, and helped Glasgow to a 2-0 win. Bobby's understanding with, and service to, Sandy Hair helped the centre-forward to an extraordinary goals tally of 49 for the season in 1926-27. Perhaps the pair combined to the best effect in the Charity Cup Final against Rangers in May 1927. Bobby scored one and set Hair up with two of his five goals as Thistle triumphed 6-3 at Hampden.

Consistency had been an important part of Bobby's game, and he had been invaluable across the forward line since his debut, so he was a big miss for the team when he suffered an injury in September 1928. An inflamed toe kept Bobby out of the side for most of the 1928-29 season. When he regained fitness he returned to a side that now included a returned-from-America Ballantyne and Willie 'Golden' Miller competing for the inside-forward jerseys. For the next few years Bobby had to be content with playing the part of a squad player, filling in when Ballantyne and Miller were unavailable, and also dropping back to good effect to play at right-half when Alex Elliot was injured. His strength was useful, but it was his passing that often caught the eye. His experience of playing as a forward meant he know the value of passing along the ground, and Torbet, and Ness especially, got the benefit of inch perfect passes as Bobby took every opportunity to spread the play around he pitch.

Despite the fact that the leg break that Bobby suffered at Motherwell was a bad one, he retained hope that he would be able to resume his career again. Unfortunately that was not to be, and Bobby was finally forced to accept the end of his playing career during the summer of 1934. Motherwell generously offered to play in a benefit match to raise funds for Bobby, and ungenerously won the game 5-0, but the score was unimportant. It was a sad end to a distinguished career. Bobby Grove remained involved in football, scouting for Partick Thistle, before retiring from the game.

1924 - STIRLING CHARITY CUP

1926 - STIRLING CHARITY CUP

1927 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP

1927 - STIRLING CHARITY CUP

1930 - SCOTTISH CUP

1932 - GLASGOW CUP