Izzy Groves

Izzy Groves
Izzy Groves vs Lewes in November 2023
Personal information
Full name Israëla Alicia Groves
Date of birth (1999-06-07) 7 June 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 London City Lionesses
Number 10
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Roberts Wesleyan University 65 (15)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Vilaverdense 23 (3)
2022–2023 US Saint-Malo 23 (0)
2023– London City Lionesses 8 (0)
International career‡
2023– Jamaica 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 Jan 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 Jan 2024

Israëla Alicia "Izzy" Groves (born 7 June 1999) is a professional footballer who currently plays for Women's Championship club London City Lionesses. Born in Canada, she represents Jamaica at international level.

Club career

Groves grew up in Pickering, Ontario, Canada, a suburb of Toronto, as the daughter of Harbour View F.C. club-legend and Jamaican international Hubert 'Junior' Groves.[1][2] From 2016 to 2019 she played for the Roberts Wesleyan University Redhawks, graduating in 2020 with a degree in biology. She served as team captain in 2019, earned all-conference honors and helped the team reach the NCCAA D-1 Final 4.[3][4]

In 2020, she signed with Vilaverdense in the Portuguese Second Division. In her first season, during which she led the team in scoring, Vilaverdense went undefeated and earned promotion to the First Division. The team then finished 8th in 2021-22.[5][6]

For the 2022–23 season, Groves played for US Saint-Malo in the French second division.[7] She appeared in 23 matches for the club.[8]

On 2 September 2023, Groves signed with the London City Lionesses on a free transfer for the 2023–24 season.[9][10][11]

International career

Groves trained with the Jamaican national team in Florida in early 2023.[12][13] She received several call-ups to the squad during the year, but was prevented on the first two occasions by delays in obtaining a Jamaican passport, and on the third occasion in October 2023 by injury.[1][14][15] She finally was able to join the team in November 2023 for the W Gold Cup qualifiers, debuting against Panama on November 30, starting both games and assisting Jamaica's equalizer against Guatemala on 3 December 2023.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ a b "Congratulations to Israela "Izzy" Groves". Harbour View Football Club. Facebook. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  2. ^ "2019 Women's Soccer Roster - Israela Groves". Roberts Wesleyan University. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Alumni Spotlight: Izzy Groves". Roberts Wesleyan University. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  4. ^ "2019 NCCAA DI Women's Soccer Championship" (PDF). National Christian College Athletic Association. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Former Roberts Standout "Izzy" Groves Stars In Portugal". Roberts Wesleyan University. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  6. ^ Alves, Filipa. "Lank FC Vilaverdense: a época 2021/22 em três jogos". ComUM (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Israela "Izzy" GROVES est 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗘 !". US SAINT MALO. Facebook. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Izzy Groves - Performance Data". SoccerDonna. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  9. ^ "London City Lionesses reveal another key signing". Impetus Football. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  10. ^ "LONDON CITY LIONESSES SIGN MIDFIELDER GROVES". OneFootball. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  11. ^ "London City Lionesses complete the signing of 24-year-old midfielder Izzy Groves". London City Lionesses. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  12. ^ Allen, Ruddy. "Tough Task!". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  13. ^ "2019 W'Cup veterans Sweatman, Asher recalled as Gilbert finds makeshift squad for Gold Cup qualifiers". SportsMax TV. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Squad List". Jamaican Football Federation. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  15. ^ Scott, Livingston. "Gilbert expects tough battle" (2023-10-21). The Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Guatemala punch Prelims ticket with draw against Jamaica". CONCACAF. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Groves :: Israela Alicia Groves :: Jamaica CONCACAF Womens Gold Cup Qualifiers 2024". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 23 January 2024.