IZZY GROVES is the daughter of the Jamaican Kaiser who is out to earn Presidential honours.
Athlone Town midfielder Groves will make her first appearance for the Midlanders in today’s President’s Cup clash against Shelbourne.
Boasting an impressive footballing CV and pedigree, the 25-year-old is new gaffer Colin Fortune’s top winter signing.
And football runs in the Jamaica playmaker’s family.
Her brother Matthew played professionally in Italy, England, Portugal, Serbia and Malta, while father Hubert ‘Junior’ Groves is a legend of the game in Jamaica.
The Toronto-born playmaker told SunSport: “I had a very professional background.
“My dad Junior Groves was a professional footballer and player of the year in Jamaica.
“He was known as the Jamaican Beckenbauer and played for the national team.
“My brother also played pro. So, growing up, I’d see football often and it was something I desired.
“I am the youngest out of three, so my brothers were playing from an early age and my sister started late.
“There was always a ball present in the house but I didn’t take it seriously until I was about 12.”
Like her father, Groves is an international and finally broke into The Reggae Girlz’s side in November 2023.
She attended college in the United States but wanted to go professional in Europe and joined Portuguese side Vilaverdense in 2020.
From there it was to France, where she signed for US St Malo in 2022 before joining London City Lionesses the following year.
At the Lionesses, Groves played alongside Ireland star Ruesha Littlejohn — and did not hesitate when the chance came to move to these shores.
She said: “It was just the opportunity that came about, I got to learn about Athlone and their background.
“And coming off such an amazing season, I was excited to be part of a journey that was new to us.
“I played with quite a few of the Irish national team players in the past, so I got a background in the team before coming here.
“I didn’t know anyone but I was able to talk to the girls from last season.”
‘NOT A BIG CHANGE’
Her first impression of Ireland is that the scenery is very different to what she is used to growing up in Canada or in her father’s Caribbean homeland.
She said: “The country is very green and it rains quite a bit but I’m not new to that.
“I was with London City Lionesses for more than a year, so I’m used to that grey and rain. It’s not a big change.”
Athlone boss Fortune, meanwhile, believes that Groves’ arrival in Ireland could be a game changer for his side, which is aiming to build on last season’s title win.
The Uefa-qualified coach said: “She’s our captain and she’s an outstanding player.
“London are a big club and we know we’ve got an important addition in her.
“We have girls who are local, from Europe, from America, and it is about gelling them together and making a team and a squad.”
The former Athlone Town and Galway midfielder is confident his reigning Premier Division champions will be the team to beat this season.
The Midlanders were managed by Ciarán Kilduff — who is now supremo at Dundalk — when they secured their title last October.
And Fortune said: “I’m around football a long time, and was just slagging Ciarán Kilduff about how he’s put me under pressure.
“What is successful now? Winning the Double?
“We know we’re the team to beat as champions, and we’ve got a good squad.
“I knew a lot of the girls from working in Athlone IT so when the opportunity to coach them came about, I grasped it.
“To be fair to the people before me, the foundations are there.
“The club has built up well with the underage teams, and then going senior five years ago and building from that.
“I’ve watched it as a supporter.
“I’m an Athlone Town man and it was wonderful to see the team winning the cup in 2023 and the league last year.
“But winning those brings expectations, and wanting to compete again.”
