For most viewers of a football match, the pitch is merely a blank canvas awaiting its art. But before the artistry must come the science. These days it takes more than a pitchfork and a mower to get the game’s top turfs up to standard.

In this episode, Alexis James speaks to two of the best grounds managers in the business to discover how today’s ground staff have transformed from crabby greenfingers into techie agronomists.

Tony Stones was once in charge of the turf at Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium, before being tasked with overseeing new Wembley’s troublesome turf. After working his magic at the home of English football, he was asked to do the same in Paris. As head groundsman at the Stade de France, Tony has a few tales to tell about his time working with Didier Deschamps’ World Champions.

John Ledwidge is head of sports turf and grounds at Leicester City, where their state-of-the-art training ground is home to the world’s first Sports Turf Academy. John discusses some of the turf techniques revolutionising the industry, which might just make you think again about the perception of British grounds staff.