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The Guardian. Welcome to the Guardian Long Read, showcasing the best long-form journalism

covering culture, politics and new thinking. For the text version of this and all our

long reads, go to thegardian.com forward slash long read.

The Silicon Valley of Turf. How the UK's pursuit of the perfect pitch changed football.

They used to look like quagmias, ice rinks or dust bowls depending on the time of year.

But as big money entered football, pristine pitches became crucial to the sport's image.

And groundskeepers became stars. By William Rolston.

Red by Ben Norris. And produced by Esther Apokou-Geni.

It was a big moment for English football talent when Ray Armadrid poached Paul Burgess

from Arsenal in 2009. After starting his career at Blackpool FC, Burgess had arrived at the North

London club in 1999, rising to prominence at the age of just 21. He excelled on the European

stage during Arsenal's Champions League campaigns in the early 2000s and Sean at Euro 2004 in Portugal.

Four years later, he put in another commanding performance at the European Championships.

Not long after that, Ray Armadrid, the most prestigious club in World Football, made their

...