It could end up – ironically – being 66 years of hurt, but David Sheepshanks is confident that English football fans’ pain will eventually end.
The former Ipswich Town, Football Association and Football League chairman has the unenviable task of revolutionising the grassroots game via the long-awaited St George’s Park project.
It was there, at the new multi-million pound National Football Centre, that he watched Roy Hodgson’s side suffer their 2-1 World Cup defeat to Uruguay on Thursday night – a result which leaves their participation in the tournament hanging by a thread.
By the time the 2016 European Championships come around it will be 50 years since Sir Alf Ramsey led the Three Lions to 1966 glory. And Sheepshanks makes no apologies that his long-term vision could take up to 16 years before bearing fruit.
“Like everybody else, I am terribly, terribly disappointed,” said Sheepshanks. “As I said to everyone else straight after the game though, it’s the bigger picture which matters.
“Long-term planning is not sexy and I know it’s not what England fans want to hear right now, but that’s the way it’s got to be. St George’s Park is about making sure that in eight, 10, 12, 14, even 16 years times we have a much bigger pool of English qualified players at the very top of the game.
“The way we do that, in my view, is focus and invest in coach education. We have got many good managers and coaches, likewise players, but not enough of them are forcing their way to the top.
“We need to have age specific coaches encouraging young players to take responsibility for their own careers and development progress.
“For too long we have recruited for skill alone. Big business leaders will tell you that it is not just talent, but also about personality, attitude and other attributes that make a valuable employee. It should be the same in sport.”
He added: “There are other aspects of what Greg Dyke (FA chairman) and his commission are looking at – non-European work permits, foreign player quotas and the like – and that could all be helpful and important. But, for me, the biggest thing will be investing in coach education.
“Investing in coach educators means we will have a new generation of enlightened coaches who understand how young people learn. Instead of just telling young players what to do, we need to encourage them to become leaders, make decisions for themselves and impose their own personalities on the game.
“Luis Suarez is an unbelievably gifted player, but he also stamps his personality on football matches. We need more of that in English football.
“As disappointed as we all are now, things are changing in English football and I am confident it will make a difference in the long-term.”
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