England’s senior team to qualify for all leading competitions, reaching the semi-finals at least by 2012

This is the first target set by the FA for Fabio Capello. But the England manager has no doubt that it is achievable and says that the present squad is good enough to fulfil the FA’s ambitions — starting early with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

New performance director to be appointed

Potentially the most controversial of the FA’s proposals as it identified the need for an executive to trawl the world to discover the best ideas from not just football, but all sports. The problem is that it wants the new post to go to an Englishman already in football. Capello’s appointment proved that this could be tricky.

National Football Centre to be operating by 2010

After years of wrangling, the FA is set to give the green light to reopen the mothballed centre in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. It will become the training headquarters for the England team as well as a centre of excellence for young players and coaches.

Respect campaign to improve behaviour on the pitch by 25 per cent

Seems a conservative target, but the drive to rid football of violence and aggression on the pitch has been given trials only at county level. Talks with the professional game start in the next few weeks and Respect should be introduced fully next season.

One million youngsters aged 5 to 11 trained through skills programme by 2010, with 8,000 new referees recruited and 20,500 new teams created by 2012

Grass roots is the mantra running through the FA Vision document, which looks beyond the present problems towards establishing a strong structure to produce more young players capable of competing for places in teams in the Premier League.