By Peter Glynn

David Sheepshanks believes St.George’s Park and Wembley Stadium have given England the stage to produce winning teams.

Speaking at the official launch of the new national football centre, the St.George’s Park Chairman stressed that England teams will enter the international arena better prepared than ever before.

He said: “We have a world class stage at Wembley Stadium and a world class training centre at St.George’s Park and we hope it will be a world class combination for a winning England.

“We will enter the international arena with the benefit of permanent structured support."

Sheepshanks was speaking at the grand opening of the new complex where Roy Hodgson’s England team had earlier trained ahead of their Euro 2014 qualifier against San Marino on Friday.

The great and good from the sporting and media world descended onto the 330-acre Staffordshire site to get a glimpse of the action as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially opened the complex.

And although it is the new home for elite football, Sheepshanks was quick to stress that the centre is a platform for the grassroots game and a home for coaching.

He added: “It is every bit relevant to the grassroots and community football as it is to the elite.

“While we hope for quicker returns, St.George’s Park is an investment for the long term, the benefits cannot be seen for a decade or so.”