The Daily Telegraph reported this week, via one of those “exclusive interviews”, that FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick's first act on moving into the FA chief executive's office at Soho Square was to hang on his office wall a picture – of that memorable 1966 image of Bobby Moore lifting the World Cup.

In the interview, Barwick said: "There were all sorts of different photographs im here and I took them down, and put that up. This organisation should never hide from its past. I wanted a photograph of England's finest moment, one that I watched sitting in an armchair next to my father.

Well – is this grand gesture, a threat, or a promise? Down the years since 1966 – while the beaten opponents West Germany (now of course the united Germany) have won more finals and trophies than anyone wishes to remember – that token victory has remained a “promise” given by successive England managers and FA chief executives.

But, it’s worked more like a threat, to them and the teams chosen to deliver the precious goods.

So – will the picture work? Could other sports leaders learn from this example?

ISPAL members might help us draw up a list of similar motivational images for the leaders of other sports. To make sure perhaps, they don’t “hide from the past”. To help them turn threats into delivered promises.

For UK Athletics – Coe, Cram, Ovett, Thompson? Hockey, mens’ team triumphs in Los Angeles, or Seoul? Boxing – Cooper v Clay? Maybe, with tongue firmly in cheek, archery – old sepia pic of English archers at Agincourt??