Goalkeeper bulks-up for 2015/16
James Shea has hit the weights this summer in an effort to become an even better goalkeeper next season.
Despite an encouraging first campaign with AFC Wimbledon, the 24-year-old is far from resting on his laurels with Joe McDonnell providing good back-up last season.
And Shea’s close season fitness programme has included a determined effort to bulk up his frame.
Speaking after returning from holiday, Shea told the official website: “I spoke to the manager, ‘Bayzo’ and Jason Moriarty all about it last season and I said that I wanted to be bigger. Jason tailored my programme over the summer to getting me stronger. As a goalkeeper, it is not as important that I do running and I have been doing a lot of weights.
“When people look at me they will say that I am not the biggest and I don’t want that. It is a very physical league that we are in and being stronger can only help me. It will help my kicking and also stop me getting injured. Last season I got a few niggles in my back at certain times. I have made it a priority to try and bulk up.”
Shea is determined to build on last season from a team and personal perspective, but he knows he has a battle on his hands to hold off the challenge of Joe McDonnell.
“I get on really well with ‘Macca’, but at the end of the day we both want to play,” added Shea. “He wants to get in front of me, but I want to hold onto the jersey. The only way I can do that is to keep working hard in training and playing well in games. If I don’t do that then I will get dropped.
“I cannot wait to get started again on Monday. The aim next season has to be for us to make the play-offs. We felt that we threw away too many points last season and we could have got a lot more. Some of the teams that were up there I think we were better than. It just didn’t happen for us, whatever the reason. We have to go again next season. The league is going to be harder again because a lot of teams have been spending money during the summer.”