HARRY WOOD and his Shelbourne pals have done pre-season altitude training to ensure they are ready to conquer their Everest again.
Wood scored the title-winning goal last season against Derry City as Shels planted their flag at the Premier Division summit.
And Damien Duff has had a novel way of preparing his players for staying in rarefied air at the top again in 2025.
Wood revealed: “We did an altitude chamber this year, which was really tough. We all enjoyed it.
“It’s where the air decreases by 30 per cent and it’s 30 degrees, and we were doing some running, rowing and skiing. It was good and something different.
“Whatever you do there and how much effort you put into it, you’ll see next week as you will be fitter and stronger.
“I think it is to do with mountains. People who climb Mount Everest do altitude training as you decrease your oxygen levels.
“It becomes easier when you run outside because you have got 20 per cent more oxygen.
“We all finished it and we’ve all come in pretty fit.”
It means Wood and Co are ready for the start of the season, with the President’s Cup against Drogheda United next week and a rematch with Derry in the league on February 14.
As defending champions, there is a target on Shels’ back.
But Wood — who arrived in mid-season having also been at the club for the second half of 2023 — thinks nothing changes.
The attacker added: “I don’t think it’s any different to last year.
“We know that the competition is going to be there and we know there is no easy game.
“We know we’re good enough to compete with anyone in this league if we bring our A-game every week, which we’ll try.
“Hopefully we get the end result. The main target is to win every competition that you’re involved in.
“We’ve got Champions League qualifiers this year too which is exciting for the club. We’re probably more motivated than last year.
“We know that we’ve got a target on our heads because we are the champions.
“Everyone is going to come to Tolka Park and want to beat us every week. We know we have to be on it 100 per cent.
“We can’t be playing at 85 per cent because people will want to come and beat us. We obviously want to retain it.
“It’s all well and good winning it once but we want to keep it.”
But the 22-year-old admitted that what he has noticed as having changed since last season is the reaction of people around him after his title-clinching goal against Derry.
Born and bred in Leeds, Wood knew very little about the League of Ireland and Shelbourne when he first joined on loan from Hull City in 2023.
But even having got to grips with the league then, and when he returned permanently last year, he was bowled over by the reaction to Shelbourne’s title win.
Wood explained: “I didn’t realise how much of an effect it would have on people around the club.
“The amount of people that have stopped me to say, ‘Oh, your goal’.
“Even neutral fans would stop me and tell me they were watching the game.
“It was an unbelievable moment, you couldn’t write it.
“I remember sitting at home the week after and watching it back with my mum and I was like I still can’t believe it actually happened.
“I think with the kit man Johnny Watson . . . he’s been there I don’t know how many years and works so hard behind the scenes.
“He is one of many who work so hard behind the scenes. I remember seeing his face when we won the league.
“He came up to me and said he’s been waiting 18 years for that moment.
“He came up to me the other week and asked for my boots. I’m still wearing the boots I scored the goal in.
“He was trying to rob my boots to put in the kit room!”
Watson will get the boots eventually.
But not yet, as Wood admits the footwear he slotted home with in Derry after Seán Boyd’s free-kick was saved will be worn until they fall apart.
He continued: “They’re my lucky boots. I think I will eventually have to replace them because they’re ripping a bit but I’m trying to keep them as long as possible.
“I scored on my debut for Grimsby in them as well. It’s a superstition but I will eventually give them to Johnny.”
But those lucky boots are needed in the meantime as Wood looks to give Watson and other Shelbourne fans more big days.
He added: “People have said to me, you change people’s lives. It’s their livelihood, they spend money to watch us.
“So the best we can do is put on a performance and try to win as many trophies as we can.”
Wood was promoting the launch of Virgin Media’s coverage of the League of Ireland as the broadcaster confirmed the opening five games to be shown.
The Reds’ opener against Derry will be shown on Valentine’s Day before the Dublin derby between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva two days later.
Galway United’s clash with St Patrick’s Athletic will be aired on February 21 with Shelbourne’s meeting with Shamrock Rovers being broadcast a week later.
And the first Monday night broadcast of the season will be on March 3 when Waterford host Cork City in the Munster derby.
