AS a first taste of Old Firm life, an introduction to the Glasgow goldfish bowl, it was all rather civilised. It will, of course, be different by the time the action gets underway for Clint Hill, though.
The 37-year-old is one of several new faces in Glasgow in recent weeks but he is not the most high-profile arrival of the summer. The fight for that particular accolade will be between an ally Hill has been reunited with and the leader of the opposition.
Having seen Brendan Rodgers at close hand during his first steps in management and then watched on as he lead Liverpool to within touching distance of the Premier League title, Hill knows what Scottish football can expect next season as the Northern Irishman settles into life at Celtic. In the blue corner, there will be his former QPR team-mate Joey Barton.
Read more: Clint Hill: Joey Barton will lead by example for Rangers this season
Both are big names and both have made headlines since their respective moves across the border. Only one will emerge as a Premiership winner but Hill reckons the game here will undoubtedly benefit.
“I saw him in the West End the other night, which was funny,” Hill said of his chance meeting with Rodgers in Glasgow.
“I was a bit like ‘what are people going to think if I am shaking his hand?’ I have got a lot of time for him. He was brilliant at Liverpool, which is my home team, and he is someone who seems approachable.
Read more: Mark Warburton set to limit loan deals after bolstering Rangers ranks this summer
“I have got a lot of time for that. He is very excited. That is the first thing he said to me, he said ‘I can’t wait’.
“It is intense and I think he is ready for it. It will raise Scottish football as well. Mark (Warburton) is a great manager as well so it is going to be a great clash with Hearts and Aberdeen as well.
“Everyone will raise their game a lot more this season because Rangers are back. The big players are coming and everyone wants to beat the big players and the big team.
“I think [people in England] will [take notice of Scottish football again], and the TV will as well. The Rangers v Celtic game is massive and that is the first thing that people look at.
“I can only see more players coming here and the players that are there already raising the standards. That can only be good for Scottish football.”
While Rodgers has taken his Celtic squad to Slovenia to prepare for their Champions League qualifiers and the defence of their Premiership title, Hill has made the trip to South Carolina as boss Warburton steps up his planning for the big kick-off.
He is one of a handful of new recruits at their Charleston base, with Matt Gilks, Matt Crooks, Josh Windass and Niko Kranjcar also part of the Gers’ travelling party.
It has been a tough start as Warburton has put his squad through their paces in the South Carolina heat but Hill is confident the hours on the training pitch, in the gym and with his new team-mates will pay off over the course of the campaign.
"It's a good learning experience - you still have to perform in difficult conditions,” he said.
“That might be in the bank for a snowy night somewhere in Scotland. It's all good mental preparation.
"One of the big pluses of being here is coming away for ten days, with the opportunity to properly get to know your teammates.
“Especially when there are new lads like me. It's good to get into the environment properly.
"[There have been] no initiations - I'm trying to keep everything quiet! Maybe save it for when Joey arrives and he can give us a little song.
"It's a great group, I knew that before I came. It's a talented group, with a strong mentality and a strong work ethic.
“A good team morale, which has been shown by them being promoted over numerous years. It's been a good welcome for me personally and I'm looking forward to it.”
The handful of summer signings were not the only new players to take to the training field for the first time on Tuesday morning.
Amongst those who have already impressed Warburton was one that will hope he can catch the eye as Oguchi Onyewu looks to earn himself a deal in the coming days.
"Yes it's like a QPR reunion,” Hill said after the former Loftus Road defender joined the Gers ranks.
“I saw him in the morning. He's here for the 10 days. He was with us at QPR for three or four months but he struggled with injuries during that time. Hopefully he can put in a good shift and make an impression on the gaffer.
"Look at his CV. Newcastle, AC Milan, Sheffield Wednesday, another big club.
“He has masses of experience and it's up to him to grab it with both hands and try to get a contract.”
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