IF you know your history (of association football, that is, not Celtic) you will doubtless have heard of the Danubian School and appreciate its importance in the development of the beautiful game during the 20th century.

The Danubian School, which came to prominence in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Hungary in the 1930s, was effectively a slight variation of the 2-3-5 formation which was favoured in the sport around that time.

Under the influence of Austrian coach Hugo Meisl and his pioneering English counterpart Jimmy Hogan – who spent a brief spell working at Parkhead in the 1950s – teams started to play with the striker in a slightly withdrawn position.

Read more: BW Linz 0, Celtic 1: Brendan Rodgers makes it a Celtic family affair - by handing son Anton a run-out

A greater emphasis was also placed on passing, movement and technique – many sides, particularly those in Britain, concentrated more on stamina and physicality during that era - with startling results. Austria, Czechoslovakia and Hungary all reached the quarter-finals of the 1934 World Cup.

Celtic have come here to Upper Austria, an area the Danube river runs through, to begin their preparations for the new season. The trip promises to be significant in the ongoing evolution of Brendan Rodgers’ side.

The Scottish champions have based themselves some 60 kilometres outside Linz, the third largest city in the country, in an idyllic rural retreat in the village of Berghausl.

There are no external distractions in such an isolated spot. The heady achievements of last season have already been consigned to the past. The focus has been firmly on preparing for the new campaign and attempting to improve upon what has gone before.

Craig Gordon, the Celtic goalkeeper, spoke to the Scottish press pack who are following the Glasgow club on their travels (there is no escape) earlier this week and stressed everyone is, even though the assorted achievements and triumphs of last season are still fresh in their memories, already looking forward.

“We go again,” said Gordon. “The manager has made it clear what he expects in pre-season. There is no slacking off. We now have to go on and do the same things that we did last pre-season, put the same amount of work in and tactically get ready.

“We are a step ahead of where we were this time last season – in fact, a good bit ahead – so we are in a good place. It is now down to doing the hard work and making sure that physically we are ready to go.”

Read more: BW Linz 0, Celtic 1: Brendan Rodgers makes it a Celtic family affair - by handing son Anton a run-outThe Herald:

Improving on the 2016/17 campaign – when they became Invincibles by going undefeated domestically and won the Betfred Cup, Ladbrokes Premiership and William Hill Scottish Cup to complete only the fourth treble in their 129 year history – will certainly not be easy.

But they will clearly be trying to improve upon their showings last term both at home and abroad. The groundwork for the new season is being laid with some intense training sessions and punishing workouts in their picturesque location.

Rodgers’ side played their first pre-season friendly against BW Linz, the  second tier side, in the nearby town of Rohrbach last night.

The game took place in the small municipal stadium in front of just several hundred supporters. But the presence of Celtic caused quite a stir and was clearly something of an event in the community. The natives turned out in force to see their famous visitors in action.

Many of them were clad in their opponents’ strips for the occasion and were keen to get photographs taken and autograph books signed at the end of the 90 minutes. Rodgers and his players were happy to oblige.

There were, of course, a healthy contingent of Celtic supporters in attendance too. The bars inside the ground selling plastic pints of the local beer did a brisk trade. It was a good advertisement for ending the alcohol ban in Scottish football grounds.  

There was a small group of BW Linz Ultras – who numbered around a dozen or so – in attendance. They stationed themselves behind one of the goals and barracked Celtic players intermittently during the match. Hearing a chant of “you fat b******!” being directed at Gary Mackay-Steven, who would be blown away with a puff of wind, as he hared down the left wing was downright bizarre.

Read more: BW Linz 0, Celtic 1: Brendan Rodgers makes it a Celtic family affair - by handing son Anton a run-out

Rodgers gave his son Anton, a professional player who is training with Celtic in Austria in an attempt to build up his fitness ahead of the new season, a run-out in the second half. The 24-year-old central midfielder, who is the spit of his old man, played some nice passes and didn’t look out of place in the slightest. His father stressed afterwards, though, there is no chance of him being taken on permanently.

The Celtic manager was pleased to see Jonny Hayes, the only signing he has made so far this close season, make his debut. The £1.3 million acquisition from Aberdeen started on the right wing and immediately showed what he has to offer. Linz struggled to cope with his pace and close control. Their left back took him out off the ball just before half-time.

There were a few hefty challenges from the hosts – Leigh Griffiths required medical attention after receiving a blow to the face - but nobody was injured. Celtic ran out narrow 1-0 winners thanks to a James Forrest goal with seven minutes remaining.

But the final outcome was unimportant. The fact that no fewer than 22 players were involved was. First team regulars Stuart Armstrong, Scott Brown, Griffiths, Mikael Lustig and Callum McGregor all played in the first 45 minutes while Dedryck Boyata, Nir Bitton, Forrest, Jozo Simunovic, Scott Sinclair and Kieran Tierney all featured in the second.

Rodgers was also happy to give youngsters Calvin Miller, Jamie McCart, Conor Hazard, Tony Ralston and Jack Aitchison some game time. He rates goalkeeper Hazard, the 6ft 5in 19-year-old Northern Ireland youth internationalist, very highly indeed and raved about his enormous potential as he chatted about the workout with reporters afterwards.

Gordon sat out the game and performed co-commentary duties for Celtic TV instead. He was keen not to be spotted sitting in the stand, headphones on and microphone in hand, by Brown and Griffiths as they made their way to the dressing room midway through the second half for fear of getting a ribbing. 

Despite being 6ft 4in in his stocking feet, he somehow managed it.