What they will have learned most is the effects of the wind which, one suspects, is set to have quite an impact on proceedings on the pitch,
most importantly, but for those off it too.
Around 3,000 turned up for this historic - to Millers followers anyway - occasion and they will certainly have learned that even at the height of summer, that wind can turn the main stand decidedly chilly.
Plenty of t-shirt wearers might well be reckoning on something a touch sturdier from now on.
As for the players, affected by a heavily sanded surface anyway, the wind is something they will have to get used to because, if this opener is any evidence, it is going to be a factor more often than not.
Perhaps they will learn to live with it and they're going to have to. The fans, too, will quickly realise that capricious gusts will play havoc with judgement. It will be a major influence.
Derby boss Paul Jewell actually labelled it the worst pre-season game he'd been involved in because of the pitch and the wind which he described as "unbelievable". Good job he's not back here when it really blows then!
It was the wind which gave and took away Rotherham's clearest chance all afternoon after just seven minutes.
Central defender Martin Albrechtsen misjudged a long ball and fell thus letting in Rotherham newcomer Alex Rhodes. As the ball bounced on and he sized up his options, he suddenly found the ball blowing away from him enough for 'keeper Lewis Price to go from stranded to hopeful and make a good enough block.
Derby - whose last actual win before last weeks' 2-0 victory at Burton Albion other than a penalty shoot-out at Hillsborough was September 17 - had plenty of possession and it was ex-Doncaster Rovers midfielder Paul Green who had their major noteworthy efforts forcing two routine saves from Andy Warrington and also firing over.
Millers fans, clearly eager to cheer anything from their side in this new beginning, saw Mark Robins field an entirely new XI from the hour mark and trialist striker Reuben Reid, 19, formerly at Plymouth, certainly caused a stir and sparked some excitement with a very lively entrance.
His burst onto a Marc Joseph long ball saw him nearly set up an opening for Tom Cahill late on and with the Millers again defending solidly enough to keep County at bay, they caused a scare in stoppage time when Price had to dash from goal to prevent Peter Holmes cashing in on Cahill's pass.
Robins gave opportunities to all his new signings, Mark Lynch, Michael Cummins, Marc Burchill and Alex Rhodes whilst taking a look at striker Reuben Reid and winger Steve O'Connor who could both get another outing against Scunthorpe tomorrow if not at Sheffield FC tonight.
CLICK ON THE GREEN PLAY ICON ABOVE TO SEE PICTURES FROM THE MATCHMILLERS (first hour): Warrington; Tonge, Mills, Coughlan, Green; Yates, Cummins, Hudson, Rhodes; Burchill, Taylor.
MILLERS (after 54 and 60): Cann; Todd, Joseph, Sharps, Lynch; O'Connor, Harrison, Haggerty, Holmes; Reid, Cahill.
Unused: Oxley, Davis, Hirst.
DERBY COUNTY: Price, Connolly, Leacock (Nyatanga 70), Albrechtsen (Todd 70), Stewart (Teale ht); Green, Savage, Oster, McEveley; Dickinson (Villa ht), Sterjovski (Ellington ht).
Unused: Atkins.
Referee: Karl Evans (Manchester).
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 629 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
