Andy Robertson used to dish out programmes to VIP spectators before Scotland games at Hampden.
Now the left-back’s rise to prominence with Dundee United means he may be about to be handed his first dark blue jersey by national coach Gordon Strachan.
As promotions go, making it all the way from presenting match magazines and team sheets to those in the executive lounges to being on the park representing his country in less than a year would be quite remarkable.
The Tannadice flying machine has already defied the odds by seamlessly slotting into the Tangerines’ first team straight from the amateur ranks of Queen’s Park.
He has firmly established himself as one of United boss Jackie McNamara’s first picks and has featured in every match for the club this season.
The 19-year-old also managed to cope comfortably with a number of transfer stories linking him with, among others, English Premiership side Everton.
During it all, there was a two-day spell last autumn that may prove to be hugely significant in Robertson’s still fledgling career.
We go back to October 11 and 12, just after he was sitting on the bench for most of Scotland under-21s’ victory over Slovakia 2-1 in a Euro qualifier in Paisley.
Robertson and a handful of others who hadn’t started at St Mirren Park were given the call to come and train with the senior squad, who were busy preparing for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiying match against Croatia.
Not only did the United youngster acquit himself well in training, his display in a bounce game where he was up against winger Chris Burke earned glowing praise from Strachan, who labelled him one of the best on the park, all senior internationals included.
That performance looks to have stayed in Strachan’s mind now that word has seeped through of a likely call-up for Robertson for the Scots’ friendly in Poland on March 5.
As a youth at Queen’s Park working extra hours at Hampden, Robertson got to meet the likes of Belgium and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany in the lounges.
As a potential Scotland debutant, he may now get to meet the likes of Poland and soon-to-be Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski on the pitch in Warsaw.
Robertson recalled: “When we are at Queen’s Park we always worked behind the scenes at Scotland matches. We would be in the executive lounges before kick-off giving out programmes.
“From under-16 level onwards I would be there working and then go out and watch the game when it started. So I have been to quite a few Scotland matches in my time.
“It was great because you got into the game for free and a lot of the lads were quite happy to do it. I remember I got to meet Vincent Kompany (who was on a spying mission for the Belgians while out injured).
“He was a big, tall guy and I got my picture taken with him along with a few of the others lads. I guess it is quite a big step to go from handing out programmes at Scotland games to maybe getting a call-up!”
The recognition, if or when it comes, will have been earned, though, with a string of fine performances for United and the under-21s complemented by that impressive training stint.
He recalled the time he more than mixed it with the full squad, saying: “I was one of the subs for the Slovakia game so went and trained the next day with the senior boys. It was a good experience and great to meet the lads.
“The manager (Strachan) said in the paper that he liked me and obviously that was a confidence-booster. I heard that he had said I was one of the better ones in training when I did the press the following day and I guess it is nice to have the Scotland manager say nice things about you.
“Maybe I shouldn’t really read too much into that and I have just gotten on with things since then. But the senior players were great with me. I was there along with a few of the Celtic boys from the under-21 side so they knew Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew.
“Sadly, there were no United players as Gaz (Gary Mackay-Steven) missed out and Stu (Stuart Armstrong) had played for the under-21s. Scott, Charlie and the rest talked away to us, though, and I got to know them quite well.”
To say Robertson’s progress is ahead of schedule is to state the obvious but he has always had self-belief, even back when he was with the Spiders.
“You can’t really think about it (Scotland) too much and we will see when the squad gets named,” he said. “However, it would be an honour.
“I was confident in my own ability to make the move to the next level. United gave me the opportunity and I have taken it.
“I knew as soon as I came here this was the place for me and it certainly looks like I made the right decision.
“I always knew I had it in me and that I could make the leap and play every week. Perhaps I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly though.
“Maybe back in the summer, I would have looked at this stage of the season after six or seven months’ of full-time training behind me as the time to be looking at the first team.
“I am glad with the way it has gone, it really couldn’t have been much better for me.”
Finally, if as expected Robertson is on the plane to Poland next month, he might have some company.
Asked if there might be one or two of the Robertson clan among the Tartan Army in Warsaw should he be selected, he joked: “I don’t know about that but my family are quite nuts so I couldn’t put it past them.”