Born in Waterford city in the south east of Ireland in 1953, Billy Costine began supporting Newcastle United as an 8-year-old... because the Black & White stripes appealed to him! From those innocuous beginnings grew a lifelong love affair with the 'Magpies', now in its 50th season (2010-11) and showing no signs of relenting.

The Flight of a Magpie is Billy's own unique story of this long and eventful journey, recalling the meetings he had with many former players and people linked with the club and the surprising situations he found himself in during the course of many trips to watch his beloved team play. Billy also tells a little of his own career in junior football which lasted into his mid-forties and was followed by ten enjoyable years working for Newcastle United Football Club in a scouting capacity in Ireland.

You won't read another story like this one!