A former professional footballer has swapped the pitch for a tattoo studio after deciding to embark on a complete career change.
Billy Ions, 28, enjoyed success as a full-time footballer from a young age and played for a string of prestigious teams for a decade before making the difficult decision to step away from the game. It was then that Billy, who lives in Heaton, decided to pursue his other passion - and it has changed his life for the better.
Born in Ashington but brought up in Tenerife, Billy began his youth football career over there at the age of just 15 with CD Tenerife - before getting scouted by Newcastle United. The family moved back home and aged 16, Billy started playing for NUFC’s Under 18s.
