Battle of the birds as Magpies meet Serbs.

Byline: By Hannah Davies

Beer we go, beer we go, beer we go - Newcastle fans will be enjoying pints for a pound as they began their now annual European trip.

Belgrade is the latest destination for the Toon Army as they follow Sir Bobby's boys across the Continent in the Champions' League.

And they will hoping for a slightly warmer welcome next week than on their last visit to the Serbian city.

They were given a hostile reception by Partizan Belgrade fans back in 1998 when the country was on an EU tourist blacklist.

They were greeted with abuse like `Nato scum', but managed to enjoy themselves anyway despite Ruud Gullit's team getting knocked out the Cup Winners' Cup on the away-goals rule.

But according to the Serbian team's website today they are looking forward to welcoming the world-renowned Toon Army to their country.

The Partizan website says: "NUFC does not need any introduction since Partizan played them not too long ago.

"Also, Partizan fans `Grobari' and NUFC `Magpies' have very good relations. It will be another classic.

"The two fan groups have good relations, thus friendly atmosphere is expected in both stadiums, not to mention many pubs on the way. On behalf of Partizan welcome to Serbia."

The Chronicle's chief sports writer Alan Oliver was in Belgrade in 1998.

He said: "The last time the team played there it was a very hostile environment. It was just before the war when we went for a week. We walked through the park and the children were shouting at us.

"But we stayed in a luxurious hotel, the Intercontinental, where the Serbian war criminal Arkan was shot dead a few years later.

"I think it will be a much better atmosphere this time because a lot has changed since then."

Partizan Belgrade were the former Yugoslav army team. General Tito's partisans were the Communist guerillas who liberated Yugoslavia from fascism in the Second World War.

The club became independent from the army in 1963, although a firm link remained until the 1980s.

Summer starts abruptly in the city after a long spring and Toon fans will be visiting in the hottest month with a top average temperature of 30C.

The official language in Belgrade is Serbian - one of the south Slavic languages - but English is the second language.

Fans shouldn't find themselves out of pocket though, with pints costing around pounds 1 and food is not much pricier.

The match is also being billed as the `Battle of the Birds' with Belgrade's symbol the sparrow against our own Magpies.

Its tourist board says: "The sparrow symbolises the special Belgrade spirit - capable of soaring to unimaginable heights."