SHOW YOUR PRIDE - AND PAINT THE RIVERSIDE RED!Paint the Riverside Red! That’s the challenge given to Boro fans this Saturday when the club puts on an array of entertainment to mark its Community Pride day - and a potentially crucial 250th league match at the Riverside.

Ahead of next week’s launch of the 2008-09 home strip, supporters - including thousands invited through their schools’ strong links with Boro’s community project - are asked to paint the Riverside red.

Boro want them to wear their favourite home shirt, to bring along their banners and scarves and create a sea of red to show their support as Gareth Southgate’s side look to clinch a vital three points.

As part of the Community Pride Day, Boro will also welcome home 120 local heroes, members of the Coldstream Guards and Green Howards who have recently returned from action in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The soldiers will be paraded on the Riverside pitch before kick-off, along with family of those lost or injured in action, while the Band of the Coldstream Guards plays a musical salute.

The Coldstream Guards band will also perform from 2.15pm on the boulevard outside the Riverside, where other entertainment will come from locally-based juggler Tom Rolfe, who will perform an array of circus tricks.

There will be special offers available from the concourse kiosks including a burger, chips and coke for just £3 (normally £4.90) and Haribo and a soft drink for £2 (normally £3).

Tickets will be on sale before the match for a special Boro Jackpot draw giving fans the chance to win two 2008-09 season cards to the value of £390 each. Tickets will be available, priced £1 each, in and around the stadium before kick-off.

Other highlights will include:

•A series of prize draws for season card holders to win fantastic prizes including Sunday lunch at the Riverside, Boro champagne, signed footballs and other merchandise.

•Face-painters.

•A series of give-aways to young fans.

•A half-time penalty competition involving 10 young fans handpicked from the crowd.

To mark the 250th Riverside league match, highlights of some of the greatest games the stadium has hosted will be screened on the concourse televisions from 1.30pm.

Communications Manager Dave Allan said: “Saturday’s game is an important one for the club and we are sure our fans will create a wall of noise and paint the Riverside red throughout the match.

“No doubt our homecoming troops will also be given a heroes’ welcome when they parade around the pitch before kick-off.

“Our pre-match and half-time entertainment further supports our commitment to invest in our future fans, including our £95 season card offer for under-18s.”

More pre-match and half-time entertainment will be in place for the final game of the 2007-08 season when Boro host Manchester City at the Riverside on Sunday May 11 (3pm).

Tickets are available for both the Portsmouth and Manchester City fixtures, priced from £24 adults, from £15 under-16s and over-65s and just £9 in all areas for under-11s.

They can be purchased 24 hours a day from www.mfc.co.uk or by calling the Boro tickets hotline