ENGLAND entertain Albania at the Riverside next week - and Northern Echo Sport is offering readers the chance of a lifetime to be a flag bearer at the under-21 clash.

We've joined forces with the FA to give five children - aged between 8 and 14 - to be one of the official England under-21 Fair Play flag bearers on the night.

Each winner gets the chance to walk out holding the flag with the England team and have their photograph taken with the players before the game.

There's also 10 pairs of tickets as runner up prizes.

To stand a chance of winning just tell us who is the manager of Middlesbrough.

Answers on a postcard please to England Flag competition, Sports Desk, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF by 4pm tomorrow.

Alternatively, e-mail your answer to echosport@nne.co.uk

Each winner must be accompanied by an adult and will recieve tickets for the game for both them and two adults.

BORO chairman Steve Gibson is urging fans to turn out in force for the Riverside clash.

Tickets for the game, to be staged a day before the two senior sides meet in a World Cup qualifier at St James' Park, cost just £5 for adults and £1 for U-16s and concessions.

"Our supporters have the opportunity to view the stars of the future and I hope they will give them every encouragement for what promises to be an exciting contest," said Gibson. "We all want to see England qualify for the finals next spring.

"We regard it as a tremendous honour for Middlesbrough Football Club to stage such an important occasion. It will be David Platt's first competitive home match in charge and we are all eager to see him enjoy make a winning start at the Riverside. The bigger the crowd the better - it would be great to see this match getting a big reception on Teesside."

Tickets are available from the Riverside, priced at £5 adults, £1 concessions and on the ticket hotline (01642) 877745