LIFELONG fan Richard Morgan is looking forward to one of the greatest days of his life supporting Boro this Saturday when the club rolls out the red carpet to give him the all-star VIP treatment.

At 85 years young, the West Stand season ticket holder and Boro World subscriber has been chosen as Boro's greatest fan through the Premier League's flagship community programme, Creating Chances.

Richard is set to enjoy the ultimate matchday experience at Saturday's big derby match with Sunderland at the Riverside Stadium - 73 years after his first Boro game, also against the club's Wearside rivals, in 1934.

The incredible prize awaiting the winner of Boro's Your Shot challenge includes meeting chairman Steve Gibson, manager Gareth Southgate, players and club legends, and watching the match from the directors' box.

Boro's judging panel chose Richard as the club's winner after hearing of his passionate support over the past seven decades.

He travelled to Europe, often alone, to see no fewer than 11 of Boro's UEFA Cup ties in recent seasons, while he admits to having "cried unashamedly" when his club lifted their first ever silverware in the shape of the Carling Cup in 2004.

It is fitting that Richard's day as a Boro VIP should come against Sunderland, as the Wearside club were the opposition for many of the most memorable games of his early years following Boro.

Having first seen Boro as an 11-year-old in a 2-1 defeat to our North East rivals in a FA Cup third round replay in January 1934, he recalls attending pre-War games with his father that included a 6-0 home win over Sunderland, who were then the champions and league leaders, and a 5-5 home draw with the Black Cats.

Richard was also at Ayresome Park when Boro's Golden Boy Wilf Mannion took centre-stage with a four-goal blast in a 9-2 thrashing of Blackpool in 1938.

And he was there for The Mannion Match, a 4-0 demolition of Blackpool in November 1947 when the England legend turned on the style in front of his fiance.

"It was the most memorable match in the history of Ayresome Park," he said. "What a pity it wasn't recorded."

Mannion - "the best player that has ever been" - George Camsell, Juninho and Paul Merson are Richard's all-time favourites, while Jonathan Woodgate is his top current star.

From an early age, he promised never to go to Wembley unless Boro were playing in the FA Cup final but, having refused to attend the ZDS Cup final in 1990, attended the Coca-Cola Cup final against Leicester seven years later.

He says it "meant everything" when Boro finally broke their silverware duck with victory at the Millennium Stadium three years ago

Now he is dreaming of seeing Boro back in Europe after enjoying some fantastic trips abroad watching Boro in UEFA Cup action.

"If we can stick the goals away from the chances we will create then I think we can get into Europe this season," he predicts.

But for now he is just looking forward to the VIP treatment at the Riverside.

"It's absolutely wonderful to have been chosen," he says. "Boro have given me a lot of pleasure over the years and I won't have a wrong word said about them.

"As soon as I get the Gazette the first thing I turn to is the back page, while I also subscribe to Boro World on the club's website."

Richard's VIP day starts when a limo collects him and his 10-year-old grandson, Lewis, from his home on Bassleton Lane, Thornaby and takes them to the Riverside Stadium for the big match.

On arrival they'll receive a personal stadium tour, including the chance to go behind the scenes with the BBC and chat with Gareth Southgate and his coaching staff in the Boro dressing rooms.

Richard and Lewis will also meet and have their photographs taken with their favourite Boro players, meet chairman Steve Gibson and enjoy pre-match dinner with Boro legend Alan Peacock and other former stars.

Richard will also been given his own squad number for the day on the back of the matchday programme.

The biggest treat of the day for Lewis is that he'll be Boro's mascot, while his grandfather will join him, the captains and match officials on the centre spot seconds before kick-off for official photographs.

They will watch the match from the comfort of the Riverside directors' box, while receiving a match-worn shirt of their favourite player from the day's game, together with a full kit bag of Boro retail items before catching their limo back home.

They will later receive a photographic package as a permanent memento of their day, while they'll also be given an inscribed brick on the Boro Brick Road.