The News today launches our Blue Day campaign, where readers can show their true blue spirit and get behind Pompey for their FA Cup semi-final match.

Friday, April 4 – the eve of the historic Wembley trip – is the day we want thousands of you to show your support by going blue for the day.

Whether it's going to work in your Pompey strip or hanging blue bunting in your home, we want you to show the team we are with them every step of the way.

At the same time we want to raise thousands of pounds for the Tom Prince Cancer Research Fund – a charity set up in memory of a young Pompey fan who died of cancer – with each reader donating as much as they can for the day.

Backing Blue Day is Pompey manager Harry Redknapp, who today issued a rallying cry for all readers to take part.

He said: 'I'd love everyone to get involved and do their bit. It's a tremendous idea and I will do anything I can to help the Tom Prince fund.

'It would be fantastic to see a sea of blue across the whole city, ahead of what promises to be a massive footballing occasion for all our brilliant supporters.'

Firefighters, teachers and doctors have already signed up to the campaign, and there will be many more taking part on the big day.

Our aim is to show support for Pompey before the crunch semi-final against West Brom and help the Tom Prince trust towards reaching its goal of raising £1m.

Tom Prince died of bone cancer in October 2004, the day before his 16th birthday.

During his battle against osteosarcoma the support of the football club was a constant source of inspiration to him, and he became a firm favourite with the Pompey boss.

Since his death his parents Adele and Clinton Prince, of Haslemere Road, Southsea, have set up the Tom Prince fund to fund research into the disease.

Now Redknapp wants readers to use the FA Cup run to kick-start their funding.

He said: 'We loved Tommy. I got to know him very well, he was a smashing lad. His mum and dad are good friends of ours and lovely people, so let's get behind them. Myself and my wife, Sandra, will certainly support it, so anything we can do we will do it.

'It's for a fantastic cause.'