By Ben Kosky IT S another three weeks before QPR get their pre-season campaign on the road – but defender Fitz Hall is hitting the streets early. Actually, that should be spelt streetz , as in A-Star in the Streetz 2008 – the first in a series of roads

By Ben Kosky

IT'S another three weeks before QPR get their pre-season campaign on the road - but defender Fitz Hall is hitting the streets early.

Actually, that should be spelt 'streetz', as in 'A-Star in the Streetz 2008' - the first in a series of roadshows for the organisation Hall and England striker Andy Johnson set up last year.

A-Star is designed to encourage youngsters to realise their potential and channel their energy into activities such as sport rather than turning to crime.

The Rangers centre-back will launch the first roadshow on Saturday at Westway Sports Centre, White City - accompanied by several of his team-mates from nearby Loftus Road.

Hall's close friend Patrick Agyemang - who raised awareness of A-Star with his goal celebrations during a record scoring streak last season - will be at Westway, along with Rowan Vine and Mikele Leigertwood.

"At the moment I've got my friends who are footballers coming down, people that kids can look up to," Hall explained.

"But what we're aiming to do eventually is help make the A-Star kids into people that others look up to. This isn't just about football, it's about promoting a lifestyle for young people.

"There's a lot of knife crime and gun crime on the streets and players want to try and do something about that.

"Our aim is to find kids out there with skills we haven't seen - there's talent on the street and people don't always have a chance to see it."

The roadshow runs from midday until 6pm and includes music sessions and football tournaments for both under-16s and over-16s.

Hall's former Crystal Palace team-mates Clinton Morrison and Tom Soares will also be involved when the roadshow moves on to Priory Court Community Centre, Walthamstow, on Sunday.

The organisers plan to hold similar events at different venues over the coming months, and one of the eventual aims is to establish an A-Star football league in London.

Hall stressed: "For the first events I'm concentrating on what I know, but it'll grow and include other sports and music as well.

"There are a lot of kids who like rapping, so if you don't want to play football, turn up and show us what you can do in front of a microphone instead.

"I wanted to start off with street football because it's probably the most fun you have when you're growing up, playing in the street with your friends, laughing together and crying together.

"I didn't make it into professional football until I was 21 and I know you should never give up and think things can't change."

For information, or to register for either of this weekend's roadshows, log on to www.astar-global.com