EA SPORTS - IT'S IN THE ACADEMY

The Academy were on hand to help test EA Sports' new games last week at a star-studded event in Trafalgar Square.

Stars such as Natasha Beddingfield attended, as the pop-star sung in front of the crowds before the Under 18s went up on stage to show their virtual football skills.

Being aspiring footballers, any kind of competitive action inspires the Under 18s to prove themselves, and it was no different in London's centre as the players battled it out on an array of different computer games.

Fifa 09 was the favourite, and with the game's recent release, the players had already practiced their skills on screen, and it was a good job too, as they took their places on stage to face a couple of competition winners at the virtual football game.

Jacob Mellis and Adam Phillip stepped up to play the duo, who picked Manchester United as the side to face the Blues.

In front of the square's crowd, the two Academy stars began to pit their talents against the virtual Manchester United and it wasn't long before Chelsea had taken the lead.

At half time the game was 1-0, and within seconds of the restart Chelsea had doubled the score. But the Red Devils' controllers came back with a scrappy goal to reduce the deficit before Mellis killed the game off with Chelsea's third late into the second half.

With the competition beaten, and the day a success, the Academy left Trafalgar Square safe in the knowledge they were the city centre's best Fifa players.

'It was a good event,' said Academy manager Paul Clement: 'It is good for the young players to experience that kind of event because it happens a lot with the senior players.

'In terms of the bigger picture, the boys have a responsibility as role models to young players.

'When they put the tracksuit on they have a responsibility to conduct yourselves properly and when they get in any kind of competitive situation they want to win, it was good.

'There was a good spirit amongst them and it was an enjoyable afternoon,' added Clement.

As the victors from the Fifa 09 game handed two Chelsea home game tickets to the losers for playing a good game, front-man Frank Nouble was pleased with the day's outcome.

'It was good to get one over on a club like Man United, even if it is in a video game, you have to make sure you win,' explained Nouble.

'Overall it was a good day and we enjoyed ourselves, hopefully we will do it again.'

Chelsea Ladies also attended the event on Saturday evening, after Chelsea's 5-0 thumping of Sunderland at home, and enjoyed playing EA Sports' new games as well.