EA Sports has announced their first DS exclusive, Football Academy due out in March 2009.  Not NFL, this is Soccer to Americans.  Football Academy will present a variety of mini games testing players knowledge of football/soccer such as technique, strategy, and positioning.

In other words, football addicts, this is another way to absorb yourself into your sport and ignore everything else.  I suggest practicing going “Uh-huh”, “Yeah”, and the all classic “Innit” while playing games on your DS.  This way your partner might not be as angry with you as they really should be.

This game is aimed at all ages, so I’m not sure how many cockney, swearing, hooligans will be up for purchasing this to play on their younger sisters pink DS.

Hit the Jump for the Press Release and Pics from the announcement.

GUILDFORD, UK – January, 7th, 2009 – EA SPORTS™, a label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announces EA SPORTS™ Football Academy – a collection of mini-games and challenges that improves football knowledge in a fun and entertaining way. EA SPORTS™ Football Academy will launch exclusively for the Nintendo DS in March 2009.

EA SPORTS Football Academy offers an entertaining way to learn football strategy, positioning and technique. Players build their knowledge by completing tasks and take their improved skills onto the pitch to compete against their friends. Additionally EA SPORTS Football Academy offers a variety of mini-games that provide fun for fans of all ages.

“EA SPORTS Football Academy is a great new addition to the EA SPORTS football portfolio and a perfect way to enjoy football on the go,” says Andrew Wilson, Vice President and Executive Producer of EA SPORTS Football business. “The game offers fans a fun new way to improve football knowledge and learn more about the beautiful game.”

EA SPORTS Football Academy is developed by EA Canada in Vancouver. It has been rated 3+ by PEGI. Please visit www.pegi.info/ for rating information.