STRIKER Jess King is tackling gender inequality in football by releasing a rap song.

Jess, who plays for FA Women’s Championship side Lewes, has teamed up with Max Mezzowave to produce the track Raise Us Up.

Max has written the music and produced the track to go with Jess’s rallying call that something has to change to rectify the inequality in the game.

The Dripping Pan outfit prides itself on being the only football club in the world to value and resource its men’s and women’s teams equally.

And Jess, who wrote and sings the lyrics, admits some of her friends will be surprised by her latest venture but revealed it has been a passion since she was 15 and she was able to record some tracks in Liverpool with local artiste Kof.

Rapping footballers are not unknown, after all who can forget John Barnes’ efforts in Liverpool FC’s Anfield Rap and, memorably, New Order’s World In Motion.

Jess, who is 28 on Sunday, though, hopes she has written an uplifting winner on a subject that is close to her heart in a career that started as a youth player with Liverpool and has taken her around Europe.

She played for Everton, FC Basel, USV Jena (Germany) and Kolbotn (Norway) before she joined Lewes in 2019.

Along the way she endured the frustrations of inequality but she says the track has not been born out of anger.

Jess said: “I wouldn’t say it’s anger, it is just a unique angle of getting a push for more respect and equality for women’s football.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEXMkVrgdKQ

“Music can reach people in a different way and different types of people and I wanted the song to give kind of a good vibe and an uplifting vibe.

“I didn’t want it to come across as if I am moaning the whole time, or digging people out, but I wanted to give a sense of reality and acknowledge the strength of persistence of people who just play football because they love it and don’t get a lot back in return.

“I want there to be a transition from that and for the kids to feel that there is a future for young girls in football still.”

Jess is not quite sure what the target audience will be.

She added: “That’s the good thing about music, it can impact different types of people.

“It can start conversations and draw in people who might not understand the things women might lack as a professional or semi-pro athlete, like access to physios. In a men’s Championship or Premier League that would never happen.

“You want to feel united and that you’re not alone in your own situation as a female athlete trying to pursue something you love or just do for fun depending on what level you’re playing at.”

Jess was the victim of one such inequality when playing in Switzerland when a lorry load of new boots arrived and she was told they were only for the men’s team.

“I was really upset about that at the time as it was in front of some of the lads. I wanted to speak about it then but I was so emotional I don’t think it would have come out in the right way.

“Now, this song is about everything I’ve experienced and it is a much better and positive way to express the negative and positive things I have seen. It’s almost like a peaceful protest than coming out with fire.

“I don’t know how it will be received. It may stay within the football community, maybe it will be played at women’s football events but it might get radio play as it’s very relevant.”

The artwork features heroes of the women’s game including Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankey and Alex Scott in a homage to England’s famous 1966 World Cup triumph. The track and video is out tomorrow.