It’s one of sports most enduring debates - can women compete with men?

It’s 35 years since the infamous Battle of Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs and, next week, Chelsea Ladies will be hoping to overcome a Chelsea Old Boys team featuring former international stars and legends from the club’s past.

The first Battle of the Sexes ended with a straight-sets victory for Billie Jean King, prompting debates throughout the sporting world and inspiring sportswomen such as golfers Michelle Wie and Anika Sorenstam to compete on equal terms with their male counterparts.

The Chelsea Ladies team will be using King’s triumph as their inspiration as they take on the men who have a wealth of experience of the top flight.

Not that the women are without their stars. With six full internationals and five junior internationals, as well as UEFA and World Cup winners in the squad, the game is delicately poised and, despite being two weeks away, the mind games between the teams has already started. “We’re younger fitter and faster,” said Ladies manager Steve Jones, “it will be close but I think we’ll edge it.”

Old Boys player manager and Chelsea legend Clive Walker disagreed: “We may not have the pace we did a few years ago but we have got strength and experience on our side – it’ll be interesting but we’re going flat out to win it.”

The game will be held on August 10 (3pm) at Met Police FC at Imber Court.

Entry is £4 for adults, £1 for U16s, and free for schools and junior football clubs when accompanied by a coach or teacher.

Proceeds from the game will go towards the Chelsea Past Players' Trust.