Chelsea children in the under-6 and under-8 age groups now have their own soccer fields, thanks to a contribution from a local sponsor and a matching grant from Shelby County.

Two brand new stadium-style soccer fields were dedicated Sunday at Chelsea Soccer Club’s Forest Park Fields.

&uot;This will alleviate crowding on the larger field by creating new game fields,&uot; said David Sharp, president of the Chelsea Soccer Club.

The club, which had one existing field at the location off Essex Drive, expects to have more than 500 members at fall registration.

Sharp said the Chelsea Soccer Club had nearly 50 members when he became president four years ago.

The new U6 and U8 fields were named Moe’s Mini-Me Field and Puff the Magic Dragon Field, after the project’s title sponsor, Moe’s Southwest Grill.

Members of the Birmingham Moe’s Co-Op committed $29,000 to the development during the next three years.

County Manager Alex Dudchock said the county will provide a $30,000 grant and will eventually come back to add playground equipment to fulfill the commitment of the the county commission and county management.

The Chelsea Soccer Club also put up $40,000 of its own money, according to Sharp.

The Chelsea Soccer Club is currently offering 3 versus 3 soccer in 6-8 week programs this summer and will begin its fall season in August