Oswestry Badminton Club is benefitting from improved equipment thanks to a Shropshire businessman.

Craig Marston of Ke-Design architectural services has served up a treat for the club by way of sponsorship to afford the club new shuttlecocks.

The club has taken the decision to move away from using plastic shuttles and instead use the more expensive feathered shuttles.

After being involved with the Oswestry club for some time, Craig insists he is happy to be able to help.

“I’m a keen player and been involved with Oswestry Badminton Club most of my life,” he said.

“I was delighted to step in and sponsor the club with £500 for the feathered shuttles in a bid to compete with rival clubs and attract more good club and team players.

“I started playing badminton at the age of nine with my mother before joining a junior club and receiving coaching.

“I continued playing when I relocated to Hong Kong, where I got some fantastic experience and played with feathers, so was able to get used to them.

“Oswestry have played with plastic shuttles and it makes it difficult when up against teams who play with feathers because you’re just not familiar with them.

“Oswestry has always been a strong, competitive, club in the county league and more recently most of the clubs in that league have switched to feathers – so it’s time Oswestry followed suit.

“It does make a difference to the game and we hope it will attract more team and club players to Oswestry who enjoy playing with feathers.”

Oswestry has two men’s, two ladies and a mixed team in the county league, play at Oswestry Leisure Centre each Monday between 8pm and 10pm.

For more information, contact the club secretary at linda.offord@live.co.uk