A Birmingham signage company has helped Basketball England mark sporting history by unveiling a plaque for a local Commonwealth star.

The plaque, created by FASTSIGNS Birmingham to celebrate the achievements of basketball talent, Myles Hesson, marks the finishing touch on the newly-refurbished court at Hamstead Playing Fields - a community basketball court located just outside of the city centre.

Hesson, a native of Hamstead, having played on the court during his youth, starred in one of the most-watched moments of the Commonwealth Games in 2022, scoring the buzzer beater that sunk Australia in the 3x3 gold medal game.

The project first came about when Orlan Jackman, 2022 Commonwealth Gold medallist and teammate of Myles, approached FASTSIGNS Birmingham to design and install a plaque for the basketball court, recognising the effect that his success has had on his community since the conclusion of the games.

The 1m x 1m plaque, created by FASTSIGNS’ team of signage experts, was designed to memorialise Myles’ impact on the local community, and, as such, it features a commemorative message. In order for it to withstand outdoor conditions and general wear and tear, the full-printed plaque was created using flat cut aluminium, overlaid with cut vinyl letters and mounted to the fence using a stainless steel channel.

With the renovations now complete, the plaque was unveiled by Orlan in front of an audience that included Myles and his family, alongside representatives from Basketball England, Sport England, National Lottery and Birmingham City Council, ready for it to become a much-improved and cherished addition to the area.

Myles Hesson, Gold Medallist with Basketball England, said:

“I spent countless hours playing basketball at this court as a child, either by myself or with friends. Seeing it restored and revamped in this way means the world to me. The renovation is not just a recognition of what my teammates and I were able to achieve, but it’s a commitment to the next generation and the community in which I come from.

“I want to say a huge thank you to Basketball England, Sport England and the National Lottery, as well as Birmingham City Council for making it happen and to FASTSIGNS Birmingham for the commemorative plaque.”

Tom Gilpin, owner of FASTSIGNS Birmingham, said:

“This plaque is not just about honouring Myles’ remarkable achievements, but also about ensuring that future generations have a space to enjoy and be inspired. The durability and design of the plaque reflect our ongoing commitment to providing long-lasting, impactful solutions for communities like Handsworth.

”Growing up in Birmingham, I loved basketball, but finding good quality courts to play on was always a challenge, so it’s been an honour to work on the Myles Hesson legacy court to give the next generation of sporting talent the chance to dream bigger.”

FASTSIGNS Birmingham is set to take on more community projects in the future, with several already in the pipeline with notable businesses. Earlier this year, it also strengthened its team by hiring a new Production Assistant, Ben Wilkins, to support its continued plans for growth.