Dr Barry McLaughlin has been involved in coaching women's artistic gymnastics since the 1970's. In 2001 he decided to take up gymnastics coaching as a full time occupation, leaving his expertise in the field of medicine after 22 years working as a clinical scientist and lecturer between Hope Hospital and University of Manchester. Barry opened Vernon Park Gymnastics Centre in February 2002. After many hours of hard work, converting the 19^th Century mill to a working gymnasium the centre was completed fitted out and ready for training after just four weeks. The initial training venue consisted of a small gymnasium without a floor full floor area, not many gymnasts and a few dedicated coaches. Eventually the centre began to prosper, general classes, birthday parties,  and an increase in performance gymnastics. Vernon Parks initial year saw massive success in the Northwest region at all levels with many gymnasts making National Finals at Age Groups and Grades. The Senior British Team entry for the first time resulted in a team placing of 12^th in Great Britain, not a bad start for a club only open a few months.

2003 saw a further development of the training hall with the addition of more floor space. An opportunity to expand the facility came about by chance and without a second thought Barry  dived in and expanded, demolishing walls and doubling the size of the gym overnight! Success came once again in the Northwest; numbers increased in classes, more coaches joined the club and the performance gymnasts increased in their stature. Successful competitions in the English Championships, Qualification for apparatus finals at the British Championships and a podium place for Rebecca Price as runner up in the British Championships beam final. Nina Dearman continued her amazing success of 2002 with apparatus finals and European trials at Lilleshall National Centre and after a massive improvement in the British Teams to finish with a ranking of 9^th the club was continuing from strength to strength. The club eventually became a registered charity with the GB Charity Commission and increased its development in the community by gaining awards for all grants from Sport England and the Stockport Sports Council

Success in the British Championships in 2003 saw Neenagh Campbell return to a place on the Great Britain National Espoire Squad, soon to be joined by Rebecca Price. Towards the end of 2003 the facility had expanded with a full floor area, new bar stations, increased rebound facilities and overhead spotting rigs.

2004 started with a massive boost at regional floor & vault and grades championships with many gymnasts taking titles and medals. Hannah Whelan achieved a position on the Great Britain World Class Start National Squad and the club is preparing for another busy year. Rebecca Price and Neenagh Campbell continue to train with the National Junior Squad with Nina Dearman attaining High Performance Status working with top National & International gymnasts weekly at the High Performance Centre in Liverpool. The 2004 British Team Championships saw the Senior Team maintain its seeded ranking in the countries top 12, finishing 11th overall in GB, dogged by major injuries to Neenagh Campbell who could not compete and Nina Dearman. The Bill Slater team improved  its 2003 rankings and this year the club had five representatives at the British Championships. Nina Dearman competing in her first year at Senior level made the Senior British Vault final and on the day of the final finished an excellent 4th overall in GB. The 2004 Alpha Factor Championships and the 2nd Junior Commonwealth trial for England saw three gymnasts from the club competing at this level. With a superb floor and bar routine, Nina Dearman stormed to victory to win the UK 2004 Alpha Factor Championships in Wiltshire with Hannah Whelan on the podium in bronze medal position in the Espoire section.  One of the highlights of the year saw, Nina Dearman crowned 2004 Senior English Champion, and Hannah Whelan being selected for the 2005 Espoire National Squad. The club has shown its status in team events with the senior team taking the Manx Telecom Invitational team title for the second time as  a prelude to the 2006 British Team Championships. International success has arrived in the past two years with gymnasts representing England at Senior level and producing medal success at 2007 in the Senior British Championships.

The gymnastics centre is now firmly established as the Premier gymnastics centre covering the whole of Stockport and its surrounding districts and now offers a variety of gymnastic related activities, from  general classes for beginners (4 +) seven times a week, novice and intermediate training groups, the use of the facility for private birthday parties and high performance training leading to National and International gymnastics. The club serves all aspects of gymnastics in the community of Stockport and holds  the  British Gymnastics - Gym Mark Award.