History

Buckley Girls Gymnastic Club was founded in 1974 and continues to grow in strength and numbers as we head to our 50th anniversary in 2024.

Between 1979 and 2020, the club was under the guidance of the late Stan Buckley who trained countless gymnasts and coaches and whose influence on the club will be a lasting legacy.

In that time, the club has boasted a British Junior Champion, numerous Welsh Ladies Champions, gymnasts in the Welsh and British Squads with Club members representing Wales in the 1986 and 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Stan Buckley was the backbone of the club for 40 years

Newspaper clipping — Stan Buckley was the backbone of the club for 40 years

Stan semi-retired from the club in 2002, but remained as our coaching director until he stepped down in 2020.

His daughter Maxine Baker carried on the work of producing Welsh squad members and gymnasts to international level with both team and individual wins prior to emigrating in 2013.

Even after leaving the club, Buckley gymnasts have continued to compete, taking Adult British Championship titles.

Amelia was the first club member to represent Wales in a decade

Betty with her medal — Amelia was the first club member to represent Wales in a decade

We started fundraising to take on our own facilities in 2015 under the guidance of former head coach Ceri Sass, now a club director, herself a former club gymnast.

And we signed the lease on our gym in Gwernaffield, near Mold, in January 2017, before converting and opening the building four months later thanks to our supporters.