AN OLD Athletics stalwart has welcomed the revival of the club.

Tics, as they were affectionately known, were one of the island’s oldest clubs before they unceremoniously folded in 1963.

Now, 45 years later, after being denied the use of the name Guernsey United, the people behind the project to take a local team into the UK league structure have decided to resurrect Guernsey Athletics Football Club, to give the club its full name.

The modern-day Athletics will adopt the club’s maroon-and-white colours and use the original badge.

John Slattery (pictured) was an integral member of the old Tics for two seasons prior to the club disbanding. The 72-year-old Irishman, who has been on the island since the age of 24, is glad to see the club re-born.

‘I think it’s brilliant,’ he said. ‘They were a really popular club. It was a shame they went out of commission. It was just one of those things.’

Tics were formed in 1896 and were said to be one of the founder members of the Priaulx League, winning the title once in 1923.