The inter-house programme of sport was huge throughout this decade and continued to embrace football, cricket, basketball, rugby, volleyball, athletics (sports day), swimming (annual gala), cross country and more.

In addition, the programme of fixtures with other schools continued in cross country, football, basketball, cricket, rugby, swimming, tennis and athletics. During the 1970’s this was added to with hockey, cycling (with the construction of the East Way Cycle Circuit), volleyball and the introduction of borough competitions in Judo, table tennis and badminton. The percentage of students who were actively engaged in at least one sport was very high during this time.

Two sports stood out as being particularly successful throughout this decade, one of which was athletics. Leyton Senior High School for Boys continued to participate in borough events and those old established competitions such as the Champion Russell (1^st in 1974 and 1976), the Bickersteth (usually top 3) and the Campbell Trophy (1^st in 1979) were supplemented by new competitions including the ‘Schools Cup’.

During a visit to Eton in 1974 to represent Eton Mission (a rowing club based on the River Lea) against Eton, PE teacher, J. Howell, took the chance to enquire about sports fixtures. The result was an invitation to participate in a triangular athletics fixture at Eton in 1975. This continued for over a decade. The school were always made to feel very welcome at Eton, and a huge number of boys from Leyton gained a terrific experience by competing there. The standard of athletics at Eton certainly grew over the years and their athletes proved formidable opponents. The Master in charge of athletics changed on a number of occasions over the years but we were regularly invited along until in the mid 1980’s a new Master i/c athletics wrote to inform J.Howell that he ‘could not fit us in’.

Closer to home, a few of the PE teachers in Waltham Forest shared their interest in increasing the number of ‘local’ athletics fixtures beyond the one-off annual championships. What started as a boys triangular fixture in 1979 between Leyton, Higham’s Park and Tom Hood grew into an athletics league which has flourished and expanded ever since and is now a well-supported set of 6 weeks of competitions in the summer term for both boys and girls and caters for years 7 ,8, 9 and 10 separately. This summer league has proven over many years to be the envy of many other boroughs in London and Essex and really does showcase the commitment to extra-curricular sport that continues to thrive in Waltham Forest. Leyton has always been at the forefront both in participation and also the organisation of this much loved annual series of competitions.

During the 1970’s LSHS also became a powerhouse of rugby locally. This was built upon a very strong foundation which involved Leyton (the senior school age groups) combining with George Mitchell and Norlington (the junior school age groups) for a very full Saturday morning fixture list, which embraced both football and rugby. Enthusiasm for the sport amongst staff and students allowed and encouraged many new developments. There was a tour to Paris in Easter break 1974 (giving an opportunity to attend England v France at Parc des Princes) and to Brussels in Easter break 1975. An ‘exchange’ series of weekend visits started in 1975 and continued for over 10 years between St Teilos School (Cardiff) and LSHS.

LSHS competed in many tournaments, both 15-a-side and 7-a-side, in addition to regular fixtures and enjoyed considerable success. District rugby started in 1975 and many Leyton players represented Waltham Forest against Redbridge, Newham, Barking and Dagenham and Havering as well as a variety of club colts teams. Also, many Leyton players wanted even more rugby and so a steady stream over many years took the short journey down to Eton Manor RFC where they played for the colts and eventually moved into the men’s teams.