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The Club has always taken 1878 as its foundation date. There is no direct evidence for this, as no records from this period have survived, and 1878 pre-dates Home Tidings (the forerunner of the Polytechnic Magazine) which was first published in 1879.

In 1899 the Club was aware that its 21st Anniversary was approaching, and decided that the annual dinner that year would be a coming of age dinner, and that Walter Groves, vice-president of the Club and editor of Cycling Magazine, should produce a short history of the Club for that occasion. The Archive has a photocopy of the booklet - called Souvenir of the Coming of Age Dinner.

From this Souvenir it is clear that the officials in 1899 did not know about the origins of the club and that doubt was cast on 1878 as the foundation date. Quintin Hogg, founder of the Young Men's Christian Institute, was appealed to and he gave his version, based apparently on his memory and evidence in his private letter books (which have not survived). He says that the first cycling club was formed in the Salisbury Street, Strand, branch of the Institute- a branch which was established mainly for clerks. "These lads were somewhat richer than those in Long Acre, who were mainly mechanics". The boys approached Hogg in the winter of 1877, as there was no cycling club in Long Acre, where the main Institute was then based, to start one in Salisbury Street. The club was formed in the spring of 1878. It was named the Ian Bicycling Club after Hogg's second son, who was then a baby.

Hogg says many of the boys were beginners and their runs were chiefly to Richmond, Mortlake and the like. He bought some machines for boys to practice on and they made trips to the New Forest. Hogg says nothing about competitive events in this period and it is not clear whether any were held.

The Salisbury Street Institute closed in 1881, the year in which the main institute in Long Acre was looking to move into larger premises. Regent Street was purchased at the end of the year. According to Hogg, in the winter of 1881-82 the Hanover Bicycle Club was formed, absorbing the remnants of the Ian Club. I have not found a reference to this (there may be an unindexed reference in Home Tidings, but this would require detailed reading). In February 1883, the rules of the Hanover Bicycle Club are published in Home Tidings (page 22), and an account of the first AGM was given in March (page 23). Following this, regular reports of the Club's activities were included. The Club apparently organised runs and tours, with annual races in August. The first annual races were held in August 1882 at Lillie Bridge. In 1882 the Club had 6 riding and 10 non-riding members; a year later this had grown to 26 riders and 3 non-riders.

The name changed to the Polytechnic Cycling Club in 1885. The decision was made at the AGM on 9 January and is reported in Home Tidings. The reason given is that the old name no longer had any connection with the present Institute. The name Hanover, used by several early Institute clubs, came from Hanover Street, renamed Endell Street in 1876, where the Institute was based for some years. In 1882 the Young Men's Christian Institute moved to 309 Regent Street, into a building formerly owned by the Royal Polytechnic Institution, and gradually became known as the Polytechnic. In time the clubs changed their names to reflect this change.

The Polytechnic Cycling Club Gazette was apparently started in 1891, but 1896 is the earliest surviving volume in the Archives. The Club produced further short accounts of its history, usually combined with anniversary dinners (at 50, 75 and 100 years) but these all draw on Groves' account for the very early period.

The Polytechnic Rifle Society was advertised to particularly for first year students in the McGarel in October 1970. The ranges that were on offer at the time were, .22” Target Rifles, .22” Air Pistol, for beginners and .22” Target Pistol for experts. The rifle society took place in the basement floor of 303 Regent Street during this time. In October 1971, the rifle society started shooting practice at Bisley shooting range, Surrey aswell as 309 Regent Street. Usually, full bore shooting took place at the NRA ranges at Bisley. In November 1971, Jill Bower was reported to achieve the highest score ever shot by a woman at the polytechnic. The polytechnic were at present third position in the Polytechnic League, behind Leeds and Hatfield Polytechnic in February 1972.

During this time, the society’s shooters also competed in internal competitions like the Hailsham Cup, which was a inter-department competition, where teams were devised by team captains in which they would be shooting on behalf of the different departments they belonged to. Along with competing in individual competitions for different categories such as Pistol, The Rifleman and Best All Rounder; the competitions lasted from March 1st- 31st 1972. Other internal competitions the society’s members competed in were the Quintin Hogg Cup, which involved aiming to achieve the best shot of the club and a National Small-Bore Rifle Association badge. External competitions were postal and side-by-side, usually postals were run by the NSRA. Additionally, there was also other external competitions like the Seetech Postal Competition which the society annually participated in.

In 1973, the society did extremely well in the LSBRA competition and were able to win several money prizes. 
One shooter was able to win the County Gilt medal on behalf of the society. Towards the end of the academic year of 1973/74, the polytechnic saw four of its members become N.S.R.A marksmen. These marksmen were Mark Habershon who was the retiring chairman of the society at the time, who won a Master shot badge. Whilst, Garry Markham and Tom Burton were awarded with Class ‘A’ badges. Lastly, the Class ‘C’ badge which was won by Mike Barwise. In March 1974, the club briefly started rifle shooting practice at Hendon shooting club, with shooting distances being over 50 and 100 yards. Their was also the possibility of the society having a handicap competition aswell, along with the Pimpernel and novice competitions starting at this time.

After many years of previous setbacks, the society managed to get training back on for Tuesday afternoons and Friday all day for pistol shooting. Whilst, the rifle club met on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. They were also able to gain a rifle club room, which was helpful for participants when they practicing for competitions. During this time, some of the society’s marksmen took part in the LSBRA competition, and competed in the Bisley Small-Bore and full-bore NSRA competitions.

A team of four shooters competed in the London University Open Meeting, in which the Mark Habershon won the first event. Whilst, the novices competition was won by Mike Henderson and the pistol ladder was won by M. Hubert Cottin. The Quintin Hogg Cup was won by Mark Habershon and Joe Verdi. The Handicap competition was won by Scott Peters. And the Hendon Competition was won by Mark Habershon.

Pistol shooting for the academic year of 1974/75 was under the guidance of Tom Burton who inaugurated the pistol ladder competition in 1974. Whilst, pistol shooting continued to have occasional trips to Bisley throughout 1974, 1975 and 1976, where they were able to shoot with 7.62 rifles. Ammunition was 9p for ten shots, whilst club memberships were 30p per year and shooting tuition was free along with the use of weapons and other equipment. Extra coaching for the academic year of 1975/76 was provided on Wednesdays 2pm-4pm.

In the Summer of 1975, the society devised a team which participated in the London Small Bore Rifle Association, and won their division. In November 1975, they attended a final comprising of the 17 division winning teams in which, the team came in 10th position with a score of 449.344. At the Novice’s competition in December 1975, Haluk Bilger won the NSRA B Badge.

The club’s team A had won the DN.8 Summer League Competition in 1976, with finals being played on the 30th October 1976 at Witan Range. In December 1976, P.Prez and P. Pazor came in 1st and 2nd position in the novices competition.

In February 1978, the society had successfully entered the University of London Rifle Club league with three teams, A, B and Novices, however all teams had to withdraw due to a lack of attendance. In March 1979, the team hit the 10 bull target in the team event at the Hailsham Shield.

In May 1979, the novices team in the society finished the academic year winning the University of London Internal League. Whilst another team within the society had progressed to the second round of their divisions in the Eley National Postal Competition.

Towards the end of the academic year of 1979/80, in June it was reported that Rob Van Jartskamp won the medal L.S.B.R.A and won the novices trophy.

In February 1981, two members who belonged to the society managed to get into the second round of the National Championship Competition and several other members entered into the LSBRA competitions. The Quintin Hogg Cup that year was awarded to Sue Barnes who obtained the highest score in that competition for 10 years, whilst the Hailsham Shield was won by the law department. In May 1981, the society saw eight people through to the second round of the NSRA/ ELEY competition. In June 1981, it was reported in the McGarel that the ‘A’ Team were doing exceptionally well in the London league, after leading the division by a mile after three rounds.

In October 1981, the society won the British Polytechnics Sports Association Shooting Competition and the division of the London Small Bore Rifle Association. A month later it was reported in the McGarel that the ‘A’ team had won division seven and come in fourth in a field of twenty-four in the LSBRA final at Witan Rifle Club.

In November 1982, society members completed a six week course in pistol shooting which was arranged with a club coach from Wembley Rifle Club. In May 1983, the society had devised an ‘A’ and ‘B’ team for the LSBRA Postal competition that consisted of ten rounds.

The society held competitions against other clubs such as Kings College and the Inland Revenue. From 1983, the society went on regular trips to Bisley Shooting Range, where students had the opportunity to shoot full-bore from 100 to 1000 yards. At the beginning of the academic year of 1983/84, the society saw over 50 members join the society at this time.

On Saturday 5th November 1983, the society’s ‘A’ team competed in the LSBRA League finals, which the ‘A’ team attained a score of 463, whilst the ‘B’ team had a score of 420.

In October 1971, the Polytechnic Rugby club got off to an unfortunate season in its opening fixture against Hatfield Poly. During this time, both first and second teams were established whilst, they announced the expectancy of the third team. In November 1971, the Polytechnic’s match against Avery Hill was reported in the McGarel by the famous rugby sport journalist Vivian Jenkins. At the end of the academic year of 1975/76, the society attained four wins overall that season.

In November 1978, training took place on Monday evenings, where teams were selected for upcoming matches after training. A year later, the first team lost in the first round of the B.P.S.A cup match against Brighton Polytechnic. Unfortunately again, they lost against South Bank Polytechnic in the Seetech Cup Semi-finals in January 1980. Later on that year, the society attended a tour to Holland. In March 1980, the society competed in a Seetech 7-a-side competition, where they reached their semi-finals, ultimately losing to Borough Road College. However later on that month, the society went on to win the B.P.S.A 7-a-side tournament beating the likes of Liverpool, Huddersfield and Thames Polytechnic. 
In the academic year of 1980/81, the society played again in the Seetech Cup, and qualified for the final stages of the B.P.S.A cup.

On Wednesday 1982, the society won the Seetech Seven-a-side tournament against Borough Road College. On Friday 2nd April 1982, the society had organised a tour to Amsterdam, which involved playing two local teams. The academic year of 1982/83, saw the society running three XV’s with the first team XV having an excellent record of playing 17 matches, with 14 wins and 3 lost’s.

The Volleyball Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society would have training in the Regent Street Gym on Wednesday’s 3pm-4pm. Both in 1975 and 1976, the Polytechnic Volleyball Society won the Seetech Cup final, and the London area league play offs in 1976.

In October 1980, the society was using the volleyball courts at Michael Sobell Sports Centre. In March 1981, the society was unfortunately eliminated from the B.P.S.A Cup quarter finals, after losing to Bristol. In the academic year of 1981/82, the society played in three different leagues such as the London League, Seetech League and K/O Cup League. In the London League, the society was at the top of the table after beating University College, whilst they were through to the semi-finals in the K/O Cup League. During the 1980s, volleyball became one of the three most supported games in the world and was still establishing itself in the UK. The society had both a men’s and women’s team which played in the mid-week London League, Seetech League and B.P.S.A, which the men’s team reached the quarter finals in 1982 in Bath.

The Table Tennis Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society was able to train at any time, everyday in the Games Room in Regent Street. A table tennis championship took place at the Regent Street building on 23rd February 1977.

In January 1979, training took place every Wednesday in the Regent Street Judo room from 3pm. Members were able to get a qualified coach and enter a team in the London League at this time.

The Sub Aqua Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society would carry out training on Wednesdays at 2-4pm. In January 1977, the society was keen on recruiting new students and was particularly encouraging female students to get involved in the society, as there wasn’t enough female participants to utilise £6000 worth of equipment, expert training and tuition available at the time. 

In March 1977, members of the society made a trip to a beach in Swanage to complete their BSAC ‘D’ test, this is an open water section of a training programme which allowed members to be categorised under the internationally acknowledged title of ‘Diver Third Class’.