HORNETS have been through many highs and lows since their formation in 1871.

But for the sake of the loyal fans, directors who have poured money into the club, and the town in general, let’s hope, having gone into administration they can hang on in there.

More importantly, let’s hope this precarious situation, will be overcome by the formation of a new company - as agreed at Monday night’s EGM - and will send out a message which has long been preached by the Hornets’ board – "Use us or lose us."

Here are some great memories from the last seven decades of one of the world’s oldest rugby league clubs.

Just a day before the formal surrender ceremony of Japan, which all but ended World War Two, Hornets’ youngsters earned their first "post-war" win against Hull Kingston Rovers in front of 3,900 at the Athletic Grounds.

‘Junius’ (Harry Tweedale) reported events in the Rochdale Observer following the game:

"Whatever ups and downs may be in store for the Hornets in post-war football their reappearance at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday was a happy one.  It was a triumph for youth, dash, and grit on the part of the most youthful team that has ever worn the red, white and blue colours, over the overwhelming weight and lusty vigour of the more experienced Hull Kingston side."

The average age of the Hornets’ side fielded in 1945 was a mere 22, but they showed plenty of heart and produced a display that sent away the Hornets’ faithful with plenty of encouragement.

‘Junius’ wrote: "It was a sheer delight to see the way in which the Hornets carried out the rugby precept of hard, low tackling, which wrought deadly execution in the Rovers’ ranks."

Two years later Hornets fell agonisingly short of a trip to Wembley when they were beaten in a semi-final of the Challenge Cup - 11-0 at the hands of Wigan. Rochdale Observer reporter ‘Vigilant’ was our man covering the game that day.

"At Swinton on Saturday, in the Challenge Cup semi-final, the Hornets, described in some quarters as a no-chance team and incapable of holding Wigan, made a gallant exit from the competition. They were not eleven points inferior to the season’s star combination."

The same reporter was not too impressed with the officiating which so dearly cost Hornets that magic trip to the capital.

"Neither Mr Dobson (who was in charge of the match) nor anyone else will convince me that Bradshaw grounded the ball as he lay on his back barely over the Hornets’ line. And if Mountford did not knock on at the halfway line in the movement leading to Radcliffe’s second try, I am a Dutchman!"

In 1954 Hornets attracted their record crowd for a league game when they were defeated 18-4 by local rivals Oldham in front of 19,654 at the Athletic Grounds.

Although 1966 is often remembered for the pinnacle of a certain other sport, it is also remembered by Hornets’ fans for an outstanding display in holding St Helens to a draw in front of live television cameras.

Frank Barlow reported: "Hornets scaled new heights and earned millions of friends by way of the television cameras at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday, with a stirring second half rally that saw them whittle away a 14 points deficit to gain a fully merited draw with last season’s League champions and Cup winners St Helens.

"In fact, the moral victors of this tremendous, pulsating, cliff hanger of a game were undoubtedly Hornets, who were generally given little or no chance against the rampant Saints prior to the start of what turned out to be a memorable second half."

In the seventies, Hornets went through one of their most successful periods under the management of Frank Myler and Kel Coslett.

In 1977 it was a Christmas to remember for Hornets’ fans who enjoyed a 14-5 Boxing Day win over local rivals Oldham.

This was how the Rochdale Observer covered the local affair.

"A ten-point scoring burst midway through the second half of the Boxing Day clash at Watersheddings literally knocked the Christmas stuffing out of Oldham and kept Hornets deservedly in pole position at the top of Division Two. It was a grandstand comeback by Hornets, from the previous week’s Doncaster disaster, and fittingly the player who fully recharged the batteries was coach Kel Coslett. He kept his forwards on the move, funnelling them into position in defence and leading the charge in attack with a personal bonus of four goals thrown in for good measure."

On 22 September 1985 Hornets ran out 52-13 winners against Doncaster on what proved to be a rare occasion in more than one way:

"This was the day when Hornets got everything right. A crowd of over a thousand, an Indian summer, two new Aussies showing splendid form, a hat-trick and a try to spare from newly-signed Phil Edge, a display of sparkling football, and over the half century in the "points for" column.

In 1988 it was the end of an era for Hornets as they moved out of their home at the Athletic Grounds – sold to clear debts that had put them in financial trouble – to their present home at Spotland which they would share with Rochdale Football Club.

The year of 1996 saw rugby league switch from a winter to summer season – it hasn’t been a success for the Spotland club. Eleven managers have come and gone since then, perhaps the most successful being Martin Hall who guided the club to two third-place finishes and gave fans a real hope in the Northern Ford Premiership.

Hall’s resignation opened the door for Bobbie Goulding who steadied the ship for Hornets in the first of two spells as coach. Starting with a squad of only three players he provided some memorable moments for the Hornets’ faithful.

A disastrous season under Darren Abram followed before Darren Shaw and Paul Anderson, along with the players, restored pride in the famous red, white and blue jersey to make the play-offs.Hornets’ fans will hope they can do the same next season.