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Maryland Bobcats FC

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Maryland Bobcats FC, formerly World Class Premier Elite (WCPE), are an American soccer team and academy based in Montgomery County, Maryland, which was founded in 2016. The organization's professional team competes within the National Independent Soccer Association in the third division of U.S. Soccer. The Bobcats also field teams in both the Maryland Super Soccer League and Eastern Premier Soccer League.

Maryland Bobcats FC
Full nameMaryland Bobcats Football Club
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016)
StadiumMaryland SoccerPlex
Boyds, Maryland, U.S.
Capacity5,000
PresidentJay Saba
CoachAlex Kao[1]
LeagueNational Independent Soccer Association
Fall 20219th Place
Websitehttps://www.marylandbobcatsfc.com/
Current season

History

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Local and national amateur leagues

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The club began as a men's amateur team as a way for friends to continue to stay in touch and for players to stay match fit when looking for potential professional playing opportunities. It went through name multiple name changes, settling on World Class Premier Elite as the club was gaining prominence. The club ended up having two men's teams playing in separate areas of the metro Washington D.C. area. WCP were the 2018 Spring Season champions in both the Washington Premier League (WPL) and Maryland Major Soccer League (MMSL).[2][3] Both leagues are affiliated with the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

In fall of 2018, World Class Premier took part in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup qualification tournament and reached the final round before falling to Virginia United FC in a shootout.[4]

WCP were announced as the United Premier Soccer League's newest expansion into Maryland on November 30, 2018.[5] The team competes in the Northeast Conference and plays its UPSL home games at Montgomery Blair High School's football stadium, in Silver Spring, Maryland in compliance with UPSL's Minimum Standards.

During the 2019 Spring season, the team went nearly undefeated in the Mid-Atlantic Division North (9–0–1) and finished the regular season in first place. It went on to win the Division playoffs, beating San Lee FC and eventually Baltimore United FC in the final. WCP fell to eventual champions Florida Tropics SC in the National Quarterfinals on July 13.[6]

The following season, WCP (which later changed its name to Maryland Bobcats FC mid-season) finished the regular season undefeated. In the playoffs, the team won five straight games to win the UPSL's Mid-Atlantic Division, Northeast Conference, and eventually the Fall 2019 National Championship. The final, which was played at Barry University's Buccaneer Field in Miami Shores, Florida, saw the Bobcats defeat Santa Ana Winds FC, 3–1, in extra time.

On September 26, 2019, it was announced that the club would join the National Premier Soccer League as an expansion team. The Bobcats, originally accepted as WCP, were set to begin play in the Northeast Region's Mid-Atlantic Conference in 2020 with home matches being played at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland.[7] However, in March 2020, the league announced the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

In late 2019, the club announced it would be rebranding to Maryland Bobcats FC.

The club announced the a restructuring in the spring of 2020, which sees the Professional team on top, the Reserve Team (Maryland Bobcats FC II) underneath, and youth teams beneath the men's teams. The youth teams will have access to the men's teams and vice versa, and identified players will be brought up to potentially train and travel with the men's teams.

On August 6, 2020, Maryland Bobcats were announced as a new member of the Eastern Premier Soccer League.[9]

Jump to professional play

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In mid July 2020, the Bobcats were announced as a participant in the inaugural NISA Independent Cup, a regional tournament held by the National Independent Soccer Association, a USSF sanctioned Division 3 league, between its professional members and independent pro / amateur teams.[10][11] The Bobcats were set the host the event's Mid-Atlantic Region which included FC Baltimore Christos, New Amsterdam FC, and the New York Cosmos at Maryland SoccerPlex before a surge in COVID-19 cases forced its postponement and relocation.[12] Following multiple weather delays, the Bobcats won the Mid-Atlantic region on Saturday, October 10.[13]

On July 27, 2020, the Bobcats announced it had applied to join NISA.[14][15] If accepted, it would be the state's first professional outdoor soccer team since Crystal Palace Baltimore. Maryland was officially announced as a new league member on October 13, 2020, with plans to begin play in fall 2021.[16][17]

Supporters

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The primary supporters' group of Maryland Bobcats FC is known as the Old Bae Brigade. Born out of supporters that attended DC United matches, the Old Bae Brigade sits behind the opposing team's bench at home matches.[18] Over the years, the supporter group has established several traditions, such as the bobcat fact of the match and accentuating the "O" in the American National Anthem like Baltimore Orioles fans during the pregame.[19]

Colors and badge

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  •  
    (2019–)

Kit

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2020 home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2020 away
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2020 third

Sponsorship

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Years Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Sleeve sponsor
2020 Icarus Holiday Inn College Park Helping Hands Therapeutic Services, Committed to Change
2021 Hummel Dog Haus Kaizo Health
2022 Hummel Jimmy's Famous Seafood Kaizo Health
2023 Hummel Bobcats Youth Academy Kaizo Health

Players and staff

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Current roster

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As of April 3, 2023[20]
No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Alexander Sutton   United States
2 DF Elmer Villatoro   United States
3 MF Samuel Solomon   United States
4 MF Dominique Kosséhassé   Ivory Coast
5 DF Mohamed Conteh   Sierra Leone
6 DF Abdul Kooistra   United States
7 FW Malik Thom   United States
8 MF Josselin Possian   Ivory Coast
9 FW Karl Mbouombouo   France
10 FW Nicolas Likulia   France
11 MF Darwin Espinal   Honduras
12 GK Sylvanus Eku Thompson   Sierra Leone
13 DF Jimmy Filerman   United States
14 MF Marcos Sotarello   Spain
15 DF Richard Forka   United States
16 MF Pierre Richard   United States
17 FW Teshawn Johnson   United States
18 FW Abdou Mbacke Thiam   Senegal
20 MF Iker Bustamante   United States
22 MF Andrew Wivell   United States
23 MF Manuel Gonzalez   United States
24 MF Gavin Shiels   Republic of Ireland
27 GK John Hollinger   United States
28 DF Phillip Brown   United States
29 DF Ryan Machado-Jones   United States
33 MF Akingbolahan Akinkoye   United States
34 DF Filip Burnett   United States
35 MF Abdulrahmane Madad   United States
72 DF Abdellah Mansour   Egypt
77 FW Caleb Pritchett   United States
81 DF Zeiad Elsayed   Egypt
93 FW William Joe Wangu   DR Congo

Head coaches

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Name Nat Tenure
Samuel Okpodu   Nigeria March 24, 2021 – November 22, 2021[21]
Sylvain Rastello   Canada January 5, 2022 – February 21, 2023
Alex Kao   France March 1, 2023 –[22]

General managers

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Name Nat Tenure
Sylvain Rastello[23]   Canada January 5, 2022 – February 21, 2023

Year-by-year

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Year League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Notes
2019 Spring UPSL 1st, Mid-Atlantic Division National Quarterfinals Forth Qualifying Round Lost to Florida Tropics SC in the National Quarterfinal
2019 Fall 1st, Beltway Division[24] National Champions Third Qualifying Round Defeated Santa Ana Winds FC in the National Final[25][26]
2020 NPSL No league season due to COVID
2020 Fall UPSL Sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic[27]
2020 Fall NISA Did not participate
2021 Spring 5th Did not qualify Cancelled –
2021 Fall 9th – –
2022 Season 5th National Quarterfinals Second Round Lost to ASC San Diego in National Quarterfinals
2023 Season 5th National Quarterfinals Third Round Lost to ASC San Diego in National Quarterfinals

Honors

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National Independent Soccer Association

  • NISA Independent Cup
    • Mid-Atlantic Region

United Premier Soccer League

  • National
    • Champion (1): Fall 2019
  • Conference
    • Northeast Champion (1): Fall 2019
  • Division
    • Mid-Atlantic
    • Beltway
      • Regular Season (1): Fall 2019
      • Playoffs (1): Fall 2019

References

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  1. ^ "President of the Youth Academy and Assistant Coach Alex Kao to become Head Coach of Maryland Bobcats FC Senior Team".
  2. ^ Communications, MMSL (June 28, 2018). "World Class Premier Elite win Maryland Majors Spring Championship". Maryland Major Soccer League. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  3. ^ ""Congratulations to @Worldclassprem , your Spring 2018 Helge Boes Cup (& regular season) champs!! 2-1 victors in 2nd stanza of AET over @YinzUnited to claim their 1st WPL championship"". Twitter. Washington Premier League. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Jones, Dillon (April 8, 2019). "2019 US Open Cup Qualifying: Virginia United rally twice to earn club its first USOC berth". TheCup.us. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  5. ^ "UPSL Announces Marylands World Class Premier Elite as Expansion Team". www.afchearts.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Alfaro, Carlos (August 15, 2019). "World Class Premier Elite excels in inaugural UPSL season". thesentinel.com. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "WORLD CLASS PREMIER ELITE JOINS THE NPSL FOR THE 2020 SEASON". NPSL. September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  8. ^ Prince-Wright, Joe (March 26, 2020). "2020 NPSL season cancelled". ProSoccerTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "EPSL Welcomes the Maryland Bobcats FC". Eastern Premier Soccer League. August 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "NISA Independent Cup". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  11. ^ Andrews, Kyle J. (July 15, 2020). "FC Baltimore Christos set to return to play in Mid-Atlantic NISA Independent Cup". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "NISA Independent Cup Mid-Atlantic Region Update". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  13. ^ FC, Maryland Bobcats (October 12, 2020). "Maryland Bobcats FC Win 2020 NISA Independent Cup Mid-Atlantic Region". Maryland Bobcats FC. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Maryland Bobcats FC Apply to Join NISA". Maryland Bobcats FC. July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  15. ^ Byck, Daniella (July 27, 2020). "Maryland Is Getting a Professional Soccer Team". Washingtonian. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "NISA Officially Welcomes Maryland Bobcats FC". nisaofficial.com. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "Maryland Bobcats FC Announce hummel as Official Technical Apparel Partner". Maryland Bobcats FC Homepage. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  18. ^ Staff (September 5, 2022). "The Head-Turning Supporters of the Maryland Bobcats". FNDM90: Soccer Fan Culture and Supporter Groups. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  19. ^ Newton, Jason (September 10, 2014). "Baltimore fans put the 'O!' in national anthem". WBAL. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  20. ^ "Roster". Maryland Bobcats FC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "Maryland Bobcats FC Part Ways with Members of Coaching Staff". Maryland Bobcats FC. November 22, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "President of the Youth Academy and Assistant Coach Alex Kao to become Head Coach of Maryland Bobcats FC Senior Team". March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  23. ^ "Sylvain Rastello Named First Team Head Coach and General Manager of Maryland Bobcats Football Club". Maryland Bobcats FC. January 5, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  24. ^ "UPSL Northeast Conference - Beltway Division Regular Season Champions!". Maryland Bobcats FC. November 11, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "Fall 2019 UPSL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS". Maryland Bobcats FC. February 10, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  26. ^ Queen, Michelle (March 10, 2020). "Council Recognizes National Champion Maryland Bobcats Soccer Team". Montgomery Community Media. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  27. ^ "Update on club's decision on our @UPSLsoccer Fall 2020 season". Twitter. Maryland Bobcats FC. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
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