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).
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.
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.
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
The primary supporters' group of Maryland Bobcats FC is known as the Old Bae Brigade.[18] Born out of friends that attended DC United matches, the Old Bae Brigade is a common sight at Bobcats games, sitting behind the opposing team's bench.[19] 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.[20]