Maryland Bobcats FC

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 United Premier Soccer League and Eastern Premier Soccer League.

History

Local and national amateur leagues

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. and Baltimore areas. WCP were the 2018 Spring Season champions in both the Washington Premier League (WPL) and Maryland Major Soccer League (MMSL). 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.

WCP were announced as the United Premier Soccer League's newest expansion into Maryland on November 30, 2018. 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.

The following season, WCP (which later changed its na