This past Saturday Maryland Bobcats FC, announced a formal partnership with Marine A.F.C., a Merseyside club located near Liverpool, England. It is the first foreign partnership for the Bobcats. The partnership was brokered by Gary Beggs and Paul Abrams of the Gorilla Sports Group, a Liverpool based sports management firm. In addition, Simon Rose, business strategist for NISA, worked with Gorilla Sports to help connect the two clubs.

After having been an adult amateur men’s side for a number of years, the Bobcats are a Division III professional club having joined NISA at the end of 2020. Marine AFC was formed in 1894 and became professional in 1974. The club currently plays in Division One West of the Northern Premier League which sits at level 8 in the English football pyramid.

Jide Saba, co-owner and president of the Bobcats, stated “For us it is important to partner with clubs that we feel like we can both learn from one another and build something special together. Marine is built like us and we have lots of similarities - that’s what makes this special. Both clubs are community centered and we both have similar issues surrounding us. We will both work hand in hand to hopefully shock the world of football.”

Maryland’s announcement notes that the partnership will include sharing best practices including player development and stadium planning. This summer Marine AFC used funds from its recent FA Cup run to upgrade its grounds, the Marine Travel Arena, a venue originally built in 1903.

Evan Raimist, vice president of the Bobcats, said "Big picture, we hope this is another tool in our toolchest to continue to grow, develop, and learn. We also hope that partnering with a like-minded club in another country (let alone the UK) will allow both clubs to bounce ideas, best practices, and knowledge off of each other in a mutually beneficial way. In our conversations with Marine, it became clear just how many similarities there are. From player payment, level of play, goals, but also off the field things and issues both clubs are facing, what we both want to do better, and our ambitious plans for growth. Both clubs want to be community clubs and both know that soccer (or football) is a way to impact our communities.It's really a "meeting of the minds" behind both clubs and knowing that the more information, ideas, and resources both clubs have, the better chance for both of us to continue to grow."

- Dan Creel