Mrs Beckham opposes club's 'Posh' nickname

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham is opposing a Second Division football club’s attempt to register its 68-year-old ‘Posh’ nickname as a trademark, it emerged today.

Geoff Davey, the Peterborough United chief executive, said he was “absolutely stunned” by the move to contest its attempt to trademark its nicknames, ‘Posh’ and ‘The Posh’.

The star, who was nicknamed Posh Spice during her Spice Girls days, alleges her nickname has become globally renowned and is a well-known trademark, according to Mr Davey.

He warned that the club faced serious financial implications if it was prevented from using the ’Posh’ name on its merchandising.

Mr Davey said: “I was absolutely stunned when I got the letter yesterday. One reason was that our claim to the use of the name ‘Posh’ should be challenged.

“The second reason was that someone as big as Victoria Beckham would want to raise this particular challenge.”

“I know that the website in the last few hours has gone bonkers.”

He went on: “There have been a number of hits from football fans, not just Peterborough but nationwide, coming out in support of Peterborough United’s case.

“The name is part of the club’s history and tradition.”

He added: “They are trying to stop Peterborough United using the name, 'Posh' or 'The Posh'.

“I think there would be financial implications in the long term because clearly we use the words on our range of leisurewear and on souvenirs and posters.”

“There is a whole wedge of commercial activities. There could be very serious ramifications.”

According to the UK Trademark Registry website, Peterborough chairman, Peter Boizot, filed an application to trademark the club nicknames in August, 1998.

The website further confirms that an opposition to the application was lodged in September this year.

A spokesman for the UK Trademark Registry said: “We can confirm that the opposing party is Victoria Beckham.”

According to the Peterborough United official website, www.theposh.com, the nickname has been with the club since its inception in 1934.

But its origins are a decade earlier, when a manager from a club which used Peterborough’s London Road ground proclaimed he was looking for: “Posh players for a posh team.”

Also on the website, a statement from Mr Davey said: “Ms Beckham’s opposition alleges that since the launch of the first spice Girls CD in 1996, she has been commonly referred to as Posh or Posh Spice and the nickname ‘posh’ has become synonymous with Ms Beckham on a world-wide basis.

“Although Ms Beckham has not registered the name ‘Posh’ or ‘Posh Spice’, it is alleged that Posh is a well-known trademark, at least in relation to musical performances, printed publications, musical recordings and other licensed goods.”

Mr Davey refused to speculate on how much the club stood to lose if it could not use the nickname.

He said: “It would be an ongoing accumulative value...a very substantial financial value.”

But he added: “I am sure common sense will prevail in the coming weeks.”

But Mr Davey admitted there was a “possibility” that litigation could become involved.

The club is currently in the process of being sold and is second from the foot of Football League Division Two.