The internet has fueled countless fan channels and quirky challenges, but one Manchester United supporter might have taken things too far. Frank Ilett, 28, runs a social media channel called The United Strand.
Since October 5, Frank has refused to cut his hair until Manchester United wins five games in a row. When he started, he thought the streak would last only a few months. The club last won five consecutive matches from January to February 2024.
Now, 149 days later, the run seems far from over. Man Utd’s poor form under coach Ruben Amorim has extended the challenge much longer than Frank expected.
Speaking to SunSport, Frank said the idea began simply as a bit of fun. He saw someone else do a similar stunt with an NFL team and thought it would be amusing to try with Man Utd.
“I just went for it,” Frank said. “I thought maybe there might be some interest because Man Utd is such a huge club worldwide. I didn’t imagine it would go on this long.”
Frank checked the club’s recent history and saw the last winning streak was just months earlier, so he felt hopeful. He also eyed some winnable fixtures in January but was disappointed when losses piled up instead.
He admitted that at one point he considered a three-game challenge but felt it would be “too easy.” So, he set the bar at five games, not realizing how difficult that would be.
Frank, who has lived in Spain for a year, said maintaining long hair now is more work than when he was younger. Still, he sees it as part of the fun.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are struggling in the Premier League’s bottom half. Their recent FA Cup loss to Fulham leaves Europa League glory as their only likely path back into European competition.
Frank doesn’t blame the coach alone. He holds the club’s owners, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers, responsible for much of the club’s troubles. He criticized decisions like cutting the staff canteen budget while spending millions on players who rarely play.
The United Strand has grown rapidly, surpassing 60,000 Instagram followers and drawing more than 35 million views in 90 days. Frank said the support, from both fans and rivals, has been overwhelming.
He’s even caught the attention of former and current players like Denis Irwin and academy star Ethan Wheatley, as well as sports figures like boxer Frazer Clarke and tennis player Jamie Murray.
Frank hopes the challenge brings some joy during tough times for Man Utd fans. He plans to organize fan meet-ups and might take on similar challenges involving his beard or expand his YouTube channel. He also dreams of visiting every LaLiga stadium.
Despite the long wait, Frank remains hopeful and committed, showing that true fandom sometimes requires a little sacrifice—like growing your hair for nearly half a year.
