For 495 days, Frank Ilett has been waiting for one thing five straight Manchester United wins.
The 29-year-old United supporter, who runs the United Strand Instagram account, vowed in October 2024 that he would not cut his hair until the Red Devils managed five consecutive victories.
What began as a light-hearted pledge has since turned into a viral endurance test.
Over that stretch, Ilett has watched managers Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim lose their jobs at Old Trafford. Just when it seemed his long wait was finally about to end, West Ham United had other ideas.
United travelled to the London Stadium on the back of four straight wins.
The run started in January when Michael Carrick took charge, guiding the team to a 2-0 win over rivals Manchester City before stunning Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates.
Victories over Fulham (3-2) and Tottenham (2-0) followed, putting Ilett within touching distance of his long-overdue haircut.
All he needed was three points against the Hammers.
Instead, the match ended 1-1, with Tomas Soucek and Benjamin Sesko scoring to ensure both sides shared the spoils.
Ilett had livestreamed the game, hoping to celebrate the fifth straight win with fans online. But at the final whistle, the mood was heartbreak rather than jubilation. The emotional supporter was seen in tears.
“It was a strange game. Heartbroken. This was the moment,” he said shortly after the draw.
Since then, Ilett has posted a montage of his reaction to key moments from the game on Instagram, confirming that the barber’s chair will have to wait.
While his pledge has brought unexpected fame including partnerships with brands like Paddy Power and the launch of an e-commerce venture Ilett has dismissed claims that he has made millions.
“I’m definitely not the millionaire that some people think I am,” he told SunSport. “It’s not as well paid as some people think. But that’s not why I started it.”
Whenever the five-win streak finally arrives, Ilett plans to turn the moment into something meaningful.
He intends to donate his 25cm-long hair to the Little Princess Trust, a UK charity that provides wigs for children who lose their hair due to illness.
So far, he says, about £6,000 has already been raised. For now, though, the hair and the wait continues.
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