Manchester United fan waits nearly 500 days for a haircut after four wins

Frank Ilett, known as The United Strand, has waited about 492 days to cut his hair and will do so if Manchester United record a fifth straight win; the team has won four matches in a row, starting with Michael Carrick’s first game back as interim head coach.

Frank Ilett, nicknamed The United Strand online, has been letting his hair grow as part of a personal pledge tied to Manchester United results. He started the challenge to spread humour and positivity among fans. The club has recorded four consecutive wins, a run that began with Michael Carrick’s first game as interim head coach. The story has attracted a large online following and fundraising activity. Key details: - Ilett has about 1.2 million followers on Instagram since his story gained attention. - He has been waiting roughly 492 days for Manchester United to reach five wins in a row so he can cut his hair. - The article mentions Argos as an official delivery partner set to provide trimmers and styling products if the fifth win arrives. - He originally raised £500 for Mind UK and has been fundraising for The Little Princess Trust; the latter campaign is around £6,000 according to the article. - Ilett said he plans to donate his hair to The Little Princess Trust and may get a buzz cut after the donation is prepared. - Before creating football content he managed pubs and cafes, worked an admin role at a council, and later moved to Spain where he lives with his partner and their daughter. Summary: The fan’s long-running pledge has become a viral human-interest story and a small fundraising effort tied to Manchester United’s results. A fifth consecutive win — in the next scheduled match against West Ham at the London Stadium on Tuesday — would end his 492-day wait and lead to a planned haircut and donation.