• Fan delays haircut after Manchester United draw
• Challenge turns into charity drive for children

Manchester United failed to give its famous supporter, Frank Ilett, a chance to visit the barber for the first time in over a year, following the team’s disappointing 1-1 draw against West Ham on Tuesday, ending their winning streak and resetting Ilett’s “hair challenge.”

Ilett, known on social media as “The United Strand,” began his challenge in October 2024. He publicly vowed not to cut his hair until the Red Devils achieved five consecutive Premier League wins—an achievement that had eluded the team under managers Erik ten Hag and Rúben Amorim.

With Michael Carrick taking temporary charge, Ilett’s hopes rose after four consecutive wins against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham. He needed just one more victory to end his nearly 493-day-long hair wait.

On Tuesday, Ilett watched the match against West Ham live, drawing millions online. Despite West Ham taking the lead, Benjamin Sesko scored an equalizer in the 96th minute, but the draw wasn’t enough—per the challenge rules, five straight wins are required, and any non-win resets the count.

What started as a fun stunt turned into a major charity initiative, with Ilett raising over £6,000 for a mental health charity. He also pledged to donate his long hair to make wigs for children with cancer.

The challenge drew criticism from club legend Wayne Rooney, who called such stunts “unnecessary pressure” that distract players from the team’s core goals.

Coach Michael Carrick commented with a smile, noting his children had filled him in on the challenge, but added that “this isn’t something discussed in professional dressing rooms.”

After the latest draw, Ilett shared his disappointment with his 1.3 million followers, confirming he would continue the challenge until the condition is met, meaning “United hair” will keep growing for the foreseeable future.