A Manchester United fan who has pledged not to cut his hair until the team secures five consecutive wins was attacked by another supporter at Old Trafford.
Frank Ilett, 29, launched «The United Strand» challenge on October 5 last year, letting his hair grow past 18cm while raising money for charity. His unusual vow has made him a viral figure among United fans.
During the Chelsea match at Old Trafford, a video captured him interacting with fellow supporters in the concourse before one fan suddenly grabbed his hair and shook it violently. Others quickly intervened to restrain the aggressor, who shouted expletives and claimed Ilett was not a «real fan».
Despite the confrontation, Ilett later posted a smiling photo on social media celebrating United’s win, writing:
«Wet hair, but still a smile on my face! A big win today! 1 down, 4 to go. COME ON UNITED!»
The Man Utd fan who is not cutting his hair until they win 5 games in a row got grabbed and abused at yesterday's game.
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) September 21, 2025
What an awful bloke by the way. Horrendous way to treat someone. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TZ9np8OdoR
Reflecting on the incident, he told that most interactions had been positive:
«I thought he was joking to start with, but then he started yanking my hair and calling me an attention-seeker. Hundreds of fans were lovely and supportive, but just a few can ruin it.»
He added that his challenge was never meant to highlight United’s struggles but to spread humour and positivity during a difficult period for the club.
«I never expected it to go on so long, but I’m hopeful we can go on a good run soon. I want the wins more than most.»
Based in Spain, Ilett said he regularly receives photo requests from fans when visiting England. His dream ending would be to finally cut his hair at Old Trafford once United achieve the five-match streak. For now, the challenge continues into its second year after the derby defeat kept the run alive.
Kursiv also reports that Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 victory over rivals Manchester United at the Etihad in the fourth round of the Premier League.
