The Man United fan who has gone viral for pledging not to cut his hair until the club win five games in a row has jokingly unveiled his plan to ‘stay relevant’ once the challenge is over.
Frank Ilett – better known as The United Strand – has been growing out his now-mop-like hair since October 2024, a period during which United have failed to win five consecutive times.
Ilett came agonisingly close last month when the Red Devils strung together four straight victories after Michael Carrick’s arrival as interim boss, and was preparing to get the clippers out before United were ultimately held to a draw at West Ham in the fifth game.
Despite there now being just nine games of United’s season remaining, Ilett appears confident Carrick can bring an end to his challenge, having already begun preparing for life with a lighter head.
In a satirical video with bookmaker Paddy Power, Ilett sat in a lecture titled ‘How to diversify your viral momentum’ alongside Gordon Hill – better known as the Wealdstone Raider – and other social media stars.
As he walked into the hall, Ilett said: ‘When Man United get those five wins in a row, that’s curtains for me. I need to stay relevant and diversify my brand, and to do that, I’m going to need help.’
Frank Ilett has unveiled his plan to ‘stay relevant’ once Man United win five games in a row
The video then cuts to the teacher of the session, who claims Ilett has ‘big stupid clown hair’, before he turns back to the others sitting in the room.
Among the viral faces in the skit are Jamie Philips, Connor Humpage, Kevin Rooney and Alex Lacey – all of whom went viral overnight when an image of them wearing tight jeans was posted to social media – as well as Danny Andrews, who appeared on a documentary in 2007 detailing how his diet was strictly made up of fish and rice cakes.
Completing the group of ‘viral superstars’ is Guy Goma, who became a sensation after he was mistakenly interviewed live on BBC News in 2006 in place of a technology journalist. Goma had, in fact, turned up for a job interview.
After the group list off their famous catchphrases before claiming they too have been able to change, with the Wealdstone Raider now stating he writes ‘erotic novels’, the teacher returns to Ilett.
‘Frank, if you want to take the next step on your journey, you need to show us the real you. What’s inside? Come on, champ,’ the teacher says.
Ilett then stands up in front of his viral counterparts, before stating: ‘Yeah, I’m the guy with the big head of hair. But there’s so much more to me than that, and I’m ready to show the world.’
However, the motivational music quickly stops as Ilett removes his zipper to reveal copious amounts of hair growing on his chest.
‘What is that? Right, I’m off,’ Goma says, before standing up from his chair and leaving the hall.
The Wealdstone Raider and Guy Goma, who found fame in a botched BBC interview, featured
Danny Andrews, of ‘fish and a rice cake’ fame, joined the ‘Four Lads in Jeans’ – now in chinos
‘I’m going to be sick on my chinos,’ said one of Philips, Humpage, Rooney and Lacey, who claim to have rebranded from wearing jeans in the video.
A Paddy Power spokesperson said: ‘Frank’s become a household name thanks to his non-haircut pledge and Manchester United being terrible, but with the team turning the corner under Michael Carrick, we wanted to lend a hand and ensure he’s future proofing his career in the online meme world.
‘As his fellow viral stars have shown, it’s vital to change up your act to remain fresh in the mind, however his radial approach to body hair isn’t for everyone.
‘Let’s hope he doesn’t wait for five-straight wins for that to come off… we might be waiting for years.’
Ilett’s stunt has become so well-known that Carrick even acknowledged it in his pre-match presser before last month’s tie against the Hammers.
‘I can say I’m aware of it, yeah,’ the interim United boss said. ‘My kids have made me aware of it, if anything, but it certainly won’t go into the team talk from a professional level.
‘I can understand what’s going on with it and it does make me smile but it won’t have an impact ultimately in the end.’
