A Manchester United supporter who vowed not to cut his hair until the team won five consecutive games has spoken out after being violently grabbed by a fellow fan during the 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Frank Ilett, 29, creator of the popular page The United Strand, has become a cult figure among supporters thanks to his challenge, which has now stretched close to a year.
But his light-hearted campaign took a dark turn on Saturday when a supporter physically confronted him in the concourse.
Footage that went viral on social media showed the man aggressively pulling Ilett’s long hair before hurling obscenities at him.
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The clip captured the aggressor repeatedly shouting for him to “f*** off” while attempting to lunge at him a second time, before other matchgoers stepped in to break up the confrontation.
Speaking after the incident, Ilett admitted the attack shocked him but said he remains determined to see his challenge through.
“It was a bit weird to be honest,” he told The Sun.
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Manchester United supporter Frank Ilett – better known online as The United Strand – was attacked by a fellow fan during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford after refusing to cut his hair until the team wins five consecutive games | X“At first I thought he was joking, but then he started yanking my hair and calling me an ‘attention-seeking c***’.
“The whole day was full of hundreds of positive interactions and 99 per cent of the reactions to this challenge have been nice.
“But just a few people can ruin it. My intention was never to highlight Manchester United’s flaws — it was always to spread humour and positivity in a difficult time for the club.”
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Manchester United supporter Frank Ilett won't let the incident with a fellow supporter deter him
|Ilett launched the challenge on October 5 last year, vowing not to visit the barber until United strung together five consecutive victories.
Almost 12 months on, the Red Devils have yet to put together the required run, meaning his hair has grown to more than 18cm.
Despite the difficulties of maintaining his locks — particularly while living in Spain — Ilett has stayed committed to the cause.
Several hair care brands have even approached him with sponsorship offers, but his focus has remained on raising money for mental health charity Mind UK and eventually donating his hair to the Little Princess Trust once it reaches 25cm.
“I never expected it to go on for this long,” he admitted.
“But I’m hopeful we can go on a good run soon and, more than most, I want these wins to come as quickly as possible. I’ll always try to focus on the positives and hope this was just a one-off.”
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Man Utd fan Frank Ilett pictured at the start of his hair challenge
|Ilett previously travelled to Old Trafford for April’s dramatic Europa League quarter-final win over Lyon and has become a familiar face in the stands.
His viral challenge has brought together fans frustrated by United’s inconsistent form, offering a tongue-in-cheek reminder of the club’s struggles while raising money for a worthy cause.
With the one-year anniversary of his pledge fast approaching, Ilett is determined to stay the course.
And he's now calling for the incident to be left in the past so that the focus can return to United’s next winning run.