The United Strand issues new update after reaching 500 days without haircut

Frank Ilett, The United Strand, has revealed a special plan to commemorate reaching 500 days without getting a haircut.

On a seemingly random day back in October 2024, Manchester United fan Ilett announced that he would not be getting a haircut until the club won five matches in a row.

Since then, United have been led by three different managers and been through various spells of impressive form and dismal failures.

After 493 days of the challenge, Ilett came closer than ever to finally getting his haircut last week, as United fell agonisingly short of five consecutive wins with a 1-1 draw with West Ham United at London Stadium.

Now, a week later, Ilett has reached the milestone of 500 days without a haircut, and he's released a statement confirming what he plans to do to commemorate the occasion.

Under the new leadership of interim head coach Michael Carrick, United picked up wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the meeting with the Hammers.

Unfortunately for Ilett, a goal from West Ham veteran Tomas Soucek was all that stood between him and his barber, raising questions about when this challenge will finally end.

February 17 marks 500 days since the challenge began, and Ilett has announced that he will be giving away a signed United shirt in order to remember the milestone.

"Not only is it day 500, but it's Chinese New Year, the year of the horse, and pancake day," Ilett said on Instagram as he pulled both a toy horse and a pancake from his hair.

"To mark the day I'll be doing a giveaway of a signed shirt on my Instagram page later today, so keep an eye out," he added.

With United's win streak now reset to zero, Ilett will now have to wait until March 20 at the earliest if he hopes to get a haircut anytime soon.

In their next five games, United face Everton, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

But, despite the popularity of Ilett and his viral challenge on social media, it's safe to say that United legend Wayne Rooney will not be tuning in to follow Ilett's haircut journey, after the former player slammed the social media star during a recent podcast appearance.

During an appearance on the 'No Tippy Tappy Football' podcast, co-hosted by Sam Allardyce and Natalie Pike, Rooney was asked - before the West Ham fixture - whether he would cut Ilett's hair.

He replied: "I'd put him to the other side of the country. He's doing my head in.

"We're talking about Michael Carrick and Man United trying to win their fifth game in a row, and the whole thing is about to get this guy his hair cut.

"I bet he'd be devastated if Man United win the fifth game, because all of a sudden he's irrelevant."