When will The United Strand get his hair cut and how to watch live stream | OneFootball

Manchester United fan Frank Ilett’s viral near 500-day wait for a trip to the barbers could finally be about to end

One man will have more than most riding on Manchester United’s Premier League clash with West Ham tonight.

Such an unexpected renaissance has brought a renewed confidence and feelgood factor to Old Trafford, which is surging through the players and fanbase alike.

One supporter particularly pleased with United’s upturn in fortunes is Ilett, who has long since become famous online for his previous pledge not to have his hair cut again until the team win five games in a row.

It is a feat they have not achieved since the reign of Erik ten Hag between January and February 2024, when fourth-tier Newport were dispatched in the FA Cup fourth round before successive Premier League victories over Wolves, West Ham, Aston Villa and Luton.

Ilett made the vow on October 5, 2024, meaning he has now gone 493 days without having a haircut - including a whole calendar year in 2025, which only goes to emphasise United’s struggles under Ten Hag and then during the short-lived reign of Amorim.

‘The United Strand’, AKA Frank Ilett

theunitedstrand/Instagram

He will be hoping that tonight is indeed the night, though West Ham have enjoyed a timely resurgence of their own of late under Nuno Espirito Santo - previously looking destined for relegation to the Championship until recent wins over Tottenham, Sunderland and Burnley that have brought them within three points of safety with 13 matches still to play this season.

Ilett, who now lives in Spain, revealed that he was invited over to watch Tuesday’s game at the London Stadium, however instead he is set to host a watchalong on streaming platform Kick from 8pm GMT ahead of the 8:15pm kick-off.

It remains to be seen exactly when he will get his hair cut if United win, though he has revealed the sort of comprehensive trim he will be asking for after so long with a hairstyle that evokes memories of Sir Brian May in his 1970s Queen pomp.

“I mean, to start with, it needs to be kind of cut off in bunches,” Ilett said in an interview with Sky Sports News. “But then, yeah, I think probably buzz cut all over and start again, start fresh.”

His challenge has not gone unnoticed at United, with Carrick even asked about it during his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to West Ham.

"I can say I'm aware of it, yeah," he 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.”

Asked if llett would be able to book an appointment at last, United captain Bruno Fernandes said: “No, no, I need to book for myself.

“I don't really look at other people if they need to go to the hairdresser. That's not important for me.”