The United Strand defended as West Ham mock him after ending Manchester United’s winning streak

West Ham have mocked viral Manchester United fan The United Strand after ending his hopes of finally getting a haircut.

Frank Ilett, who has vowed not to cut his hair until the Red Devils win five games in a row, was cruelly denied a trim on Tuesday.

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The United Strand / YouTube

The Hammers held Michael Carrick‘s side to a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium, ending their four-match winning streak.

Ilett, also known as The United Strand, watched the game on a live stream and was left in despair at the result.

He began his challenge on October 5, 2024, and after the draw, it has now been 494 days since his last haircut.

His reaction to coming within one game of completing his challenge has seen him go viral once again on social media.

And West Ham have made sure to rub it in, brutally mocking Ilett with a new video on TikTok, including some players.

The Hammers began their clip with Tomas Soucek celebrating his opening goal against Man United.

It then includes an edited voice clip of Ilett, a.k.a The United Strand, saying: “Day 1000 of not cutting my hair until Man United win five games in a row…”

The video then cuts to multiple clips of West Ham players having their hair cut on camera.

Ex-United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, new signing Valentin Castellanos, Crysencio Summerville, Callum Wilson and more feature.

The TikTok has received almost 700,000 likes and five million views, as of Wednesday afternoon.

Tiktok @westham

Tiktok @westham

Tiktok @westham

talkSPORT verdict

The United fan was defended on talkSPORT’s Inside Devils’ YouTube show.

Red Devils fan Flex said: “Leave Frank alone! West Ham’s TikTok post, a lot of fans are getting on his back and even Rooney gave him a bit of gyp.

“I don’t get the outrage over him. If you don’t care about it, don’t care about it! There’s clearly a demand for it, being mentioned in press conferences and other media work, it’s not his fault!

“If you don’t want to see it any more, take it up with the journalists and people in the media who keep asking about it!

“And, listen, you speak to people within the club and you know how aware of it they are. There are some things going on behind the scenes where if we would have won that game, I’m telling you, people might not have liked what was planned…

“People are forgetting there’s a lot of money going to charity on the back of all this. Yes, it’s come with commercial opportunities for him, because he’s had an idea and put himself on the internet – that’s how the internet works these days. But he’s also doing it for charity.

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“It’s an opportunity he made for himself! All he’s done is said, ‘I’m not going to cut my hair’.

“Fair play to him. I’m pleased for Frank and for what he’s done for himself. He never thought in his wildest dreams that hits would happen. he’s just a regular guy. He doesn’t slate the players, he’s not in it for that. And when we were terrible under Amorim he would have had every right to start cussing up the players, but he doesn’t.

“He’s just growing his hair until we win five games in a row- that’s it! He definitely didn’t think it would be going on this long!”

All for a good cause

The United Strand has faced plenty of banter and even come under some harsh criticism for his challenge as it went viral.

However, Ilett is continuing his five-straight win pledge to help raise money for The Little Princess Trust charity.

Phil Brace, Chief Executive of The Little Princess Trust, joined talkSPORT on Wednesday after Man United’s streak ended.

Brace explained: “Frank’s donating his hair. As a charity, we take hair donations of a certain length and a certain criteria. With those hair donations, we turn them into the most amazing wigs.

“We provide our wigs to children and young people who’ve lost their hair due to cancer treatment and other conditions.

“As a charity, we also fund children’s cancer research. So that’s what we do. We’re very aware of Frank and really delighted to be on the show.”

talkSPORT

talkSPORT

“I have spoken to him…we’ve had a bit of communication. And we did a little bit of an interview as well, just trying to shed a bit of light on the work that Frank was doing for the Little Princess Trust and all the good that’s come out of this for us. So, yeah, I did meet him. He’s a good character.”

He added: “I can see what Frank’s done here, a bit of fun. And goodness me, this has just gone crazy, hasn’t it?

“I have to say, Frank, he aligned with us, very much in the early days of doing this, not really knowing where it was going to end up.

“He’s donated now just in the region of, well, it’s just gone over £7,000. It jumped by £1,000 yesterday. So, he’s raised an awful lot of money, but he’s got a following now of 1.2 million.

“I know football can be divisive. I know we’re all very passionate about it. But what he’s done, raising profile for us, we have hair donations from all over the world, and I’ve no doubt some of those donations have come of late because of what Frank’s been doing.

“So, he’s done a lot of good for our charity, and we’re very, very grateful. And I hope people can still take this in the spirit that it’s meant.

“I appreciate Carrick’s been interviewed and Bruno’s been interviewed as well, and they’ve all got something to say. But it was just a bit of fun.”