MANCHESTER UNITED superfan Frank Ilett has teamed up with Paddy Power as he dares to hope he can finally get a haircut.
, where he is in an ongoing challenge to not cut his hair until the win five games in a row.
Frank Ilett has starred in a Paddy Power advert as Man Utd near five games in a rowCredit: X @paddypower
Ilett’s ‘barber’ has been left upset without his best customer due to the challenge of him not cutting his hair until United win five games in a rowCredit: X @paddypower
Having started the challenge on October 5 2024, he now has quite the striking barnet due to United’s poor form on the pitch.
In fact, until back-to-back wins over and then earlier this month, Ilett could have kept his challenge going even if it was for winning back-to-back games.
However, those wins and last Saturday’s victory at Brighton have sparked hope ‘s side have finally turned a corner.
have acknowledged the challenge and hope to reach the magic number.
Away clashes against and stand in the way of the challenge being completed more than 13 months after it started.
The video shows Ilett walking past his “barber”, who is heard doing a voice over complaining about how sad the situation makes him.
As the fan walks past, the barber is seen looking sorrowfully out of the window before saying: “It does make me sad actually. I miss him. He’s one of my best customers. Well he used to be.
“He doesn’t even bother to make appointment’s anymore. What’s the point.”
The video then cuts to a news broadcast addressing United and joking how they are not expected to win five games in a row until 2029, while also showing a picture of how Ilett’s hair might look.
Ilett, who started the challenge to lift the spirits of his fellow United fans before also deciding to raise money for charity due to the fame of his challenge, is seen appearing in the next scene.
He jokes that if he is ever having a bad hair day he can always put on a hat, although it is comically small on his massive head of hair.
The next frame shows a picture of Ilett with a much shorter trim framed on the wall before his barber says: “Now I wonder, will I ever see him again.”
Ilett, who for his hair, is then seen reading out an offer to cut his hair.
He reads the message saying it is the “second weirdest looking hair in “, only behind and star .
The next scene shows Ilett running into the hair salon to hug his barber to then book in his haircut in anticipation of winning five in a row.
His barber then says: “As soon as they win five, that seat is yours.”
Ilett promises he will be back soon, to which his barber replies: “Yes you will. Yes you bloody will.”
Unfortunately, in the Paddy Power universe United have still not managed to reach five wins in a row six months later.
They joked United would not complete five wins in a row until at least 2029Credit: X @paddypower
But after Ruben Amorim’s side reached three wins in a row Ilett was seen hugging his barber promising to book an appointmentCredit: X @paddypower
But six months down the line United still hadn’t completed the featCredit: X @paddypower
The barber is shown sweeping away hair before looking up and seeing Ilett, now with an even bigger set of hair, walking by the window before he swears about United.
Despite Ilett’s charitable efforts, raising money for MIND UK alongside a planned donation of his hair and the proceeds to the Little Princess Trust , he was subjected to vile abuse during his last visit to .
who grabbed his hair and refused to let go before hurling abuse at him during United’s 2-1 win over in September.
The following the incident, with Ilett telling SunSport after his ordeal: “Yeah, it was a bit weird to be honest!
“I thought he was just joking to start with, but then he started yanking my hair and calling me an ‘attention-seeking c***’.
“The whole day was full of hundreds of positive interactions yesterday and 99 per cent of all of the reactions to this challenge has been nice. But just a few people can ruin it!
“My intention with this challenge was never to highlight Man United’s flaws. It was always and always will be to spread humour and positivity to United fans in a difficult time.
“I never expected it to go on for so long, but I’m hopeful we can go on a good run soon and I, more than most…want these wins to come as soon as possible!
“I will always try to focus on the positives and hope that this was just a one off.”
When the magic number is reached, Ilett has said he plans on having the long overdue trim at the Theatre of Dreams.
