Frank Ellett: The United Strand and the haircut that went viral

One man and a long overdue trim.

But for Manchester United it is beginning to look like Ellett’s long wait for the club to win five games in a row is becoming an unwanted inconvenience.

There was a time when United seemed prepared to play along with the muzzle. They have, after all, included the barbers’ room in their £50m training ground upgrade project at Carrington. What’s the best way to have a little fun?

But now, in public and in secret, they have nothing to do with it.

Captain Bruno Fernandes and manager Michael Carrick were dismissive when asked about it after win No. 4 over Tottenham – although Carrick’s admission that he had been told about the saga by his children suggests wider appeal.

Ilett’s daily social media updates and past and present photos spread across the digital sphere were initially very entertaining but served as a reminder of just how bad the team’s form was.

Ellett plans to donate his hair to the Little Princess Trust and set up a JustGiving page for the children’s cancer charity, for those who want to provide financial support.

His initial fundraising target of £500 for the Little Princess Trust was significantly exceeded, and by Tuesday afternoon had reached £6,132.

As attention-grabbing initiatives go, his pledge didn’t seem particularly outrageous when he made it.

United had completed a five-game winning streak eight months ago, the 11th time that had happened – including the end of the 2015-16 season and the start of the 2016-17 season – in less than 11 years after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

It was the longest gap since January 25, 2019, when United won the last of their eight straight wins following the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the end of a five-game winning streak under the Norwegian in April 2021.

It says a lot about United’s chronic form since Ellett vowed they had won three in a row just twice until Carrick arrived, changed the formation and turned his old club into winners again.

To put that in context, United’s ‘big six’ clubs have all won five times in recent memory. Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have done it this season, as Chelsea have already done it this year.

Even Spurs, who have been in poor form for 18 months, managed to do so at the start of last season, when United were one of the teams to beat.

Some fans have come to the conclusion that they do not appreciate Ellet’s sense of humor.

A fan was banned indefinitely from Old Trafford by United for attacking Elite in a home match with Chelsea in September 2025.

Others objected to him participating in an advertisement for a major gambling company and generating income from what was supposed to be a charitable gesture. Elite denied providing any kind of the amounts mentioned.

However, many have defended Ellett and most responses to his appearance on the flagship Stretford Paddock show have been positive.

However, the vast majority, both for and against, just want to see an end to it.