Barry Hearn is most famous for turning snooker, darts and boxing into television spectacles that attract millions of viewers. Even at the age of 78, the founder of Matchroom remains one of the most recognizable promoters in global sport. While his work in combat sports is widely celebrated, his football ventures are less well known, yet they are equally compelling. In March 1995, Hearn stepped in to rescue Leyton Orient – a club he had first watched as an eleven‑year‑old – from the brink of insolvency.
He purchased the team for a symbolic £2.43, a gesture that underscored his personal attachment rather than any commercial ambition. Over the next twelve years he oversaw a massive overhaul of the club’s infrastructure: by 2007 three sides of Brisbane Road had been rebuilt, and by 2012 he had cleared all outstanding debts and poured roughly £8 million of his own money into the operation. The 2013‑14 season saw Orient reach the League One play‑off final, a rare opportunity to climb into the second tier of English football. Unfortunately the club fell short, losing 4‑3 on penalties to Rotherham United at Wembley.
Within two months of that disappointment, Hearn sold the club to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti and stepped away from football for nine years, focusing on his other sporting interests. His return to the beautiful game came in July 2023 when Matchroom agreed to sponsor the home shirts of Brentwood Town, a modest side competing in the Isthmian League North Division and located just three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The partnership quickly deepened.
In the following year Hearn acquired a minority shareholding in Brentwood Town, and earlier this summer the club announced a five‑year strategic partnership that included a "significant investment" from the Matchroom empire. According to Brentwood chairman Jez Dickinson, the initial connection was almost accidental. "Barry was at a charity match we were playing for Saint Francis Hospice – a cause he supports as a patron – and he sat next to me during the game.
It was a lively contest and after it Barry joked, ‘I’m never going to sit next to you again, Jez! Every time the ball went into the box you were leaping for a header and elbowing me!’ His passion and his willingness to wear his heart on his sleeve struck a chord with me.
After a few lunches he asked what I wanted. I told him I wanted his involvement, but only because he wanted to be involved, not because I asked.
He said he’d do it, and the rest is history." While Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the driving force at Brentwood since he became chairman in May 2019. He describes the club’s condition at that time as bleak: there was "no pathway for the youth into the first team," the bar resembled a 1970s pub, and the ambition was simply "to stay in the league." Under his stewardship the club installed a brand‑new 3G pitch in the summer of 2024, captured the Isthmian North Division title in the 2024‑25 season, and reached the play‑off final the following year, narrowly missing promotion to the National League South. A cornerstone of Dickinson’s vision is the Centre of Excellence, which now accommodates 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve. "If you don’t have a solid youth structure, the club is hollow," he explains.
Over the past seven years he has laid the groundwork, and Hearn’s involvement now offers the chance to elevate Brentwood to a new level. When asked how the partnership operates, Dickinson says, "I speak to Barry probably once a week, maybe twice, depending on what’s happening. He’s as hands‑on as his schedule allows.
Every couple of months we sit down, review the accounts and discuss progress – he loves his numbers!" Although Hearn holds a minority share, he makes it clear he does not wish to run the day‑to‑day affairs. "He looks at me and says, ‘Jez, you’re already stressed enough; I don’t want to add to that.’" Instead, his influence is more subtle: "His presence raises the bar subconsciously for what I want to achieve.
When we meet at Matchroom it’s inspiring – you walk away thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’ That motivation is perhaps ten times more valuable than the financial input, even though the money is vital as well." Dickinson also highlights Hearn’s role as an ambassador. "Potential partners are more eager to come on board because Barry has committed to a five‑year deal and he never does things by halves.
That confidence translates into more sponsorship opportunities for us." Brentwood currently sit 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, drawing an average crowd of just under 700 supporters. The club’s ambition is to push that figure to 1,000 this season and to eventually construct a 1,000‑seat stand.
However, the development hinges on finalising the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena, a prerequisite for any major stadium upgrades. Looking ahead, Dickinson believes the partnership could reshape the club’s trajectory. "Barry signed a five‑year agreement to drive the club as high up the pyramid as possible. Ideally, after those five years we’ll negotiate another five.
If we’re playing National League football in five years, that will be a massive success. It demonstrates the faith Matchroom has in us; delivering on that promise is now on us." In summary, Barry Hearn’s involvement with Brentwood Town exemplifies how a high‑profile promoter can blend financial backing, strategic guidance and genuine enthusiasm to uplift a grassroots club.
The collaboration has already sparked infrastructure upgrades, youth development programmes and a renewed sense of ambition. With a clear roadmap, a supportive chairman, and the backing of a seasoned sports entrepreneur, Brentwood Town is poised to climb the English football ladder, aiming for higher divisions, larger crowds and a lasting legacy for the local community. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1 million!
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