Barry Hearn is most widely recognized for turning snooker, darts and boxing into television spectacles that draw millions of viewers. Even at the age of 78, the founder of Matchroom remains one of the most familiar names in global sport promotion. While his work in combat sports dominates headlines, his involvement in football is less publicised yet equally compelling.
In March 1995, Hearn intervened to rescue Leyton Orient – a club he first watched as an eleven‑year‑old – from the brink of collapse, purchasing it for a nominal £2.43. Over the next decade he oversaw a substantial overhaul of the club’s infrastructure: by 2007 three sides of the historic Brisbane Road stadium had been rebuilt, and by 2012 he had eliminated all outstanding debt and injected roughly £8 million of his own capital. The 2013‑14 season saw Orient reach the League One play‑off final, a rare opportunity to ascend to the Championship, only to lose 4‑3 on penalties to Rotherham United at Wembley.
Within two months of that heartbreak, Hearn sold the club to Italian entrepreneur Francesco Becchetti and stepped away from football for nine years, focusing on his many other business ventures. In July 2023, the Matchroom brand re‑entered the football arena by sponsoring the home shirt of Brentwood Town, a modest Isthmian League North Division side situated just three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The following season Hearn took a minority shareholding in the club, and earlier this summer a five‑year partnership, described as "a significant investment," was announced.
"The reason Barry came over initially was we were doing something for Saint Francis Hospice, which he is a patron of, and he sat next to me for a game," recalls Brentwood chairman Jez Dickinson. "It was an entertaining match and Barry said afterwards, 'I'm never going to sit next to you again, Jez! Every time the ball went into the box, you were going up for a header and elbowing me in the side!' Barry is very much about passion and wearing his heart on his sleeve, so that's probably where we connected. We had some lunches and, after about the third one, he asked me what I wanted.
I said obviously I wanted him to get involved, but I wanted him to get involved because he wanted to get involved, not because I was asking him – and he said he'd do it." While Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the engine behind Brentwood’s recent progress since assuming the chairmanship in May 2019. He describes the club’s condition at that time as lacking a clear pathway for youth players into the first team, sporting a bar that resembled a 1970s pub, and harbouring only the modest ambition of simply remaining in the league. Since then, the club has installed a state‑of‑the‑art 3G pitch (summer 2024), clinched the Isthmian North Division title in the 2024/25 season, and narrowly missed promotion after losing a play‑off final that would have secured a place in the National League South. Brentwood now boasts a Centre of Excellence serving 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve.
"It's hollow if that isn't there," Dickinson notes, emphasizing the importance of a strong academy for long‑term sustainability. Over seven years he has laid the groundwork, and Hearn’s involvement is viewed as the catalyst that could elevate the club to a higher tier. The partnership operates on a relatively informal yet purposeful basis. "I speak to him probably once a week, maybe twice, depending on what’s happening," Dickinson explains.
"He’s hands‑on as far as his availability allows. We sit down every couple of months to review the finances and progress – he loves his numbers!
Though he’s a minority shareholder, he doesn’t want to run the club. He says, ‘I look at you, Jez, and you’re stressed enough; I don’t want any of that!’" According to Dickinson, Hearn’s presence raises the club’s aspirations simply by being associated with his brand. "When we meet at Matchroom, it’s inspiring – you leave thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’ That psychological boost is perhaps ten times more valuable than the direct financial input, though the money is certainly crucial.
He’s a fantastic ambassador, sponsor and partner. Potential partners have told me they’re more inclined to get involved because Barry is committing to a five‑year deal and doesn’t do things by halves.
It builds confidence in the whole project." Brentwood currently sit 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, drawing just under 700 spectators on average. The club’s ambition is to push that figure to 1,000 by season’s end, with plans for a 1,000‑seat stand pending the finalisation of the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena.
Dickinson believes the partnership with Hearn and Matchroom will be a transformative force over the next five years. "Barry decided on a five‑year partnership to drive the club to the highest level of the pyramid possible. Hopefully after those five years there’ll be another five years!
Realistically, if we’re playing National League football in five years, that will be pretty successful for us. It would be excellent.
It shows how much faith he and Matchroom have in us – it’s down to us to deliver," Dickinson concludes. The story of Barry Hearn’s renewed commitment to grassroots football illustrates how a high‑profile promoter can leverage his experience, resources and personal charisma to uplift a small community club.
By combining strategic investment, infrastructural upgrades, and a genuine enthusiasm for the local game, Hearn and Brentwood Town aim to rewrite the narrative of non‑league football, proving that ambition, when paired with the right partnership, can propel even the humblest club toward a brighter, more competitive future.