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 the world of sport. While his work in combat sports is well documented, his forays into football are less widely known, yet they are equally compelling. In March 1995, a teenage Hearn, who had first watched Leyton Orient when he was just eleven, stepped in to rescue the club from the brink of collapse.
He bought the team for a nominal £2.43, a symbolic figure that underscored his genuine affection for the club rather than a profit‑driven motive. Over the next twelve years Hearn oversaw a dramatic transformation: three sides of the historic Brisbane Road ground were rebuilt, the club’s debt was eliminated by 2012, and he is reported to have poured roughly £8 million into the side.
The pinnacle of that era came in the 2013‑14 season when Orient reached the League One play‑off final, a one‑off chance to ascend to the second tier of English football. The match ended in a heartbreaking 4‑3 penalty shoot‑out defeat to Rotherham United at Wembley.
Just two months later, Hearn sold the club to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti, ending a nine‑year hiatus from football ownership. After that interval, Hearn’s attention turned back to the grassroots level. In July 2023, Matchroom became the shirt‑sponsor of Brentwood Town, a modest Isthmian League North Division side located only three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The partnership deepened the following year when Hearn acquired a minority shareholding in the club and, during the summer, announced a five‑year commitment accompanied by a "significant investment".
According to Brentwood chairman Jez Dickinson, the initial connection was almost serendipitous. "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," Dickinson recalls. "It was an entertaining match and Barry joked 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." Their relationship grew over a series of lunches. "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," Dickinson says. While Hearn’s name naturally draws headlines, Dickinson has been the engine driving Brentwood since he assumed the chairmanship in May 2019.
He describes the club’s condition at that time as bleak: there was no clear pathway for academy players to reach the first team, the clubhouse resembled a 1970s pub, and the ambition was simply to avoid relegation. Since then, the club has installed a state‑of‑the‑art 3G pitch (summer 2024), captured the Isthmian North Division title in 2024‑25, and narrowly missed promotion after losing a play‑off final that would have taken them into the National League South. A key pillar of the club’s long‑term plan is its Centre of Excellence, which now nurtures 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve. "It’s hollow if that isn’t there," Dickinson emphasizes, underscoring the importance of youth development for a sustainable future.
Dickinson has spent seven years laying a solid foundation; Hearn’s involvement is intended to elevate the club to the next tier. "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. Every couple of months we sit down, review the financials and discuss progress. He loves his numbers!" Although Hearn holds a minority share, he deliberately avoids day‑to‑day management. "He looks at me and sees I’m already stressed enough, so he doesn’t want to add to that," Dickinson notes.
"What he does is raise 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.’" Dickinson stresses that Hearn’s impact goes far beyond the monetary injection. "It’s probably ten times as important as the financial side," he says. "He’s a fantastic ambassador, sponsor and partner.
When I spoke to a potential partner recently, they said they were interested because Barry is committing to five years; he doesn’t do things by halves and won’t give up easily. That creates confidence for us and for anyone looking to collaborate." On the pitch, 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 by season’s end.
Plans are already underway for a 1,000‑seat stand, but the development hinges on finalising the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena, a prerequisite for any further stadium upgrades. Looking ahead, Dickinson envisions the partnership as a catalyst for climbing the football pyramid.
"Barry decided on a five‑year partnership to drive the club to the highest level 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 a huge success for us.
It shows how much faith he and Matchroom have in us – it’s down to us to deliver," he concludes. In summary, Barry Hearn’s involvement with Brentwood Town illustrates how a high‑profile promoter can bring not only capital but also credibility, ambition and a network of contacts to a small community club. By combining Hearn’s strategic oversight with Dickinson’s grassroots expertise, the club aims to transform from a modest Isthmian side into a genuine contender for higher‑level football, while maintaining a strong focus on youth development and community engagement. The partnership serves as a blueprint for how seasoned businessmen can nurture the lower tiers of English football, ensuring that local clubs have the resources and vision needed to thrive in the modern game.
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