Barry Hearn is widely celebrated 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 dominates headlines, his forays into football are equally fascinating, albeit less publicised. In March 1995, a 78‑year‑old Hearn stepped in to rescue Leyton Orient – the club he had first watched as an eleven‑year‑old boy – from the brink of insolvency. He bought the team for a symbolic £2.43 and set about revitalising it. Over the next twelve years he oversaw a massive redevelopment of the club’s home ground, Brisbane Road, with three new stands completed by 2007.
By 2012, Hearn had eliminated all outstanding debt and injected roughly £8 million of his own capital into the club. The effort culminated in the 2013/14 season when Orient reached the League One play‑off final, coming within a single penalty shoot‑out of promotion to the Championship before losing 4‑3 to Rotherham at Wembley. Shortly after that heart‑breaking defeat, Hearn sold the club to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti, ending his first chapter in football ownership. After a nine‑year hiatus from the beautiful game, Hearn’s attention turned once again to grassroots football.
In July 2023, Matchroom became the sponsor of the home shirts for Brentwood Town, a modest Isthmian League North Division side located just three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The partnership quickly deepened: in the following year Hearn acquired a minority shareholding in the club, and during the summer a five‑year agreement was announced, describing his involvement as "a significant investment" in Brentwood’s future.
"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 game 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." Dickinson describes a series of informal lunches that cemented the partnership. "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 driving force at Brentwood since he took over as chairman in May 2019. He recalls the club’s dire state at that time: there was "no pathway for the youth into the first team," the bar resembled a "1970s pub," and the only ambition was to simply avoid relegation.
Under his stewardship, the club installed a brand‑new 3G pitch in the summer of 2024, clinched 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 newly created Centre of Excellence, which now hosts 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve. "It’s hollow if that isn’t there," he says, emphasizing the importance of a robust youth structure for long‑term sustainability.
Over seven years, Dickinson has laid the groundwork; Hearn’s involvement now offers the chance to accelerate the club’s ascent. The partnership operates on a surprisingly 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, review the financials and discuss progress – he loves his numbers!" Even as a minority shareholder, Hearn 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, inspiring me to aim higher. Our catch‑ups at Matchroom are energising – you leave thinking ‘let’s go for it.’" Dickinson believes Hearn’s contribution goes far beyond the monetary.
"It’s probably ten times as important as the financial support," he says. "He’s a fantastic ambassador, sponsor and partner. When I talk to potential partners they say they’re interested because Barry is committing to five years; he doesn’t do things by halves and won’t give up easily.
That builds confidence for us and for anyone looking to collaborate." 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 in motion for a 1,000‑seat stand, but the development hinges on finalising the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena, a prerequisite for further expansion. Looking ahead, Dickinson is optimistic about the trajectory the partnership will set.
"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 a huge success for us.
It shows how much faith he and Matchroom have in us – it’s now up to us to deliver," he says. In summary, Barry Hearn’s involvement with Brentwood Town exemplifies how a high‑profile promoter can leverage his brand, financial muscle and genuine enthusiasm to uplift a modest non‑league club.
By combining Hearn’s strategic oversight with Dickinson’s grassroots expertise, the club is poised to transform its facilities, expand its fanbase, and climb the English football pyramid in the coming years. The partnership underscores a broader trend in modern football: the blending of commercial acumen with community‑focused ambition to create sustainable growth at every level of the game. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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