Barry Hearn is most widely recognised 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 familiar faces in global sport promotion. While his work in those cue‑sports and combat arenas is well documented, his forays into football are less publicised but equally compelling.
In March 1995, a teenage Hearn who had first watched Leyton Orient play when he was eleven stepped in to rescue the club from the brink of collapse. He purchased the struggling side for a symbolic £2.43, effectively saving it from bankruptcy. Over the next twelve years Hearn poured substantial resources into the club.
By 2007, three stands at Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road stadium had been rebuilt, and by 2012 he had eliminated all outstanding debt and injected roughly £8 million of his own money. The club’s fortunes seemed to be on an upward trajectory when, in the 2013/14 season, Orient reached the League One play‑off final. A victory would have taken them into the second tier of English football for the first time in decades, but they fell short, losing 4‑3 on penalties to Rotherham United at Wembley. Only two months later, Hearn sold the club to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti, stepping away from football for nine years while his other promotional ventures continued to thrive.
The next chapter began in July 2023 when Matchroom agreed to sponsor the home shirts of Brentwood Town, a modest Isthmian League North Division side located just three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The partnership deepened the following year when Hearn acquired a minority shareholding in the club and announced a five‑year commitment involving a "significant investment".
According to Brentwood chairman Jez Dickinson, the initial connection was serendipitous. "We were playing a charity match for Saint Francis Hospice – a cause Barry supports – and he was sitting next to me. After the game, he joked that I kept heading for the ball and elbowing him, and he said he’d never sit next to me again. That banter sparked a genuine rapport because Barry wears his heart on his sleeve and is passionate about everything he does," Dickinson recalls.
After several lunches, Hearn asked what he could do for the club. Dickinson replied that he wanted Hearn’s involvement because Hearn wanted to be involved, not because he was being asked.
Hearn agreed. Dickinson acknowledges that while Hearn’s name draws attention, he has been the driving force since taking over as chairman in May 2019. When he arrived, the club lacked a clear pathway for youth players to reach the first team, the clubhouse resembled a 1970s pub, and the ambition was merely to avoid relegation.
Since then, the club has made tangible progress: a brand‑new 3G pitch was installed in the summer of 2024, Brentford Town clinched the Isthmian North Division title in 2024/25, and they reached the play‑off final for promotion to the National League South, narrowly missing out. A key pillar of the club’s long‑term strategy is its Centre of Excellence, which now accommodates around 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve. "Without a solid youth structure the club would be hollow," Dickinson says. Over seven years he has built the foundations, and Hearn’s involvement offers the chance to elevate those foundations to a higher level.
The partnership operates on a relatively informal but focused basis. Dickinson explains, "I talk to Barry once or twice a week, depending on what’s happening. He’s hands‑on as far as his time allows.
Every few months we sit down, review the financials and discuss progress – he loves numbers. Though he’s a minority shareholder, he doesn’t want to run the club. He tells me, ‘You’re already stressed enough; I don’t want to add to that.’" Hearn’s influence, Dickinson believes, is more motivational than monetary. "When we meet at Matchroom, his presence raises the bar subconsciously.
You leave thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’ That inspiration is probably ten times more valuable than the cash he puts in, although the financial support is still crucial." Dickinson also highlights Hearn’s role as an ambassador. Potential sponsors are more inclined to engage when they see a five‑year commitment from a figure who “doesn’t do things by halves”. This confidence can attract further partnerships and bolster the club’s revenue streams.
On the pitch, Brentwood Town currently sit 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, drawing an average crowd of just under 700 spectators. The club aims 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 key piece of infrastructure that will enable further expansion. Looking ahead, Dickinson envisions the next five years as a period of ambitious growth.
"Barry signed a five‑year partnership to take the club as high up the pyramid as possible. If we’re playing National League football in five years, that will be a huge success. Ideally, after those five years we’ll sign another deal and keep progressing." In summary, Barry Hearn’s involvement with Brentwood Town illustrates how a high‑profile promoter can bring both financial muscle and inspirational leadership to a grassroots football club.
By combining his passion for sport with a genuine interest in community development, Hearn is helping to transform a modest non‑league side into a club with genuine aspirations of climbing the English football ladder. The partnership underscores the importance of strategic investment, youth development, and the intangible boost that comes from having a respected name championing a local cause.
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