Barry Hearn is 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 names in global sport promotion. While his work in combat sports is well documented, his forays into football are less publicised but no less fascinating. In March 1995, a young fan who had first watched Leyton Orient at the age of 11 stepped in to rescue the club from the brink of insolvency.
Hearn purchased the team for a symbolic £2.43, a gesture that marked the beginning of a long‑term relationship with the sport. 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, he had cleared all outstanding debts and injected roughly £8 million of his own money into the club’s finances. The 2013/14 season saw Orient reach the League One play‑off final, giving the club a tantalising opportunity to ascend to the second tier of English football.
The match at Wembley ended in a dramatic 4‑3 penalty shoot‑out defeat to Rotherham United. Just two months later, Hearn sold his share to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti, ending a nine‑year hiatus from direct involvement in football. After a lengthy period focused on other ventures, Hearn’s attention returned to the grassroots game in July 2023 when Matchroom became the official shirt sponsor of Brentwood Town, a club competing in the Isthmian League North Division and located only three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The partnership deepened the following year when Hearn acquired a minority stake in the club and announced a five‑year commitment that included a "significant investment".
"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." Dickinson explains that after a few lunches, Hearn asked what he wanted from the partnership. "I told him I wanted him to get involved because he wanted to get involved, not because I was asking him – and he said he would," Dickinson says.
While Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, it is Dickinson who has been the driving force since taking the chairman’s seat in May 2019. He describes the club’s condition at that time as lacking a clear pathway for youth players to reach the first team, having a bar that resembled a 1970s pub, and possessing only the modest ambition of simply remaining in the league. Since then, Brentwood Town has made substantial progress.
A brand‑new 3G artificial pitch was installed in the summer of 2024, the side captured the Isthmian North Division title in the 2024/25 campaign, and although they fell short in the play‑off final that would have secured promotion to the National League South, the foundation has been laid for future success. The club now runs a Centre of Excellence that accommodates 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve, a development Dickinson deems essential: "It’s hollow if that isn’t there." Dickinson has spent seven years building those foundations, and Hearn’s involvement is expected to elevate the club to the next tier. The partnership operates on a pragmatic yet inspirational basis. "I speak to him probably once a week, maybe twice, depending on what’s happening," Dickinson notes.
"He’s hands‑on as much as his schedule 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; he doesn’t want to add to that," Dickinson explains.
Instead, Hearn’s presence raises the club’s ambitions by example. "When we meet at Matchroom, it’s inspiring – you walk away thinking ‘let’s go for it’. That psychological boost is probably ten times more valuable than the direct financial input." Beyond morale, Hearn serves as a powerful ambassador. Potential sponsors have expressed interest precisely because of his five‑year commitment, interpreting it as a sign that he does not abandon projects halfway.
This confidence helps Brentwood attract further partnerships and investment. On the pitch, Brentwood Town currently sits 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, drawing just under 700 supporters per match. 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, contingent on the completion of the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena, which will provide the necessary space for expansion. Looking ahead, Dickinson believes the five‑year partnership with Hearn and Matchroom could transform the club’s trajectory. "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 concludes.
The story of Barry Hearn’s renewed commitment to Brentwood Town illustrates how a high‑profile promoter can leverage his experience, resources, and reputation to uplift a modest non‑league side, fostering community engagement, improving facilities, and setting ambitious sporting targets for the future.