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 combat sports is well documented, his involvement in football is less publicised but equally compelling.
In March 1995, Hearn intervened to rescue Leyton Orient – a club he had first watched as an eleven‑year‑old – from the brink of insolvency. He purchased the team for a nominal £2.43 and set about revitalising it.
By 2007, three stands at the club’s Brisbane Road ground had been rebuilt, and by 2012 Hearn had eliminated all outstanding debt, injecting roughly £8 million of his own money into the operation. The 2013/14 season saw Orient reach the League One play‑off final, a rare opportunity to ascend to the second tier of English football, only to fall short after a 4‑3 penalty shoot‑out defeat to Rotherham at Wembley. Within two months of that disappointment, Hearn sold the club to Italian entrepreneur Francesco Becchetti. After a nine‑year hiatus from football, Hearn’s attention turned once again to the non‑league scene.
In July 2023, Matchroom became the shirt‑sponsor of Brentwood Town, a club competing in the Isthmian League North Division and located just three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The following year, 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," explains Brentwood chairman Jez Dickinson.
"It was an entertaining match and Barry later said, '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 adds that after a few lunches, Hearn asked what he wanted from the partnership. "I said 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 recalls.
While Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the driving force since becoming chairman in May 2019. He notes that before his tenure the club lacked a clear pathway for youth players, the bar resembled a 1970s pub, and the only ambition was to avoid relegation. Since taking charge, Dickinson has overseen a series of upgrades.
A brand‑new 3G pitch was installed in the summer of 2024, the side captured the Isthmian North Division title in the 2024/25 campaign, and they reached the play‑off final the following season, narrowly missing promotion to the National League South. The club now operates a Centre of Excellence that serves 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve, a vital component Dickinson describes as essential to the club’s identity.
The partnership with Hearn is designed to elevate Brentwood to the next tier of the football pyramid. "I speak to him probably once a week, maybe twice, depending on what’s happening," says Dickinson. "He’s hands‑on as far as his availability allows. Every few 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 explains. "What he does is raise the bar subconsciously. When we meet at Matchroom, it’s inspiring – you walk away thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’ It’s probably ten times more important than the financial input, although the money is crucial too." Dickinson also highlights Hearn’s value 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 and won’t give up easily.” This confidence, he believes, will attract further partnerships and boost the club’s profile. Brentwood currently sit 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight matches, averaging just under 700 spectators per game.
The club’s ambition is to push that figure to 1,000 this season, with plans for a 1,000‑seat stand pending the completion of the Brentwood Centre Arena purchase. Looking ahead, Dickinson envisions the Hearn‑Matchroom alliance propelling Brentwood up the football ladder 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 shows how much faith he and Matchroom have in us – it’s down to us to deliver," he concludes. The story of Barry Hearn’s involvement with Brentwood Town illustrates how a high‑profile promoter can bring not only financial muscle but also credibility, ambition and a fresh perspective to a grassroots club, potentially reshaping its trajectory for years to come.