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 those cue‑sports and combat arenas is well documented, his involvement in football is less familiar but no less compelling. In March 1995, a young Barry Hearn, who had first watched Leyton Orient when he was just eleven, stepped in to rescue the club from the brink of insolvency.
He purchased the team for a symbolic £2.43, effectively saving it from bankruptcy. Over the following decade he oversaw a massive overhaul of the club’s infrastructure: by 2007 three sides of the historic Brisbane Road stadium had been rebuilt, and by 2012 the club was debt‑free after Hearn reportedly injected around £8 million of his own money. 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. Unfortunately, they fell short, losing 4‑3 on penalties to Rotherham United at Wembley.
Within two months of that disappointment, Hearn sold the club to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti. After a nine‑year hiatus from football, Hearn’s attention turned back to the non‑league game.
In July 2023, Matchroom became the sponsor of Brentwood Town’s home shirt. Brentwood Town, a club competing in the Isthmian League North Division, is based just three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The following year, Hearn took a minority shareholding in the club, and in the summer of 2024 a five‑year partnership and a "significant investment" were 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," recalls 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. We had some lunches and, 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 headlines, Dickinson has been the engine behind Brentwood Town since he assumed the chair in May 2019. He describes the club’s condition before his arrival 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 staying in the league. Since then, the club has installed a state‑of‑the‑art 3G pitch (summer 2024), clinched the Isthmian North Division title in 2024‑25, and narrowly missed promotion after losing the play‑off final that would have taken them to the National League South. A key part of the club’s long‑term plan is the Centre of Excellence, which now accommodates 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve.
"It's hollow if that isn't there," Dickinson emphasizes, underscoring the importance of a robust youth structure for sustained success. Dickinson explains how Hearn’s involvement operates on a day‑to‑day basis: "I speak to him probably once a week, maybe twice, depending on what’s happening. 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! Though he’s a minority shareholder, he doesn’t want to run the club. He says, ‘I look at you, Jez, and you’re stressed enough; I don’t want any of that.’" The impact of Hearn’s partnership, according to Dickinson, goes far beyond the financial injection. "What he does is actually raise the bar, subconsciously, for what I want to achieve.
We’ll have a catch‑up at Matchroom and it is quite inspiring – you walk away thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’ It’s probably ten times as important as the money because his belief creates confidence with potential partners. He’s a fantastic ambassador, sponsor and partner. When I spoke to a prospective partner recently, they said they were interested precisely because Barry is committing to five years; he doesn’t do things by halves and won’t give up easily.
That kind of commitment builds trust." Brentwood Town currently sit 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, averaging just under 700 spectators per match. The club’s ambition is to push that figure to 1,000 this season, and plans are already underway for a 1,000‑seat stand. However, the development hinges on finalising the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena, which will provide the necessary space and facilities for further expansion. Looking ahead, Dickinson believes the five‑year partnership with Hearn and Matchroom could catapult Brentwood to unprecedented heights.
"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 would be excellent.
It shows how much faith he and Matchroom have in us – it’s down to us to deliver." In summary, Barry Hearn’s foray into non‑league football mirrors his earlier successes in snooker, darts and boxing: a blend of savvy investment, hands‑on enthusiasm, and a willingness to champion clubs that might otherwise be overlooked. For Brentwood Town, his partnership offers not just capital, but a stamp of credibility that could attract further sponsorship, improve facilities, and ultimately elevate the club through the English football pyramid. The journey from a modest Isthmian side to a potential National League contender may still be a few seasons away, but with Hearn’s backing and Dickinson’s steady leadership, the club now has a realistic roadmap to achieve that dream. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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