Barry Hearn is most widely recognised for turning snooker, darts and boxing into televised 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 achievements in those cue‑sports and combat arenas dominate headlines, his involvement in football—though less publicised—has been equally compelling. Back in March 1995, a teenage‑aged Hearn, who first laid eyes on Leyton Orient when he was just 11, stepped in to rescue the club from the brink of collapse. He purchased the team for a symbolic £2.43, effectively saving it from bankruptcy.
Over the following years he oversaw a massive transformation: by 2007 the three stands at Brisbane Road had been rebuilt, and by 2012 Hearn had eradicated the club’s debt, injecting roughly £8 million of his own capital. The 2013‑14 season saw Orient reach the League One play‑off final, where they came agonisingly close to promotion to the second tier, only to lose 4‑3 on penalties to Rotherham United at Wembley.
Just two months later Hearn sold the club to Italian entrepreneur Francesco Becchetti, stepping away from football for nine years while his other business interests kept him busy. In July 2023 the next chapter began, albeit in a different corner of the English football pyramid. Matchroom became the sponsor of Brentwood Town’s home shirt—a modest Isthmian League North Division side located only three miles from the Matchroom headquarters.
The partnership quickly deepened; in the following year Hearn acquired a minority shareholding in the club and, earlier this summer, announced a five‑year commitment accompanied by what he described as 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 club 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 relationship. "I said 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," Dickinson says. "He agreed straight away." Although Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the driving force at Brentwood since taking the chairman’s seat in May 2019. When he arrived, the club suffered from a lack of a clear pathway for youth players to reach the first team, a bar that resembled a 1970s pub, and an ambition that was limited to simply staying in the league.
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—though they fell short of promotion to the National League South. A cornerstone of Dickinson’s vision is the newly‑established Centre of Excellence, which now accommodates 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve. "It’s hollow if that isn’t there," he notes, emphasizing the importance of a strong academy for long‑term sustainability. After seven years of laying foundations, the arrival of Hearn’s investment offers the prospect of taking Brentwood to a new level.
When asked how the partnership operates, Dickinson describes a pragmatic yet enthusiastic approach. "I speak to him probably once a week, maybe twice, depending on what’s happening," he says.
"He’s hands‑on as far as his availability allows. Every few months we sit down, go through the financials, and discuss progress.
He loves his numbers." Despite being a minority shareholder, Hearn deliberately refrains from 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.’ That motivation is perhaps ten times more valuable than the financial input, though the money is certainly crucial." Dickinson also highlights Hearn’s role as an ambassador. "Potential partners are more willing to come on board because Barry is committing to a five‑year deal and he doesn’t do things by halves. That builds confidence in the club and attracts further sponsorship." On the pitch, Brentwood 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 by season’s end. Plans are already underway for a 1,000‑seat stand, but the construction cannot proceed until the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena is finalized. Looking ahead, Dickinson believes the partnership could reshape Brentwood’s fortunes 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 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 illustrates how a high‑profile promoter can lend not only financial muscle but also strategic vision, credibility and an inspirational presence to a modest non‑league side. The collaboration blends Hearn’s love of sport, his willingness to support community causes, and Dickinson’s grassroots expertise, creating a partnership that could see the club climb the English football ladder while maintaining its community roots. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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