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 combat sports dominates headlines, his involvement in football is equally compelling, though less well‑known. In March 1995, Hearn stepped in to rescue Leyton Orient – a club he had first watched as an eleven‑year‑old – from the brink of collapse by purchasing it for a symbolic £2.43.
Over the next decade he oversaw a major refurbishment of Brisbane Road, completing three new stands by 2007. By 2012 he had eliminated the club’s debt and poured roughly £8 million of his own money into its development. The 2013‑14 season saw Orient reach the League One play‑off final, where they narrowly missed promotion to the Championship after a 4‑3 penalty shoot‑out defeat to Rotherham at Wembley. Just two months later Hearn sold the club to Italian entrepreneur Francesco Becchetti, stepping away from football for nine years while focusing on his other business interests.
The next chapter began in July 2023, when Matchroom agreed to sponsor the home shirt of Brentford‑area side Brentwood Town, a team competing in the Isthmian League North Division and located only three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. In the following season Hearn took a minority shareholding in the club, and earlier this summer the partnership was formalised as a five‑year commitment accompanied by a "significant investment".
Chairman Jez Dickinson recounts how the relationship started. "Barry first came over because we were holding a fundraiser for Saint Francis Hospice, a charity he supports.
He sat next to me during the match and after it he joked, ‘I’m never sitting next to you again, Jez – you were elbowing me every time the ball went into the box!’ Barry is a passionate, outspoken person, and that’s where we clicked," Dickinson explains. "After a few lunches he asked what I wanted. I told him I wanted his involvement, but only because he wanted to be involved, not because I asked. He said he’d do it." While Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the driving force at Brentwood since becoming chairman in May 2019.
He describes the club’s condition at that time as bleak: there was no clear pathway for youth players to reach the first team, the clubhouse resembled a 1970s pub, and the only ambition was to avoid relegation. Since then the club has made dramatic strides.
A brand‑new 3G pitch was installed in the summer of 2024, the side captured the Isthmian North Division title in 2024‑25, and although they fell short in the subsequent play‑off final – a match that would have secured promotion to the National League South – the progress was undeniable. A key part of that progress is the newly created Centre of Excellence, which now accommodates around 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve. "Without a solid youth structure the club is hollow," Dickinson says, highlighting the long‑term vision of developing home‑grown talent. Over the past seven years he has laid the foundations, and Hearn’s involvement now offers the opportunity to elevate the club to a higher tier.
Dickinson outlines how the partnership works on a day‑to‑day basis. "I speak to Barry roughly once or twice a week, depending on what’s happening. He’s as hands‑on as his schedule allows. Every few months we sit down and review the financials – he loves numbers.
Though he holds a minority share, he doesn’t want to run the club. He tells me, ‘Jez, you’re already stressed enough; I don’t want to add to that.’" Instead of micromanaging, Hearn’s presence raises the club’s ambitions. "When we meet at Matchroom, his enthusiasm is contagious.
You leave thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’ That motivational boost is perhaps ten times more valuable than the direct financial input," Dickinson admits. "He’s also a fantastic ambassador. Potential partners are more willing to engage because they know Barry is committing to a five‑year deal and won’t quit halfway. It builds confidence for everyone involved." Brentwood currently sit 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, drawing just under 700 spectators per match.
The club aims to push that figure to 1,000 this season and has plans for a 1,000‑seat stand, pending the finalisation of the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena. Dickinson believes the partnership with Hearn and Matchroom will be transformative over the next five years. "Barry’s five‑year plan is to take us as high up the pyramid as possible.
If we’re playing National League football in five years, that would be a massive success. The real test is delivering on the faith he and Matchroom have shown us," he says.
In summary, Barry Hearn’s venture into non‑league football mirrors his earlier achievements in snooker and boxing: a blend of financial muscle, promotional savvy and genuine passion for the sport. By aligning his resources with the grassroots dedication of Brentwood Town, Hearn is helping to reshape the club’s future, offering a blueprint for how high‑profile investors can positively impact community football while preserving its local identity.
Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.