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 those cue‑sports and combat arenas is well documented, his forays into football are less publicised yet equally compelling.
In March 1995, a young fan who had first watched Leyton Orient at the age of eleven stepped in to rescue the club from the brink of insolvency. Hearn purchased the struggling side for a symbolic £2.43 and set about rebuilding it from the ground up.
Over the next twelve years he oversaw a massive redevelopment of Leyton Orient’s home ground, Brisbane Road, with three new stands completed by 2007. By 2012 the club was debt‑free, and Hearn had poured roughly £8 million into its infrastructure, youth set‑up and playing staff.
The pinnacle of that era arrived in the 2013‑14 season when Orient reached the League One play‑off final, a one‑off chance to ascend to the second tier of English football. The match ended in heartbreak, a 4‑3 penalty shoot‑out defeat 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 continuing to dominate other sporting ventures. The hiatus ended in July 2023 when Matchroom became the shirt‑sponsor of Brentwood Town, a modest Isthmian League North Division side situated only three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The following year Hearn took a minority shareholding in the club, and in the summer a five‑year partnership was announced, accompanied by what the club described as "a significant investment". Chairman Jez Dickinson recalls the first encounter: "Barry was at a charity match for Saint Francis Hospice – a cause he supports – and he sat next to me during the game.
Afterward he joked, ‘I’m never sitting next to you again, Jez! Every time the ball went into the box you were leaping for a header and elbowing me!’ His passion and openness struck a chord with me. After a few lunches he asked what I wanted, and I told him I wanted his involvement because he wanted to be involved, not because I asked. He agreed on the spot." Although Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the engine behind Brentford’s recent resurgence since becoming chairman in May 2019.
He describes the club’s condition at that time as bleak: there was no clear pathway for academy players to reach the first team, the clubhouse resembled a dated 1970s pub, and the ambition was simply to avoid relegation. 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 reached the play‑off final for promotion to the National League South, narrowly missing out.
A Centre of Excellence now serves 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve, providing a structured development route that Dickinson believes is essential for any sustainable club model. Dickinson explains how Hearn’s involvement elevates the club beyond pure finance.
"I speak with Barry once or twice a week, depending on what’s happening," he says. "He’s hands‑on when he can be, reviewing our accounts and offering strategic advice – he loves numbers.
Even though he owns a minority share, he never tries to run the day‑to‑day operations. He tells me, ‘I see you stressed, Jez, I don’t want that pressure.’ Instead, his presence raises the bar for what we aim to achieve. When we meet at Matchroom, his enthusiasm is contagious – you leave thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’" Dickinson stresses that the psychological impact of Hearn’s commitment outweighs the monetary contribution: "It’s probably ten times more important than the cash he puts in, though the financial support is still vital.
He’s a brilliant ambassador, sponsor and partner. Potential partners are more willing to come on board because a five‑year commitment from someone of Barry’s stature signals stability and determination." Brentwood Town currently sit 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight fixtures, drawing an average crowd of just under 700 supporters per match.
The club’s ambition is to push that figure to 1,000 by season’s end, a target that will likely require a new 1,000‑seat stand. However, construction cannot commence until the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena is finalised, a key piece of the long‑term development plan. Looking ahead, Dickinson believes the partnership with Hearn and Matchroom could transform Brentwood’s fortunes over the next five years. "Barry signed a five‑year deal to take the club as high up the pyramid as possible.
Ideally, we’ll be playing National League football by then – that would be a massive success. If the partnership works, we’ll look to extend it for another five years. It shows the confidence Barry and Matchroom have in us; delivering on that promise is now on us." Beyond the numbers and infrastructure, Hearn’s involvement brings a cultural shift. His reputation for turning niche sports into mainstream attractions demonstrates a knack for marketing, fan engagement and commercial partnerships.
By applying those lessons to Brentwood, the club hopes to attract larger sponsors, improve match‑day experiences, and embed a professional ethos throughout the organization. The synergy between a seasoned promoter and a community‑focused non‑league side creates a unique case study of how strategic investment, when paired with local leadership, can accelerate a club’s progression through the English football pyramid.
In summary, Barry Hearn’s renewed commitment to grassroots football mirrors his earlier rescue of Leyton Orient, but this time the scale is smaller and the stakes are more personal. Through a blend of financial backing, strategic counsel, and the sheer credibility of his name, Hearn is helping Brentwood Town lay the foundations for a brighter future, aiming to climb the leagues, grow its fanbase, and become a model of sustainable non‑league success. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.