Barry Hearn is 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 names in global sport promotion. While his work in combat sports is well documented, his involvement in football is less publicised but equally fascinating. 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 insolvency.
He purchased the team for a symbolic £2.43 and set about rebuilding it from the ground up. By 2007, three sides of the club’s ground at Brisbane Road had been refurbished, and by 2012 Hearn had eliminated all outstanding debt and poured roughly £8 million into the club’s infrastructure and playing staff. The following season, Orient reached the League One play‑off final, a one‑off chance to climb into 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 entrepreneur Francesco Becchetti.
After a nine‑year hiatus from football ownership, Hearn returned to the non‑league scene in July 2023 when Matchroom agreed to sponsor the home shirts of Brentford Town – a club competing in the Isthmian League North Division and located just three miles from the Matchroom headquarters. The partnership quickly deepened; in the summer of 2024 Hearn took a minority shareholding in the club and announced a five‑year commitment accompanied by 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 Brentford chairman Jez Dickinson.
"It was an entertaining match and Barry joked 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 could do to help. "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 says.
While Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the driving force behind the club since he became chairman in May 2019. At that time, he describes the club as having "no pathway for the youth into the first team", a bar that resembled a 1970s pub, and an ambition limited to merely staying in the league.
Since then, the club has made substantial progress. A brand‑new 3G pitch was installed in the summer of 2024, and Brentford clinched the Isthmian North Division title in the 2024/25 season.
Although they fell short in the play‑off final that would have secured promotion to the National League South, the foundations are solid. The club now runs a Centre of Excellence that supports 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve, a program Dickinson says is essential to the club’s identity. Dickinson has spent seven years laying these foundations, and Hearn’s involvement offers the opportunity to elevate the club to the next tier.
"I speak to him probably once a week, maybe twice, depending on what’s happening," Dickinson notes. "He’s hands‑on as far as his availability allows. We sit down every couple of months, review the financials, and discuss progress. He loves his numbers!" Although Hearn holds a minority share, he makes it clear he does not wish to run day‑to‑day operations.
"I look at you, Jez, and you’re stressed enough – I don’t want any of that!" Hearn reportedly told him. Instead, his presence raises the bar for what the club aims to achieve. Meetings at Matchroom’s offices, Dickinson says, are inspiring and leave him thinking, "let’s go for it." He believes the impact of Hearn’s involvement is far more significant than the financial injection alone.
"It’s probably ten times as important as the money because it gives us credibility with potential partners," Dickinson adds. "When I tell a prospective sponsor that Barry is committing to a five‑year deal, they know he doesn’t do things by halves and won’t give up easily. That builds confidence." Currently, Brentford sits 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, averaging just under 700 spectators per match. The club’s ambition is to reach an average attendance of 1,000 this season, and plans are already underway for a 1,000‑seat stand.
However, the development hinges on the finalisation of the purchase of the Brentford Centre Arena, which will provide the necessary space for expansion. Looking ahead, Dickinson envisions the partnership with Hearn and Matchroom as a catalyst for sustained growth 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 says. In summary, Barry Hearn’s renewed foray into non‑league football demonstrates how a high‑profile promoter can leverage both financial resources and personal passion to uplift a community club. By combining strategic investment, mentorship, and a genuine love for the game, Hearn and Matchroom are helping Brentford Town chart a course toward higher divisions, stronger youth development, and a more vibrant fan experience.
The partnership illustrates that even at the grassroots level, visionary leadership and committed sponsorship can transform aspirations into tangible progress. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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