Barry Hearn is most famous 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 instantly recognizable promoters in global sport.
While his work in combat and cue sports dominates headlines, his involvement in football is less widely known but equally compelling. In March 1995, a young 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 nominal £2.43, a symbolic gesture that underscored his personal attachment to the club.
Over the next twelve years he oversaw a dramatic transformation: three stands at Brisbane Road were rebuilt by 2007, the club’s debt was eliminated by 2012, and Hearn reportedly poured around £8 million of his own money into the side. 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 Championship. The match ended in a heartbreaking 4‑3 penalty shoot‑out defeat to Rotherham United at Wembley.
Within two months of that disappointment, Hearn sold the club to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti, stepping away from football for nearly a decade while his other business interests continued to flourish. The next chapter began in July 2023, when Matchroom signed a sponsorship deal for the home shirts of Brentwood Town, a modest Isthmian League North Division side located only three miles from the Matchroom headquarters.
The partnership quickly deepened. In the summer of 2024, Hearn took a minority shareholding in the club, and earlier this year a five‑year agreement was announced, describing the investment as "significant" and strategic. According to Brentwood chairman Jez Dickinson, the initial connection was almost accidental.
"We were playing a charity match for Saint Francis Hospice, a cause Barry supports, and he sat next to me. After the game he joked, ‘I’ll never sit next to you again, Jez—every time the ball went in the box you were leaping for a header and elbowing me!’ Barry is a very passionate man who wears his heart on his sleeve, and that’s where we clicked," Dickinson recalls. Over a series of lunches, Hearn asked what Dickinson wanted most. "I told him I wanted him involved because he wanted to be involved, not because I asked him," Dickinson said, noting that Hearn agreed immediately.
While Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the driving force at Brentwood since taking the chair 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 ambition was merely to avoid relegation. Since then, the club has installed a state‑of‑the‑art 3G pitch (summer 2024), captured the Isthmian North Division title in the 2024‑25 season, and reached the play‑off final for promotion to the National League South, only to fall short. The club now runs a Centre of Excellence that accommodates 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve, a vital component Dickinson says is essential for any sustainable non‑league outfit.
Dickinson has spent seven years laying the groundwork, and Hearn’s involvement is seen as the catalyst that could elevate Brentwood to a new level. "I speak to Barry about once a week, sometimes twice, depending on what’s happening," Dickinson explains. "He’s hands‑on as far as his schedule allows. Every few months we sit down and review the accounts—he loves numbers.
Even though he’s a minority shareholder, he doesn’t want to run the club. He tells me, ‘I see you stressed, Jez, I don’t want any of that.’" The partnership works on multiple fronts. Financially, Hearn’s backing provides stability, but Dickinson believes the psychological impact is far more valuable.
"His presence raises the bar subconsciously. When we meet at Matchroom, it’s inspiring—you leave thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’ It’s probably ten times more important than the money because it builds confidence with potential sponsors and partners," he says.
Indeed, recent discussions with prospective partners have been positively influenced by Hearn’s five‑year commitment, which signals long‑term dedication rather than a short‑term publicity stunt. On the pitch side, Brentwood currently sit 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, drawing just under 700 spectators per match. The club’s ambition is to push that figure to 1,000 by season’s end, a target that aligns with plans to erect a 1,000‑seat stand.
However, the development hinges on finalising the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena, a facility that would provide the necessary infrastructure for further expansion. Looking ahead, Dickinson envisions a realistic yet ambitious trajectory for the club. "Barry’s five‑year partnership is designed to take us as high up the pyramid as possible.
If we’re playing National League football in five years, that will be a massive success," he states. "The real measure of success will be delivering on the faith that Barry and Matchroom have placed in us." In summary, Barry Hearn’s involvement with Brentwood Town exemplifies how a high‑profile promoter can leverage his experience, financial muscle, and personal charisma to uplift a community‑based non‑league side. By combining strategic investment, hands‑on mentorship, and an unwavering belief in the club’s potential, Hearn and Dickinson aim to transform Brentwood from a modest Isthmian outfit into a contender for higher tiers of English football.
Their partnership underscores the broader truth that even at the grassroots level, visionary leadership and committed backing can reshape a club’s destiny and inspire a whole town to dream bigger. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.