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 recognizable promoters in world sport.
While his work in combat sports is widely celebrated, his involvement in football is less well known, yet it is equally compelling. Back in March 1995, Hearn stepped in to rescue Leyton Orient – a club he had first watched as an 11‑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 historic Brisbane Road stadium had been refurbished, and by 2012 he had eliminated all outstanding debts, reportedly injecting around £8 million of his own money into the club. The 2013‑14 season saw Orient reach the League One play‑off final, a rare opportunity to ascend to the second tier of English football. Unfortunately, they fell short, losing 4‑3 on penalties to Rotherham at Wembley.
Just two months later, Hearn sold the club to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti and stepped away from football for nine years, focusing on his other sporting ventures. In July 2023, the Matchroom brand returned to the football world when it became the sponsor of the home shirt for Brentwood Town, a modest Isthmian League North Division side located only three miles from the Matchroom headquarters.
The following year, Hearn took a minority shareholding in the club, and during the summer a five‑year partnership and a "significant investment" were announced. "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 joked afterward, '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 partnership. "I said obviously 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 – and he said he'd do it," Dickinson says.
While Hearn’s name naturally draws attention, Dickinson has been the driving force at Brentwood Town since taking over as chairman in May 2019. He describes the club’s condition before his arrival 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.
Under his stewardship, a brand‑new 3G pitch was installed in the summer of 2024, the team won the Isthmian North Division in the 2024‑25 season, and they reached the play‑off final the following year, narrowly missing promotion to the National League South. Today, Brentwood Town boasts a Centre of Excellence that serves 250 boys and girls aged six to twelve. "It's hollow if that isn’t there," Dickinson emphasizes, underscoring his belief that a strong youth structure is essential for long‑term success. After seven years of laying the groundwork, Dickinson sees Hearn’s involvement as the catalyst that could elevate the club to a new level.
When asked how the partnership operates, Dickinson explains, "I speak to him probably once a week, maybe twice, depending on what’s happening. He’s hands‑on as far as his availability allows.
We sit down every couple of months to review the financials – he loves his numbers!" Although Hearn holds a minority share, he deliberately avoids day‑to‑day management. "He looks at me and sees I’m already stressed enough, so he says, ‘I don’t want any of that!’" Dickinson laughs. "What he does is raise the bar, subconsciously, for what I want to achieve. We meet at Matchroom, and it’s inspiring – you walk away thinking, ‘let’s go for it.’ It’s probably ten times more important than the financial side, although the money is, of course, vital." Dickinson also highlights Hearn’s value as an ambassador.
"When I spoke to a potential partner recently, they said they were interested because Barry is committing to five years; he doesn’t do things by halves and won’t give up easily. That creates confidence for us and for anyone looking to become a partner." Current league performance shows Brentwood Town sitting 18th in the Isthmian Premier Division after eight games, with average attendances just under 700. The club aims to push that figure to 1,000 this season and has plans for a 1,000‑seat stand, contingent on finalising the purchase of the Brentwood Centre Arena.
Looking ahead, Dickinson believes the five‑year partnership with Hearn and Matchroom could transform the club’s fortunes. "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 down to us to deliver." In summary, Barry Hearn’s entry into Brentwood Town represents more than a financial injection; it brings a high‑profile advocate, a strategic mentor, and a long‑term vision that could see a modest non‑league side climb the English football ladder. The partnership blends Hearn’s passion for sport with Dickinson’s grassroots expertise, creating a blueprint for how influential investors can responsibly nurture community clubs while preserving their local identity. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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