Barry Hearn backs Brentwood Town for promotion

Barry Hearn's Matchroom Sport sponsors Brentwood Town

Essex sports promoter Barry Hearn has backed his local football team for promotion this season.

Brentwood Town have been sponsored by Mr Hearn's company Matchroom Sport since 2023, and the 76-year-old holds a minority share in the club.

The Blues play in the eight tier of English football in the Isthmian North, and the former Leyton Orient chairman said promotion this season would be their first step towards reaching the Football League.

The club have also unveiled a new artificial 3G pitch which will allow the stadium to be used by the local community.

Barry Hearn has worked in darts, snooker, boxing and football as a promoter and a chairman

Matchroom Sport has held events around the world but Mr Hearn said: "It's sometimes nice to just remember where you came from, and to put a little bit back.

"I'm getting lazy. I don't really want to drive 20, 30 miles to go somewhere.

"If I can help in a small way, and if other people locally can help in a small way, who knows what we can turn this into?"

The new 3G pitch is available for hire

Club chairman Jez Dickinson said the new playing surface and improved facilities would be the catalyst for the club to become a community hub.

He added that local clubs and a mental health charity had already made bookings.

The Blues have had to postpone a number of matches in recent years due to a waterlogged pitch which their owner attributes to the clay beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, Mr Dickinson's ambitions appear a little more grounded than Mr Hearn's, and he said his aim was to reach the National League South – the sixth tier.