Exciting times for 7th tier club Brentwood Town as Barry Hearn outlines ambitious plans after agreeing a bumper new sponsorship deal.
Plenty of changes at the Isthmian League Premier Division side with it announced that Matchroom Sport will be the front-of-shirt sponsor over the next five years, with Hearn also targeting a string of promotions, a place in the EFL, and a new stadium.
But he also talks about non league, it being proper football, a community, and wanting ambitious local businesses or individuals to join them on their journey.
He has appeared in a number of interviews over recent weeks, Sky Sports News, talkSPORT, SunSport, ESPN, City AM and BBC Essex.
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Brentwood Town said in a statement: “Brentwood Town FC and Matchroom have signed a brand-new landmark five-year agreement – a deal that is being talked about across the football world and widely regarded as one of the BIGGEST partnership announcements in non-league football!
“Brentwood Town FC have the appetite for success and they are looking for likeminded ambitious local businesses or individuals to join them on their journey, and share their vision.
“Brentwood Town is making national headlines, and there’s vast media coverage across the board!”
Matchroom reportedly broke the £1billion valuation barrier earlier this year, with some of the money to go towards grassroots, first team and facilities.
What Barry Hearn OBE said: “We have a shared vision to work closely with Brentwood Town FC to ultimately unlock sporting excellence, from grassroots through to the first teams, and aspire to deliver crucial developments off the pitch, in collaboration with the local authorities, that will inspire and, eventually, unearth the next generation of sporting superstars from this area.”
What Chairman Jez Dickinson said: “Whilst obviously the financial support from the Partnership helps the club, it is genuinely having Barry and Matchroom behind us and part of our set up that is the real Silver Bullet. We have assembled once again this year a team equipped to play National League Football now and whilst Promotion is never a given, the clear and focused objective now is promotion and National League Football.”
Matchroom may be our principal shirt partner, but there are still a range of high-profile opportunities available for businesses that want to join us.
Current opportunities include:
Back of shirt sponsorship
Shirt sleeve sponsorship
Back of shorts sponsorship
Training wear sponsorship
Stand naming rights
Platinum Partner packages
…and so many more commercial opportunities.
Explore our sponsorship opportunities:
This is your opportunity to have your brand positioned alongside Matchroom on one of the most exciting stories in non-league football.
Be part of something special.
We are building towards a bold objective: bringing Professional League football to the town and community of Brentwood.
This is more than sponsorship. It is a Partnership, and an opportunity to be part of a club with ambition, momentum, and national attention.
Be associated with Brentwood Town. Be associated with Matchroom. Be part of our journey.
To find out more, please get in touch:
Chris Berry
Head of Media
chris.berry@brentwoodtownfc.co.uk
07447 458405
Barry Hearn said in a interview on Sky Sports News: “Isthmian Premier League, Brentwood Town, my local club to where Matchroom’s head office are.
“We signed a 5-year deal to support them going forward with sponsorship of the shirt and who else? Who knows whatever else this is going to be.
“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun, you’re going to see some proper football and without it taking too much strain on the person wallet which seems to go along with the top levels of the game’s all about money.
“What Brentwood Town is all about is about community and sustainability and building something that will last for generations and match are delighted to be part of that.”
Interviewer Ed Draper: “It’s good to hear. I know it’s it’s about that, isn’t it? The passion. You’ve got lots of passion though. I’d imagine you get ambition as it starts to roll.
“What is the the ultimate goal? It’s seventh tier at the moment. Could it be a Wrexham-eque fairy tale journey up to the football league? What what do you assess the capacity there?”
Barry Hearn: “Who knows? The great the great thing about football is you just don’t know, do you? Look, we’ve got a decent management. We’ve got decent players. Clearly, we’re going to we’re going to have to get promoted to show that we can be a success to the local community.
“There’s a much deeper picture behind Brentwood Town than just the professional side. You know, it’s the women, it’s the disabled guys, it’s everyone that we’re doing for the community because it’s where we came from. And it’s about time we realise that football needs this type of support more than it does at the very top end.
“You know, you we’ve come off a news release where you’re talking 100 million for this, 55 million for that as if it’s nothing. Well, you know, Brentwood Town is the beginning of dreams for some young players and also it’s entertainment at an affordable price for the local community.
“Now, you just mix into that little cake mixture success and you never know where it’s going to go. But as I’m getting older, you know, I’m really enjoying this. I’m enjoying the ride. I’m enjoying the thrill of the chase, and that makes us dangerous. So, we’ll see how we go.
“But one thing, it won’t be. It won’t be boring. It’s going to be exciting, and we can’t wait for the season to start and get stuck in.”
Interviewer: “Well, I can see the twinkle in your eye, the excitement in your voice. How much do you think you’re going to be involved, Barry? You’ve got a lot You’ve got a lot on your plate. Are you going to be at the games this season? Are you going to be kind of checking out training?”
Barry Hearn: “Listen, yeah, of course. I’m only 78. I’ve got plenty of time in the day to spend loads of free hours, 700 event days in Matchroom, but with a with a great team. And I’ve got we’ve got a great team down there at Brentwood, you know, largely made up of volunteers that are passionate that put their services in for nothing because they have the same sort of desire to see this club go forward.
“Once you get momentum in anything, whether it’s business, life, or even sport, it’s so much easier to grow when you’ve got everyone on the same side. You got that team approach and we’re all in it together for the right reason.
“And it’s a fairy tale story. We don’t know where it’s going to end or where it’s going to start as you don’t know what’s going to happen in your own life, do you? But while we’re here, we’re going to give 100%. And I know the players will. And we got very close to promotion last year. Let’s hope this year we can get there. But that’s only another stage.
“In this particular area of Essex, there’s a lot of interest in soccer, a lot of interest in football, but you know, you’ve got to travel to see games whether you’re going up to Colchester or you’re going down to Leyton Orient. You know, we’ve got a big catchment area here that would be satisfied by a club that’s growing and we can be that vehicle for them.
“More importantly is what we can add to the local community. That’s how I think we’ll be judged eventually. Can we bring on kids? Can we establish a great centre of excellence that we’re already doing so much work within the community? Hundreds and hundreds of hours on our 3G pitch. And I’m looking outside now, there’s got to be like 60 kids out there having a great time. Isn’t that what football’s about? It’s certainly not about watching Argentina. Blimey. You know, I pay money not to watch I pay money not to watch that team.
“But the good thing at Brentwood is it doesn’t cost anything if you’re under 16 to come and watch. And you’re watching footballers that are really trying to entertain and to score and to win. And that’s all we want, isn’t it? We want to win. Of course we do. But we’ll give it 100% and we’ll see what the good Lord serves up for us.”
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