The Dutch YouTuber who plans to change NI football

Dutch YouTuber and businessman Nico van der Horst sponsors Larne's football shirts

He's a YouTube star with nearly two million subscribers and more than half a billion views.

Nico Leonard van der Horst, better known as the 'Watch Guy', has rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous names in sport and music.

Premier League footballers, American football stars and even country singer Luke Combs - Van der Horst has dealt with them all.

Before launching his watch business and shooting to internet fame, Van der Horst was in Ajax's famous youth academy before his football career was ended by injury at 19.

After that, he said to himself he would never be around a football pitch again.

So why did he want to get involved in changing the sport in Northern Ireland?

After growing up in the Netherlands, Van der Horst moved to Northern Ireland in 2013 because, as he tells BBC Sport NI from his Belfast office, "I wanted a change in my life".

From "starting from the bottom" working in a call centre in his adopted home, he grew his watch business and saw his profile grow both within Northern Ireland and around the world, where he is regularly stopped for selfies thanks to a huge profile on social media.

His reunion with football came with history-making Larne who "knocked on the door a couple of years ago" and the Dutchman instantly fell back in love with his first passion.

Through his watch company, Van der Horst was able to sponsor the club's shirts.

"It makes me very proud and a normal person again because sometimes I live in a surreal world," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Larne is the one place that puts both my feet back on the ground.

"For myself, personally, it's the people that make the club. I love everyone at Larne."

'There could be a possibility to buy Larne'

Van der Horst's time involved at Inver Park has coincided with the most successful period in Larne's history.

The club won the Irish Premiership for the first time in their history in 2022, successfully defended it last season and became the first team from the league to reach the league or group stage of a major European competition - the Uefa Conference League.

Now, the Dutchman wants his relationship to grow beyond the front of the jersey.

"I've even toyed with the idea to acquire Larne. It's still on my mind from time to time," Van der Horst admitted.

"We still have conversations about that. I think there could be a possibility in the future.

"I'm doing a few things behind the scenes and I try to help the club to the next level."

While Larne are making history in their first European campaign, Van der Horst feels "we need to manage the expectations".

"This is the height of Irish League football, but I don't think it is something that is sustainable year after year.

"If you look at the budgets of the clubs, they are so far apart if you look at other leagues in the Uefa Conference League.

"It's quite scary and it shows that we have a lot of work to do but I'm really excited about that, to be honest."

Kids need facilities, I want to help change that

As well as his desire to expand his commitments with Larne, Van der Horst has a bigger vision for football in Northern Ireland.

He wants to make football accessible to all, describing the facilities in the country as "below par".

"In comparison to any other country in Europe, I think Northern Ireland has some of the worst facilities for kids to play football.

"Kids should have the chance to play football for free, wherever they live, whenever they want.

"That is something I want to change.

"I'm a father now as well and one thing I question is 'where can my son play football?'.

"I live in Holywood, in a wealthy part of the world, but he doesn't have a facility to play football and that worries me."

Van der Horst admits he is still exploring opportunities about how he can exert his influence for change, but says it is something he wanted to do since he arrived in Northern Ireland.

He draws comparison with his home in the Netherlands, where hundreds of Cruyff Courts are dotted around the country.

Funded by the foundation of legendary Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff, the courts are free, small, multi-purpose sports pitches in communities.

"The way I think we can change this is if people believe. Having a lot of followers is amazing, but to change it I need a lot of local support," he said, adding that change "needs to be from the bottom, up".

"I never really had the possibility financially to really make a change. My life has changed a bit because of YouTube and because of the business.

"I don't know how we're going to do this, but intention is the most important thing and we need to start somewhere."

He added that "if it can happen in other countries it can happen in Northern Ireland" and his passion for his adopted home is a driver of his vision.

"I think people in Northern Ireland are underestimating themselves.

"In every sport we have incredible champions and the best of the best.

"It's something to be proud of, but I don't feel that pride here. I feel like, 'ah, it's just the Irish League' or 'it's just this'. No, we can create something here."

Van der Horst has sold watches to many famous clients, including country singer Luke Combs

'It can drive someone nuts'

Van der Horst's YouTube and business commitments have taken him all across the world and he says "never did I think that I would end up where I am today".

"I don't come from a family who are wealthy, this wasn't the norm.

"I've always had this drive to prove myself. Never did I think that I would end up where I am today, it's still surreal."

When asked what his life is like as a YouTuber, he admits his life is "like a dream, but a curse at the same time".

"I am a father, but also a business person. I find it very difficult to manage both.

"I travel 80% of my year, so I miss a lot of valuable time with my children and my parents are in the Netherlands and are unwell.

"Those are sacrifices I have to make. What people see is the beautiful life that I am incredibly grateful for.

"I never had a penny in my pocket, and now I know both sides of the coin.

"I'm extremely grateful to be in the position that I'm in, but I want to make sure I transform that into something that has a positive impact on the place I love so much."