An underdog hero has inspired a Wimbledon celebration that would do Barrow AFC fans proud.

Brit Marcus Willis, who was an "overweight loser" three years ago, has stormed into the second round of Wimbledon to set up a clash with Roger Federer.

The world number 772 took time out from his coaching job at Warwick Boat Club to enter pre-qualifying two weeks ago and six victories later found himself in the draw for the world's most prestigious tennis tournament.

He beat Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis, ranked 54, in straight sets, backed up by a raucous cheer squad of his friends who have dubbed themselves the Berkshire Bulldogs.

When the chant at one changeover called for "Shoes off if you love Willis", he held up a spare trainer. Some SW19 crowd also held up their shoes.

The celebration is a reminder of the Barrow AFC "Shoes off if you love Barrow" chat, as demonstrated in the photo from the Stadium of Light when the Bluebirds played Sunderland in the FA Cup Third Round in 2010.

Willis said that three years ago he was a "loser seeing off pints" and decided that he wanted to change his life.

The 25-year-old, who lives with his parents in Wokingham, described his presence at Wimbledon as "ridiculous" and "surreal".

A heckler had once dubbed him Cartman after the overweight South Park character. He said: "I was a bit of a loser. I was overweight. I was seeing off pints. I was just a loser. I don't know. I just looked at myself in the mirror, I said, 'You're better than this'."

Willis almost quit the game earlier this year only to be talked out of it by his new girlfriend Jennifer Bate, a dentist.