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Ifti: Care, Community and Football in Middlesbrough

Sean Cooney and Teesside band The Young鈥檜ns write a song about Doctor Iftikhar Lone, his dedication to his patients, his love of Middlesbrough FC, and his battle with Covid.

Dr. Ifti Lone is a GP in Middlesbrough. Since moving to the UK from Pakistan, he has served the same Teesside community and became a lifelong fan of Middlesbrough Football Club.

Though partially retired, Ifti administered thousands of Covid vaccines during the pandemic. After catching the virus himself, he ended up in intensive care.

Award-winning songwriter Sean Cooney meets Ifti in the local GP surgery to hear about his life, work, and love of Boro, before writing a new song about Ifti and performing it with his fellow bandmates from The Young鈥檜ns.

Sean, from Stockton-on-Tees, co-founded The Young鈥檜ns with David Eagle and Michael Hughes. Their rousing harmonies, strong social conscience and wicked humour have made them an unmissable live act. Their creations include 8 albums and an acclaimed stage show called The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff.

Sean and Ifti discuss the power of football to unite a community, the challenges facing the NHS today, and the experience of being saved by intensive care.

21st Century Folk is inspired by the classic 成人快手 Radio Ballads. It sees five real listeners have songs written about their lives.

With presenter Mark Radcliffe.

23 minutes

Music Played

  • The Young'uns

    John Bell

  • The Young'uns

    Ghafoor鈥檚 Bus

  • The Young'uns

    Doctor Boro (Radio 2鈥檚 21st Century Folk)

  • The Young'uns

    John Ball

  • The Young'uns

    Ghafoor's Bus

  • The Young'uns

    Doctor Boro (Radio 2's 21st Century Folk, 2023)

Broadcast

  • Sun 15 Jan 2023 20:50