The reason why 12 League One matches have had kick-off times changed this weekend
Reach Daily Express | February 7, 2026 12:39 AM CST
- The one-minute delay: All 72 EFL clubs are delaying their kick-offs by sixty seconds this weekend. This symbolic pause highlights that when someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every single minute is a life-or-death window where immediate action is required.
- League One schedule: The first match in League One to observe the change is Luton Town vs Bradford City on Saturday, February 7. To highlight the life-saving mission, the kick-off has been moved from its traditional midday slot to 12:31pm, spearheading the weekend's awareness efforts.
- A powerful partnership: This initiative is the centrepiece of the "Every Minute Matters" campaign, a collaboration between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation. Supported by the EFL, the project aims to revolutionise how the UK public responds to heart emergencies.
- Heart Month explained: Scheduled to coincide with February's "Heart Month," the campaign uses the massive platform of professional football to raise national awareness. The goal is to keep cardiovascular health at the forefront of the public's mind during this awareness period.
- Training targets: The campaign seeks to get 500,000 people to start learning CPR by the end of February. Since launching in May 2024, the initiative has already inspired over 400,000 fans to begin their life-saving journey.
- Accessible learning: Supporters are encouraged to use "RevivR," the British Heart Foundation's free online tool. It teaches essential CPR skills in just 15 minutes, making it easy for any fan with a smartphone to become a potential lifesaver.
- Tom Lockyer's role: The campaign is fronted by Tom Lockyer, who survived an on-pitch cardiac arrest. His story serves as a moving reminder that these emergencies can strike anyone, and that rapid CPR is the reason he is still here today.
- Clubs get involved: EFL CEO Trevor Birch notes that because clubs are community hubs, they are uniquely positioned to drive social change. By uniting all 72 teams, the league is turning football grounds into classrooms for life-saving skills.
- Survival statistics: With 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK annually, the statistics are sobering. Because survival chances drop significantly with every passing minute without intervention, this campaign emphasises that fans shouldn't wait to learn these vital skills.
- League One Schedule (Saturday, Feb 7) in full:
12:31 pm: Luton Town vs Bradford City
12:31 pm: Port Vale vs Burton Albion
3:01 pm: AFC Wimbledon vs Reading
3:01 pm: Bolton Wanderers vs Barnsley
3:01 pm: Huddersfield Town vs Blackpool
3:01 pm: Mansfield Town vs Exeter City
3:01 pm: Northampton Town vs Stevenage
3:01 pm: Peterborough United vs Wigan Athletic
3:01 pm: Plymouth Argyle vs Lincoln City
3:01 pm: Rotherham United vs Cardiff City
3:01 pm: Stockport County vs Leyton Orient
3:01 pm: Wycombe Wanderers vs Doncaster Rovers
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