Why all EFL kick-off times have been shifted in this weekend’s fixture list

The EFL have changed the kick-off times for all 36 matches up and down the country this weekend.

Fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two will now kick-off a minute later than previously scheduled.

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For example, the televised clash between Charlton Athletic and Queens Park Rangers on Friday night will now begin at 8.01pm.

The changes are part of a campaign ran by Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation, with the support of the EFL.

Since being launched in May 2024, Every Minute Matters has inspired more than 400,000 to learn CPR.

With February marking Heart Month, the matches have been moved to raise awareness for the campaign.

As well as QPR’s trip to Charlton, a further 35 matches across the EFL will kick-off one minute later.

What is Every Minute Matters?

Every Minute Matters is a campaign set up by Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation in May 2024.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and show that every minute is crucial when performing CPR.

Through working alongside the EFL, it is hoped more football supporters can learn the skills needed to perform the life-saving procedure.

More defibrillators are also being installed at football stadiums through the campaign.

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As part of Heart Month, Every Minute Matters is aiming to have 500,000 people learning CPR across the UK.

Highlighting the importance of the campaign, Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer said: “What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

“Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and most of them never make it home.

“I’m here today because of the transformative power of CPR, as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.

“Football has an incredible power to cut through, and since the Play-Off Final last May, Sky Bet and the BHF have galvanised the football community in a way I never imagined.

“Fans, players and clubs have shown that when we unite behind a single purpose, we can change outcomes and save lives.

“This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in, because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given.”

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What happened to Tom Lockyer?

Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest whilst playing in the Premier League for Luton against Bournemouth on December 16, 2023.

After receiving on-field treatment from medical staff, the centre-back was resuscitated after two minutes before being stretchered off.

The former Wales international had previously collapsed during the Championship play-off final in May 2023.

After undergoing heart surgery, he had been given the all-clear to return to action for the Hatters.

Following his cardiac arrest, Lockyer had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) fitted.

EFL fixture changes

Thursday 5 February

• Sky Bet League Two: Accrington Stanley vs Salford City – 8:01pm

Friday 6 February

• Sky Bet Championship: Charlton Athletic vs QPR – 8:01pm

Saturday 7 February

• Sky Bet Championship: Derby County vs Ipswich Town – 12:31pm
• Sky Bet Championship: Norwich City vs Blackburn Rovers – 12:31pm
• Sky Bet Championship: Southampton vs Watford –  12:31pm
• Sky Bet Championship: Birmingham City vs Leicester City – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet Championship: Coventry City vs Oxford United – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet Championship: Hull City vs Bristol City – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet Championship: Preston North End vs Portsmouth – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet Championship: West Brom vs Stoke City – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet Championship: Wrexham vs Millwall 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Luton Town vs Bradford City – 12:31pm
• Sky Bet League One: Port Vale vs Burton Albion – 12:31pm
• Sky Bet League One: AFC Wimbledon vs Reading – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Bolton Wanderers vs Barnsley – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Huddersfield Town vs Blackpool – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Mansfield Town vs Exeter City – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Northampton Town vs Stevenage – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Peterborough United vs Wigan Athletic – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Plymouth Argyle vs Lincoln City – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Rotherham United vs Cardiff City – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Stockport County vs Leyton Orient – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League One: Wycombe Wanderers vs Doncaster Rovers – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Crawley Town vs Crewe Alexandra – 12:31pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Swindon Town vs Oldham Athletic – 12:31pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Bristol Rovers vs Chesterfield – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Cheltenham Town vs MK Dons – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Colchester United vs Shrewsbury Town – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Fleetwood Town vs Bromley – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Gillingham vs Tranmere Rovers – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Harrogate Town vs Cambridge United – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Newport County vs Grimsby Town – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Notts County vs Barrow – 3:01pm
• Sky Bet League Two: Walsall vs Barnet – 3:01pm

Sunday 8 February

• Sky Bet Championship: Swansea City vs Sheffield Wednesday – 12:01pm

Monday 9 February

• Sky Bet Championship: Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough – 8:01pm