The reason all 12 Championship matches have unusual kick-off times this weekend

Delay explained: All 72 EFL clubs, including the 24 Championship teams, will shift their scheduled kick-off times back by exactly one minute this weekend. This symbolic delay serves as a powerful, "stark reminder" to fans and the general public that every single minute is vital when performing life-saving CPR on someone in cardiac arrest.

Friday night opener:

The Championship's schedule shift begins with the match between Charlton Athletic and QPR on Friday, February 6. Originally scheduled for a standard 8pm slot, the game will now kick off at 8:01 pm to mark the start of the weekend's "Every Minute Matters" campaign activities.

Every Minute Matters: The initiative is a key part of the "Every Minute Matters" campaign. This is a transformative collaboration between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), with full support from the EFL, aimed at changing the conversation around heart health and emergency response across the UK.

Heart Month awareness:

The timing of the schedule shift is intentional, coinciding with February being "Heart Month." The campaign is using the high-profile nature of professional football to mobilise the nation and promote cardiovascular health awareness during this designated period of focus.

CPR training goal: The primary objective of the campaign is to inspire half a million people to start learning CPR by the end of February. Since its launch in May 2024, the initiative has already successfully encouraged over 400,000 supporters to begin their training.

Free learning tools:

Fans are being urged to use "RevivR," the British Heart Foundation's free, easy-to-use online training tool. It takes only 15 minutes to learn the essential skills needed to save a life, making life-saving knowledge accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

Real-life impact: The campaign is championed by Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer, who suffered an on-pitch cardiac arrest. His involvement highlights that these emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere, and that immediate CPR is often the only reason a person survives to return home.

Community mobilisation:

EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch emphasised that football clubs are at the "heart of their communities." By uniting for this cause, the league aims to use its massive reach to drive real-world change and ensure fans are prepared to act in emergencies.

Critical survival window: Each minute without CPR significantly reduces a person's chance of survival. With over 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the UK, the one-minute shift highlights the narrow window available to save a life and the importance of immediate intervention.

Championship schedule (Feb 6th-Feb 9th) in full:

Friday (Feb 6), 8:01 pm: Charlton Athletic vs QPR

Saturday (Feb 7), 12:31 pm: Derby County vs Ipswich Town

Saturday (Feb 7), 12:31 pm: Norwich City vs Blackburn Rovers

Saturday (Feb 7), 12:31 pm: Southampton vs Watford

Saturday (Feb 7), 3:01 pm: Birmingham City vs Leicester City

Saturday (Feb 7), 3:01 pm: Coventry City vs Oxford United

Saturday (Feb 7), 3:01 pm:

Hull City vs Bristol City

Saturday (Feb 7), 3:01 pm: Preston North End vs Portsmouth

Saturday (Feb 7), 3:01 pm: West Brom vs Stoke City

Saturday (Feb 7), 3:01 pm: Wrexham vs Millwall

Sunday (Feb 8), 12:01 pm: Swansea City vs Sheffield Wednesday

Monday (Feb 9), 8:01 pm: Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough