Norwich City’s Championship fixture against Blackburn Rovers at Carrow Road this Saturday, February 7, will kick off at the unusual time of 12.31pm. This timing is part of a significant initiative aimed at promoting life-saving skills within the community. Read more about Leicester's Relegation Woes Deepen as EFL Imposes Six-Point Deduction.
The Every Minute Matters campaign, which will see all EFL matches across the Championship, League One, and League Two start one minute later this weekend, seeks to highlight the importance of learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This initiative serves as a vital reminder of how essential it is for individuals to be equipped with the knowledge to act swiftly in emergencies. Read more about Buhler Joins Derby as Rams Target Championship Glory.
Trevor Birch, the chief executive of the EFL, emphasised the pivotal role football clubs play in their communities. He stated, “Our 72 clubs sit at the heart of their communities, and they show time and again how football can drive real-world change. The one minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death.”
Since its launch in May 2024, the Every Minute Matters campaign has successfully encouraged over 400,000 individuals to learn CPR. The aim is to engage even more fans, with a target of exceeding half a million CPR-trained supporters by the end of February.
The urgency of this cause is underscored by the experience of Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer, who collapsed during a match in 2023 while playing for Luton Town. As an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation, Lockyer has become a vocal advocate for CPR awareness. He expressed, “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.” Read more about Johnson Targets Vital Points as Rovers Face Canaries.
Lockyer's message resonates strongly: “I’m here today because of the transformative power of CPR—as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life. 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.”
For those eager to contribute to this cause or to learn CPR, resources such as the free online tool RevivR are readily available.
As Norwich City prepares to face Blackburn Rovers, the unusual kick-off time serves as a poignant reminder of football's unifying spirit and the critical importance of being ready to save a life.