The League One Play-Off Final will start at a highly unusual time this afternoon for a very good reason.
The match at Wembley between Charlton and Leyton Orient to decide the final place in the Championship next season is one of the biggest games in the EFL calendar.
The Championship play-off final got underway at 3:01pmGettyOf course, it usually starts on the hour, but that is different this time, as was the case when the Championship playoff final started at 3:01pm.
The change might seem an odd one for fans, but there is a good reason behind it.
Why is the League One Play-Off Final starting at 1:01pm?
The League One Play-Off Final is set to start one minute later than initially scheduled.
It is being done in an attempt to raise awareness for the ‘Every Minute Matters’ campaign.
This is a collaboration between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation.
The aim is to inspire football fans to learn CPR to help potentially save someone’s life.
The scheme launched during the 2023/24 EFL play-offs and has encouraged 270,000 people to learn CPR.
They want to get another 360,000 people to use the ReviR online tool to learn the skills required to save a life.
The League Two Play-Off Final will also kick off one minute later than initially scheduled.
League Two Play-Off Final – Monday, 26 May 2025 – 15:01 Luton Town’s Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest in December 2023GettyLuton Town‘s Tom Lockyer is now a BHF ambassador after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for the club.
Speaking about the initiative, he said: “I was just one of the more than 30,000 people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year in the UK.
“I am lucky to be alive today, but the reality is that less than 1 in 10 people usually survive, which is why it’s vital that we continue to raise awareness.
“The symbolic kick-off times are the perfect way to make our lifesaving message impossible to ignore. “Over the course of the last year, the EFL community – fans, players and the clubs – have come together and united behind the Sky Bet Every Minute Matters campaign to achieve something I never thought possible.
“And now, as we approach the business end of the season, the Sky Bet Play-Off Finals provide an incredible platform to continue to spread the word and bring the curtain down on a game-changing year in the fight against cardiac arrest.”
Wembley finals will pay tribute to the campaignGettyLeague One Play-Off Final: Date and how to follow
The 2024/25 League One Play-Off Final will take place on Sunday, May 25.
It will be held at Wembley Stadium, and kick-off has now been confirmed to be 1:01pm.
talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage presented by Olly Clink.
Commentary will come from Nigel Adderley and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
It will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
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