The Surprising Reason Wrexham vs. Millwall Kicks Off One Minute Behind Schedule
A stellar sequence of results has positioned AFC Wrexham within the Championship playoff spots as they prepare for a pivotal league match against Millwall at the Racecourse Ground.
The celebrity-backed Welsh side have experienced a remarkable ascent from non-league football, and now find themselves where a top-flight promotion no longer seems like an outlandish, far-fetched aspiration. The Red Dragons are climbing the second division following an underwhelming beginning to the 2025–26 season.
Millwall, sitting just three points and one spot ahead in fifth place, seek to halt their progress on Saturday afternoon, with Wrexham presently holding the last playoff berth in a competitive upper section.
With 16 matches left to play, significant changes are anticipated, but Saturday's clash does appear to be a momentum-defining encounter before the final stretch. Additionally, the forthcoming match will commence at a slightly delayed time compared to normal. Here's the explanation.
Why Wrexham vs. Millwall is Kicking Off One Minute Late This Weekend
Why Wrexham vs. Millwall is Kicking Off One Minute Late This Weekend
It's not only the match with Championship playoff ramifications that features an unconventional start time this weekend. All English Football League (EFL) fixtures scheduled between Thursday, Feb. 5 and Monday, Feb. 9, are beginning one minute behind schedule.
And no, the unusual timing is not due to a technical error.
The 'Every Minute Matters' initiative has collaborated with the EFL since its launch in 2024, having been created by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in association with Sky Bet. The one-minute postponement of games across the Championship, League One and League Two this weekend seeks to emphasize the critical nature of swift action when administering life-saving CPR.
The initiative also seeks to motivate football fans to master the life-preserving technique. According to the British Heart Foundation, an individual's survival prospects diminish by 10% for each minute they remain without CPR and defibrillation.
Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer serves as one of the prominent supporters, having experienced two on-field collapses within a seven-month period while leading Luton Town. The second episode involved Lockyer suffering cardiac arrest during a Premier League game at Bournemouth in December 2023, with his heart stopping for nearly three minutes.
"This February, we want everyone to support this life-preserving effort, acquire the necessary skills and be prepared to intervene, because your response could provide someone else the opportunity I received," Lockyer stated regarding the campaign.
"What occurred to me can affect anyone, anywhere, at any moment."
Consequently, Wrexham vs. Millwall will commence at 3:01 p.m. (10:01 a.m. ET, 5:01 a.m. PT) on Saturday, Feb. 7.