Wembley stands – Wembley’s stands will be temporarily named after four supporters—Callum Lawson, Pippa Sharman, Andy Wall and Ed McCann—honouring acts of CPR as part of Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation’s Every Minute Matters campaign ahead of this weekend’s EFL Play-Of
Wembley is preparing for the biggest weekend of the EFL Play-Off calendar, but the stadium will also be carrying a different kind of message into the stands.
As Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation’s Every Minute Matters campaign rolls through the build-up to the finals. Wembley’s stands will be temporarily named after four football fans. The campaign is backed by the EFL and aims to push supporters to learn CPR—after the stark reality that. in the UK. more than 40. 000 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year. with less than one in 10 surviving.
The four supporters recognised with stands at the finals include Callum Lawson. the Sunderland fan who survived a cardiac arrest during last year’s Championship Play-Off Final. There is also Pippa Sharman. the Reading supporter credited with helping to save an opposition fan after the person collapsed at the wheel of their car following a game.
Andy Wall and Ed McCann join the list as well, both survivors of cardiac arrests. Wall suffered a cardiac arrest moments before the half-time whistle while watching Norwich. McCann, a Bradford fan, was helped by a Burnley supporter who performed CPR.
For Tom Lockyer, this kind of recognition hits close to the pitch. Lockyer is an Every Minute Matters ambassador who collapsed on the pitch during Luton Town’s Play-Off final victory at Wembley in 2023.
“Wembley will always hold huge meaning for me. so to see fans being celebrated who have been through similar experiences to myself is incredibly emotional and special. ” Lockyer said. “After experiencing a cardiac arrest, I know first-hand how important immediate CPR and quick action can be. The four people having stands named after them are truly incredible.
“Whether they survived a cardiac arrest themselves or stepped forward to help save somebody else’s life, they’ve shown extraordinary courage and strength.”
He added that football’s pull can be felt beyond matchday. pointing to the way clubs. players and fans have united behind a cause that can save lives. “These stories are proof that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference when every minute matters,” Lockyer said. “The fact that 520. 000 people have now started learning CPR through Every Minute Matters is something everyone involved in the campaign should be proud of.”.
The organisers are expecting the temporary stand names to reach around 200,000 fans attending the Play-Off finals at Wembley, with millions more set to see them live on Sky Sports.
Supporters are also being directed to learn CPR quickly: fans can show their support and learn CPR in just 15 minutes by searching BHF RevivR and/or visiting revivr.bhf.org.uk.
Wembley EFL Play-Off finals Sky Bet British Heart Foundation Every Minute Matters CPR Callum Lawson Pippa Sharman Andy Wall Ed McCann Tom Lockyer Luton Town Sunderland Reading Norwich Bradford Burnley