There was severe criticism of the football authorities during the 1914-15 season, with both the league and FA Cup competitions proceeding to conclusion despite that fact that many young men were dying in World War I. As a result all competitions were scrapped from 1915-16 until further notice, and most clubs effectively closed down. Many players volunteered to serve in the war, some losing their lives. Sunderland played only a single friendly game in May 1916, at Newcastle, to raise money for miltary charities.