Shamed so publicly for striking a match official during a match at Chesham United on Saturday October 15, the example made of the then-Redditch United forward was inevitable – a three-year ban from football.
The punishment felt more like a sentence but fast forward to today and he is grateful to still be playing.
Six goals in nine matches as the spearhead of table-topping Sporting Khalsa’s push in the Midland Football League Premier Division – not bad for someone who many thought would never come back from his darkest hour.
“I will never forget it,” said McKenzie. “It was total head loss that day but I have learned from it and I am grateful to still be playing.
“I should never have done it, I should have dealt with it differently, had a word with the management or the ref but it was a catalogue of errors and something I regret, definitely.
“As soon as I got to the changing room I realised I had done something crazy, straight away I thought ‘I have dropped a right clanger here’.
“I apologised and tried to move on but it changed my whole life.
Repercussions
Denne historien er fra October 18, 2020-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra October 18, 2020-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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BISH BASH BOSH! IT'S LINING UP FOR LEWIS
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REBELS YELL FOR GREAT CAUSE
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ALL out attack eventually delivered a warranted win for Whitchurch – despite living dangerously late on.
BRILLIANT BECKWITH INSPIRES LEADERS
GOALKEEPER Charlie Beckwith made the difference as his clean sheet and a goal from Cemel Ramadan saw Bury Town take all three points at Chadfields yesterday afternoon.
OWLS WIN KEY CLASH IN BATTLE FOR TITLE
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PLAY-OFF contenders Hyde United and Guiseley had to settle for a share of the spoils after a hard-fought encounter.
