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
This story is from the October 18, 2020 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 18, 2020 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WIN SETS UP FINAL MATCH TO SAVOUR!
THE Millers finished their home campaign in fine style with a win against a deflated Herne Bay side, whose play-off hopes disappeared last weekend following their home defeat against Sheppey.
TAYLOR'S DOUBLE SILENCES MARTYRS
AFC TOTTON continued their push to the top of the play-off picture as they triumphed over Merthyr Town.
HORNETS HEROES STUN THE CHATS!
HORSHAM kept their promotion hopes alive with a convincing victory against their potential play-off opponents.
LONG WAIT FOR HYDE AFTER HOME VICTORY
HYDE UNITED ended their league campaign with a win thanks to a brace from Matt Fearnley.
FIVE-STAR STONES STUN SAD BEAVERS
HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH had their play-off hopes dashed after they were thrashed by Maidstone United.
IT'S ALL OVER FOR GARRARD AS FLEET SEND WOOD DOWN
LUKE GARRARD’S last stand as Boreham Wood manager ended in relegation as Ebbsfleet United secured their National League status – just – on a tense final day.
KEV HAS PRIDE DESPITE A FALL
SOUTHEND United's faint play-off hopes were ultimately taken out of their hands by FC Halifax Town but they failed to keep their side of the equation by going down to Rochdale at Roots Hall.
HORNETS GOT SUCH A BUZZ!
DOM DI PAOLA has claimed the Football Association's decision to do away with replays in the FA Cup from the first round proper onwards is 'destroying their own competition'.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING MEMORIES
STEVE McKimm says the FA Cup replay storm isn’t about money – it’s the chance to make memories just like Cray Valley PM did this season.
A MARATHON EFFORT, JOE!
Robins ace runs London gauntlet after injury hell