Leon’s ‘Fight With Life’ out soon
At t
he end of the month, former Coventry City forward and CCFPA member Leon McKenzie is publishing his autobiography. The 240 page book (in paperback), published by CPI Books Ltd/MacAnthony Media, is due to be available from November 29th.
Entitled ‘My Fight With Life’, Leon is one of the few sportsmen who have been brave enough to make public their brush with mental illness including depression. Coventry News Service reports that the publishers blurb says,
“Leon McKenzie is fighting back just like the son of a boxer should. He is proof that football is not just a life of glamour and glory. It’s also a life full of stress and pressure. Leon travelled from the Premier League to prison with an attempt at suicide in between. But now he’s a free man again. Free from jail and free enough from his mental torment to start helping others with similar problems. It’s been a fascinating and emotional journey and every time Leon has been knocked down he’s come back stronger. When knocked down he’s come back stronger.
Starting out with Crystal Palace, Croydon born Leon had loan spells with Fulham and Peterborough before achieving a reputation at the Posh as an ace marksman scoring 46 times in only 90 league appearances. Snapped up by Premier League Norwich City Leon still managed to score nearly every fourth game in the highest sphere and this encouraged Micky Adams (later to be relaced by Ian Dowie) to sign him on deadline day in August 2006. Leon contributed 12 goals in just over 60 league appearances for the Sky Blues from 2006-09 including his 100th professional goal in the opening home game of the 2008-09 season (ironically against Norwich City).
Leon moved on to Charlton Athletic in 2009 and Northampton Town in 2010. Following a sole friendly appearance for Luton Town in 2011 Leon announced his retirement in December of that year (though he has subsequently turned out for Corby Town. Apart from becoming an author, Leon has developed his skills as a musician and released a couple of singles.
The paperback priced at £7.99 will be available from bookshops including Waterstones in the locations near to the football clubs where Leon plied his trade. Leon is looking to do book signing sessions at as many of these as he can. We will announce when his Coventry appearance will be when we hear. The paperback will also be available online from the likes of Amazon, iTunes and Kindle as well as from the publisher (www.macanthonymedia.co.uk) from which further details of Leon’s signing plans (and possibly signed copies) may be obtained.
