Career
Preston North End
Born in Eccleston, Lancashire, after making his debut in 1997 he soon became a fixture in the Preston North End first team His appearance tally was 427 at the end of the 2007-2008 season. This puts him at number nine in the all-time record appearances for the club
He has worn the number 16 shirt since squad numbers were adopted by the Football League.
The 2006-2007 season ended in disappointment for the Chorley-born player, not only at missing out on the Play-offs but at missing the last two months of the season with a groin problem. However, he recovered from the injury in time to make a first-team return in October 2007, and was named club captain in one of Paul Simpson"s last acts as manager.
McKenna has missed just one game since being handed the captain"s armband. McKenna scored the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out of the 2000-2001 Division One play-off semi-final second leg between Preston and Birmingham City at Deepdale, which saw the Lilywhites head to the Millennium Stadium for the final.
McKenna was voted PFA Player of the Season at the end of the 2004-2005 season after 35 appearances and 3 goals.
He signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Preston in November 2005. Nottingham Forest
McKenna signed for Nottingham Forest on a three-year contract for a fee of £750,000 on 20 July 2009. He was immediately installed as club captain.
On 19 December 2009, McKenna scored his first goal for Forest against former club Preston with a 25-yard shot into the bottom left hand corner.
However he refused to celebrate the goal, showing restraint as a mark of respect to the Preston fans. Hull City
= 2011–2012 On 1 July 2011, following speculation that he may rejoin his former employers Preston North End, McKenna joined Hull City on a two-year contract on a free transfer.
He made his debut in the first game of the season on 5 August 2011 at the KC Stadium in the 0–1 defeat to Blackpool. McKenna enjoyed a strong season as a regular in central midfield in the club"s push for promotion.
= 2012–2013 McKenna was sent off on 27 August 2012 in a League Cup game against Doncaster for kicking out at Doncaster"s Rob Jones.
Since then, he has been mainly named as a substitute by manager Steve Bruce. On 25 January 2013 McKenna was loaned to Fleetwood Town for the remainder of the 2012-2013 season. On 16 May 2013, Hull City announced that McKenna, along with 11 others would be free to leave the KC stadium, as they prepared for their first season back in the Premier League.
Bamber Bridge
McKenna signed for Northern Premier League side Bamber Bridge on a free transfer in September 2014.
He retired in December 2015. Longridge Town Football Club
In January 2016 McKenna took up a coaching role at Longridge Town Football Club along side former Preston North End team mate Lee Ashcroft.