The 25-year-old defender has an interesting backstory.

Full name Curran Singh Ferns, he was born in the Northern Territory capital Darwin, his father is a Scouser from Liverpool in England and his mother is from Penang in Malaysia (Curran is related to some of Malaysia’s most well-known politicians in the DAP party).

The player’s family moved to Melbourne where he played his junior soccer in the Victorian capital before catching the eye of the VIS under Ian Greene. There, he played alongside current Victory defender Nick Ansell.

This led to stints at Victory youth under Mehmet Durakovic and Joe Palatsides at Melbourne Heart's NYL side around 2010/11.

But with a senior contract in the A-League seemingly out of reach, and at risk of falling through the cracks, Ferns decided to try his luck in the NPL system across Australia for the following few seasons.

He gained senior experience and confidence. And it opened up an avenue into Asia through his Malaysian connection.

“I had played at Victory youth and with Heart,” Ferns told www.ftbl.com.au in a broad Aussie accent.

"Back then at Heart, we'd have to share our changing rooms with cricketers! A lot has changed since then.

“With Heart my future was unclear and I wanted senior football, so I joined Bentleigh Greens in Melbourne. Great souvlaki and chips after the game as I recall!

"Then I went Hobart Zebras as Tasmania had players coming through to the A-League like Jeremy Walker who was at Heart.

“I had an offer from Woking in England but was playing with Brisbane City then I had a chance to play in Malaysia as my family is from Penang.”

Interestingly Ferns’ Uncle Gobind Singh Deo is now currently the Minister for Communications and Multimedia in Malaysia and Ferns is also related to the late politician and lawyer Karpal Singh.

With his agent Scott Ollerenshaw, a former Malaysian League star striker, Ferns joined JDT in 2015. But injury scuppered his time at the club.

After his injury finally cleared up, Ferns linked with Negeri Sembilan in 2016 when the club had a host of Aussies, subsequently linking up with Felder in 2017, where he stamped his authority on the Malaysian League.

“The Crown Prince of Johor and also my agent Scott were fantastic even after I got injured. I always want to repay their faith in me,” he said.