Sutherland Shire junior footballer Layla Dryland got the ultimate Matildas surprise, walking with Cailtin Foord on her 150th cap special against Mexico on June 9. Picture supplied

Three weeks after the loss of her mother, a 10-year-old football fan from Engadine received a life-changing surprise on the pitch.

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Sutherland Shire junior Layla Dryland, a year 5 student at Engadine Public School, found herself walking onto the grass at CommBank Stadium hand-in-hand with her hero, Caitlin Foord of the Matildas, shortly before Australia kicked off against Mexico on June 9. The moment came during Foord's milestone 150th appearance for the national team.

For Layla, who plays for the Sutherland Strikers under-10s, the past few weeks have been an emotional whirlwind. Her mother, Lisa Christey, died aged 44 following an 11-week battle with pancreatic cancer. More than 600 people attended her funeral.

Layla's former Engadine Eagles coach, Blake Shields, approached Football Australia and explained the family's circumstances, asking if the organisation could do anything to help lift the spirits of a child navigating grief. Football Australia invited the family to the match-day experience, but kept the biggest detail completely under wraps. Layla and her family arrived at the stadium with no idea of the scale of the surprise waiting for them.

Her father, Glenn, rallied a big support crew to make the night as special as possible. "About 15 of us went to watch the match in a stretch Hummer," he said. "We tried to make it as exciting as we could for her."

Layla was chosen to walk out beside the Matildas player. The young player and the national icon shared a quiet connection before heading out into the roar of the stadium crowd. "They had a chat and Layla told Caitlin she had made some signs for her like 'may the Foord be with you,'" Glenn said. Foord has also reportedly signed a jersey to give to Layla.

Returning to the pitch has provided a vital anchor, offering a sense of routine for the family, he said. "After Lisa's passing, we've had good and bad days," Glenn said. "We've had busy and quiet days. We are trying to get the kids back into normality and some structure, and sport helps with that. As a family going through this, it's such a big thing for us which Football Australia did and it's had such a positive effect on the family. Layla is still grinning. It's something she'll carry her whole life."