bˈɔːɹn ɪn bˈoːɹnɛməθ, dˈoːɹsɛt, klˈɪst bɪɡˈæn hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ æz ɐ tɹˈeɪniː wɪð tˈɑːtənˌæm hˈɑːtspʊɹ æz ɐ tˌiːwˌaɪˈɛs bᵻfˌoːɹ tɹænsfˈɜːɹɪŋ tə bɹˈɪstəl sˈɪɾi, tˈɜːnɪŋ pɹəfˈɛʃənəl ɪn dʒuːlˈaɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn.
Born in Bournemouth, Dorset, Clist began his career as a trainee with Tottenham Hotspur as a TYS before transferring to Bristol City, turning professional in July 1999.