Simon Clist started at Tottenham in the youth set-up, as a forward, but was not retained and moved to Bristol City, where he became a professional before moving around the lower leagues and non-league.
On being released by Tottenham after taking part in a youth tournament in Holand in May 1999, Simon returned to the youth ranks as a trainee at Bristol City and made his debut in 2000, but when the Robins failed to gain promotion in 2002, he was transfer listed, but there were no takers.
In February 2003, Clist moved on to Torquay United to get some first team action and scored twice in eleven games, before going back to Ashton Gate at the end of the 2002-03 season. He was at the club for another eight months, finally leaving for Barnet on a free transfer, where he played more often. However, he was moved from midfield into defence and helped the side to promotion to the Football League in 2005-06. Hit by injuries and with Barnet struggling at the bottom of the league, Clist was allowed to leave and he was snapped up by former Bristol City team-mate, Gary Owers, who was manager of Forest Green Rovers in May 2006.
Simon's time at Forest Green was spent as a solid player for the Conference side, but he left for fellow Conference side Oxford United on the last day of the transfer window on 2nd February 2009.
The summer of 2011 saw Oxford allow Simon to join Hereford United on loan until 3rd January 2012, when the deal was made a permanent one.