Arthur Cyril Clyde Cant was the son of a Railway Fettler. He was born at Gundary in the Goulburn District of NSW. Clyde spent much of his formative years in the Monaro District before his father was transferred to Gerringong in the Illawarra District of NSW.
In the mid 1920’s, Clyde played for the Gerringong Rugby League and Cricket Clubs. Gerringong with Clyde Cant playing, won the 1925 Illawarra First Grade rugby league premiership. They beat Port Kembla 9-8 in the Final. Clyde was seventeen when he first played top level football in the Illawarra.
Clyde initially attended Fort St Boys High School at Petersham while living at Gerringong. It is not clear how he divided his time playing rugby union and cricket at school in Sydney while also playing rugby league and cricket in his home town of Gerringong.
Nevertheless, there is a significant amount of information to confirm that this is what he did.