A schoolboy internationalist,[2] Combe joined his local club Hibernian at the age of 17 from Inveresk Athletic.
He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat by England and also appeared against Switzerland and Belgium that year, scoring against the latter.
He was selected in Scotland's 22 man squad for the 1954 FIFA World Cup but the Scottish Football Association only budgeted to take 13 players (including only one goalkeeper) to the finals in Switzerland.
Inside forward George Hamilton was also on reserve, but travelled after Bobby Johnstone withdrew through injury.
[2] In his later years, Combe worked as a shopkeeper in his native Leith, then in the marketing department of Scottish Gas.