nth.A decade on from playing in the fourth-tier of English football, the Tigers secured their first major cup final appearance with a thrilling 5-3 defeat of Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield United.
The League One outfit certainly played their part in Sunday's semi-final and went in at half-time 2-1 ahead, only to be undone by City's injection of top-flight quality at the break.
Matty Fryatt, Tom Huddlestone, Stephen Quinn and David Meyler all netted in a much-improved second-half display by the Tigers, setting up a return to Wembley on May 17 when Hull will take on the role of underdog against Arsenal.
"If you had said 10 years ago that Hull will play Arsenal in the FA Cup final, people would have been scratching their heads," Bruce said
"It just shows you what can be done.
"I've been in the competition 15 years and never been anywhere near
I've had good fortune being involved in FA Cups and today was a proper FA Cup tie
We don't see games like that very often at Wembley.
"A bit like last year when it was Wigan versus Man City, Hull play Arsenal
All the pressure will be on Arsenal because they haven't won anything in eight years.
"We've still got five weeks to go
We will enjoy it, we will enjoy the occasion and gain from the experience of today."
That experience was certainly a nerve-wracking one for Hull fans, especially during what Bruce admits was an "awful" first-half.
Jose Baxter gave the Blades a deserved 19th-minute lead and, moments after Yannick Sagbo had levelled, Stefan Scougall ensured the third-tier side went in to the break ahead.
Bruce's decision to bring on Fryatt and Sone Aluko for the second-half quickly paid dividends as City got back into it, although the City boss was quick to highlight the half-time team talk given by captain Curtis Davies.
"I didn't say much at half-time," Bruce said
"My captain did it all.
"It's a long time since I've been in a dressing room where the captain takes over
It used to happen a lot in my day.
"I just had a cup of tea and let him get on with it.
"He is a bit of a dying breed with the way football is nowadays."
As well as lauding his players and Hull's travelling fans, Bruce was quick to praise former club United for the manner of their performance at Wembley.
Few would have been able to tell City were the Premier League outfit as the Blades ran riot in the first half, giving their raucous travelling support genuine hope of progressing to the final.
It was not to be in the end but Nigel Clough's side were given a standing ovation at the end of a display that belied their lowly standings.
"I am both proud and devastated at the moment," United boss Clough said.
"I am certainly proud, I think that feeling will grow in the weeks ahead when we look back on what we've achieved in the FA Cup and very nearly today as well.
"We were close to making history as the first third-tier side to get to an FA Cup final and at half-time I thought we were well worthy of our lead.
"We played well in the first half and they changed it in the second half.
"Their second goal just after half-time was the killer blow for us, it got them totally going
They were rejuvenated and scored another one pretty quickly."
Source : PA
Source: PA